Scripture Reading : Ezekiel 24
Theme : The Fall of the Bloody City
Cooking Pot (1-14)
This chapter concludes all the previous oracles against Jerusalem’s idolatry and violence with the fall of the bloody city. The fall is described through the symbol of a cooking pot. The meat represent the people who will be killed in the cooking pot of Jerusalem.
Death of Ezekiel’s Wife (15-27).
God informs Ezekiel that He will take away his wife in order to communicate a message to the exiles. When his wife dies, Ezekiel is forbidden to mourn normally. When people see this unnatural response, their attention will be captured and they will listen to the meaning of Ezekiel’s reaction to the death of his wife. His wife, who is the delight of Ezekiel, represents Jerusalem, the delight and pride of the exiles. The reason they ought not to mourn is because the fall of Jerusalem ends the judgement of God and begins a new era of restoration (cf. Is. 40:1-2). This is demonstrated by the fact that Ezekiel’s muteness is removed after the news of the fall of Jerusalem reached the exiles in vv. 26-27. A new era is also demonstrated by the content of the rest of the book of Ezekiel, which is about God’s judgement on the nations and the restoration of Israel.
Praying the Scripture
Ezekiel suffered much as a prophet and servant of God, just like Hosea. He is like Jesus in his suffering. Jesus suffered the most as God’s prophet and servant by being tortured and dying on the cross in order to bear the sins of His people. Suffering is difficult but it demonstrates the character of love and loyalty to God and His people. Through suffering, Ezekiel becomes more like Jesus. For such greatness, every Christian should not be afraid of suffering, but should humbly ask God for strength to endure suffering for the honor of God. This is how Paul, the servant of God, lived (Phil. 3:10). This is why Jesus says rejoice in suffering for your reward is great (Matt. 5:10-12). Pray that you will be willing to follow the example of Jesus in His suffering.
经文：以西结书24
主题：流人血之城的沦陷
在火上的锅（1-14）。
这章经文总结了以西结前几回因耶路撒冷的淫行与暴行所出的预言，论的是这流人血之城的沦陷。这由一个火上的锅作象征，而其肉块代表了在耶路撒冷之锅里将被杀的人。
以西结之妻的死（15-27）。
神告诉以西结祂将取走他的妻子，以向被掳之民传达一个信息。当以西结的妻子离世时，神禁止他像正常人一样哀悼，而当人看到这不寻常的反应时，这将引起他们的注意聆听以西结背后的原因。以西结的妻子是他眼目所爱的；她代表被掳之民的喜悦和骄傲——耶路撒冷。他们之所以不能哀悼是因为神的审判随耶路撒冷的沦陷停止，而其后便是复兴的新时代了（参：赛40:1-2）。当耶路撒冷已沦陷的消息在26-27节传到了被掳之民的耳中时，以西结也不再哑口；这突显了新时代已降临。这个新时代更在以西结书的其余书卷内容有所展现，即神对列国的审判与以色列的复兴之信息。
用经文祷告
身为神的先知和仆人，以西结所受的苦难不少，就如何西阿一样。他所承受的苦难与耶稣相似。耶稣在神的众先知和仆人中所遭遇的苦难最多，更为承担祂子民的罪孽经受折磨，死在十字架上。受苦不容易，但它展现了人对神与其子民的爱和忠心。以西结藉着患难更有了耶稣的样式。因此，每一个基督徒不应该害怕受苦，而是要虚心求神赐力量，为祂的荣耀承受苦难。这就是神的仆人保罗的生活方式（腓3:10）。这也就是耶稣为何说当在患难中欢喜快乐，因为你们在天上的赏赐是大的（太5:10-12）。祷告你在患难中会愿意跟从耶稣的榜样。
