1. Two signs:
a. The exiles baggage.
b. Eating and drinking with fear.
2. The people and their king will go into exile.
Symbolic action of the emigration of king and people from Jerusalem. Ezekiel 12:1-7.
Explanation of the symbolic action. Ezekiel 12:8-16.
Sign depicting the terrors and consequences of the conquest of Jerusalem. Ezekiel 12:17-20.
Declarations to remove all doubt as to the truth of the threat. Ezekiel 12:21-28.
This is a straight forward sign by the prophet to show the people that there would be a further group of people go into exile including the king, Zedekiah. We are shown the sign, then the prophet gives an explanation of his actions. We are back in the realms of reality as we were in Ezekiel 4ff. There is no indication that this is a vision, so we see the prophet carrying out these strange actions.
We see him prepare baggage for exile. Common sense tells us what that might have been. The lightest and least possessions which could have been carried would be taken with them. So, Ezekiel acted this out in the sight of the people. He has two points marked out between which he walks; his house in one point, the other is unspecified.
He also has to dig through the wall of his own house, probably the Hebrew would indicate that rather than the city wall. Having gone through the hole in the wall he then walks his path with his face covered.
All this unusual action was done in one day. Again, we might picture that audience wondering if this prophet really had been affected by the heat in this flat, scorching hot land.
The following day God asks Ezekiel, ‘Well, did they ask you?’ God proceeds to explain what these actions meant. The sign concerns the prince and the people. It becomes clear that Ezekiel is giving a specific future prophecy concerning the events surrounding Zedekiah at the fall of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 52:4-11 / 2 Kings 25:1-7 / Jeremiah 39:4.
This was acted out in about 591 B.C. Zedekiah did not rebel against Babylon until about 588 B.C. and finally was defeated in 586 B.C. The people would be able to put Deuteronomy 18 into action on Ezekiel, he would come out on top.
Note, Zedekiah is called a prince rather than king, Hebrew, ‘nasi’, rather than ‘melek’. Ezekiel never calls Zedekiah king as he does Jehoiachin, Ezekiel 17:12. This word is also used of Solomon, 1 Kings 11:34, in relation to his continuing as ruler, prince, after his sin had caused God to allow a division of the kingdom.
The point being with Zedekiah that he was not really the rightful king, and that neither the exiles nor the people of Jerusalem could put any hope in him.
Again, see the prophet acting out this strange act. Try eating and drinking whilst shaking and trembling like this and see the food and drink spilling all over the place, what a vivid sign. Here are how the people in Jerusalem will be. They will be in terror of what is coming upon them. They will be quaking and trembling when they realise this is really happening to them.
The first says this, ‘They-lengthen the days and it dies every vision’. Four words in the Hebrew. God’s answer to that is a play on those 4 words. He says, ‘they draw near the days and the word of every vision’.
God is going to put an end to this proverb, as he will others. Their proverb is saying, it will never happen. All this that Ezekiel and Jeremiah and maybe others are saying will never happen, and even if it does it will be a long way off, it will never affect us.
God’s answer, it is at hand. At hand means near. By definition at hand must refer to something near. Revelation 1:3 / Revelation 22:10 / Mark 1:15. etc.
The second proverb is like the first. Even if it is true, it’s a long way off. It is for tomorrow, for the next generation, not for us. God says no. This prophecy will not be delayed. In your days, in their generation they will be fulfilled. Mark 9:1 / Mark 13:30.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness."