Ezekiel 28:20-29:3 Prickly Briers Removed

Part 45 of this series.

Zidon, founded by Sidon son of Canaan, is the oldest of the Phoenician cities.  Chapters 25 to 32 deal with judgment on the nations.  There are seven oracles given against Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyrus, and today we will talk about Zidon, and then Egypt.  In the midst of all that is this section from v24-26 where Israel are brought back into the picture.

In the time of Joshua Zidon was a great city, full of riches and sinfulness.  It was greater than Tyrus at first, but eventually Tyrus overshadowed it.  The people were sea-faring and the first to use the Pole Star to sail by night.  It was a walled city, strongly fortified, known for pottery, woven work, and slavery.

Israel is God's elect nation.  When he does bring them back to the land, the nation is going to be once again consecrated to God.  Nobody will make them afraid again; no more sirens going off to warn of incoming missles.

Chapter 29 begins the judgment of Egypt.  Israel had been slaves there for 400 years; we would think they were done with Egypt, but they looked back to Egypt in times of crisis.  Isaiah gives a startling warning in chapter 31, woe to those who go to Egypt for help.

When we forget God, there is a tendency towards self-deification.  It is a sin of every king of every people who fail to recognise God.