三十二章包括兩個不同的預言，說預言的時間發生在城陷一年半之後。相隔兩週，約全書對埃及和各邦的預言至此結束。以西結又把法老比作少壯獅子－－象徵君王，和海中怪獸（可能是鱷魚）在攪動河水（32：2）。這隻無法駕駛的怪物，還是被巴比倫這個上帝的大網給纏住，像西底家的被囚一樣（32：3；12：13；17：20）。以西結還很生動地描繪，法老死後所要遭遇的劫掠和荒廢。最後，以西結說尼羅河和它的旁支仍要清澈平緩如前，不再被法老或他的人民或任何野獸擾拌以致混濁如泥（32：12~15）。

        埃及的隕落，必將使各小邦國大大懼怕，因他們比埃及更難逃避此災（32：9~10）。在耶和華的日子（審判）來到時，人們的命運和下場，正像天體星光變為黑暗那樣的可悲（32：7~8；參30：18；摩5：18、20；賽13：9~10；珥2：2、10、31；番1：15）。

        三十二章的第二段預言（17~32節），以西結進一步描述了陰間（死人的住處）的景象：法老和其軍兵降到地的深處。在那裡，他們受到各國的歡迎，法老倒可受到安慰，因為不只他一人遭此命運（32：31）。他們的死狀，正反映了一生殘暴的下場，所謂「靠刀劍活的，必死在刀下。」某些國家像西頓、以東雖尚未傾覆，但以西結已預見他們在陰府中的樣子。任何抵擋上帝的勢力，都要下到陰間，忍受刑罰，像埃及一樣。

        雖然埃及人也行割禮，但他們的行為跟別人沒有什麼不同。猶太人也是如此，他們死後與別人一同躺臥，在墳中要因自己的惡行感到罪咎與羞愧（32：27）。除非他們的心受割禮，把自己分別歸上帝，或者藉著主耶穌除去罪孽，不再有罪惡感或羞恥，他們才能真的與人有所不同。

        卅三章的預言再次轉向以色列百姓，以西結從上帝那裡重新接受了作屬靈守望者的責任（33：7；3：17）。這段預言是三章16至21節的放大，也極似於第十八章。上帝強調以西結的責任，還是去警戒那些惡人。今天凡被上帝呼召，走出黑暗進入光明的信徒，對那些失喪者也都有此責任（參彼前2：9）。我們需要告訴他們這簡單的信息（參林前14：8），就像保羅所做的。他可以很有信心地說：這一生已完成了勸誡人的任務，他們的罪必不歸到他頭上（徒20：26~27、31）。如果我們不願為耶穌基督作見證，我們就要負別人欠上帝債的責任。

        這段預言的時間約在耶路撒冷陷落後的一年半，當時很多人因被放逐而抱怨上帝不公平，以西結為此再強調上帝是公平、公義的。只有真實的悔改，人才能存活（33：17~20）。僅管在和巴比倫對抗的期間，有些義人死了，惡人卻悻存，但上帝的公正仍存在。義人在上帝那裡要得永生，惡人卻要滅亡。何況這些惡人很快就要因基大利的被殺（王下25：25~26），紛紛逃離到埃及去了。而在埃及期間，他們仍遇上耶和華的劍（參耶42：14~22；43：7），當他們還倖存在以色列時，他們宣稱他們必安居在上帝給亞伯拉罕的這塊應許之地，因為他們是亞伯拉罕的後裔。但這種宣告是無效的（33：24），他們那不悔改的心，虛偽、拜偶像、淫亂、驕傲、殺害無辜者，使他們根本不配享用這塊地（參太3：8~9；約8：33~44）。可悲的是，那些流亡的百姓一樣虛偽，即使他們認出以西結是真先知，許多話已應驗，他們仍不照上帝的話去行，並且偏行己意（33：30~33）。

        主啊！願我們的心真實而清潔地活在您面前，因您知道我們內心的思想和意念，求您使我們將您的話藏在心理，免得我們得罪您。奉主耶穌基督的名，阿們！

English

        Chapter 32 consists of two distinct prophecies given two weeks apart about one and a half years after the destruction of Jerusalem. With them, the prophecies against Egypt and other foreign nations come to a close. Ezekiel likens the Pharoah to both a young lion, signifying royalty, and a monsterous water creature (possibly a crocodile) that stirred up trouble among the nations (32:2). This uncontrollable and unruly creature, however, was to be captured by the Lord's net with the help of the Babylonians, just as Zedekiah had been caught (32:3; 12:13; 17:20). In a graphic illustration of the plunder and desolation that would follow Pharoah's death, Ezekiel describes the Nile River and its irrigation channels as being clear and gently flowing (like oil), no longer stirred up and made muddy by Pharaoh, his people, nor any beasts (32:12-15).

        His downfall would cause all the smaller heathen nations to greatly fear, for if Egypt, the nation that would have dominated them, had fallen, they would have no chance of escape (32:9-10). The general doom and deep despair of the wicked because of the Day of the Lord (judgment) is illustrated by the darkening of the celestial lights (32:7-8; cf. 30:18; Amos 5:18, 20; Isa. 13:9-10; Joel 2:2,10, 31; Zeph. 1:15).

        In the second prophecy of chapter 32 (v. 17-32), Ezekiel gives one of the most detailed descriptions of Sheol (the Pit or the abode of the dead). Pharoah and his army are pictured as descending into the depths of the earth, where they are welcomed by those of other prominent, fallen nations. Pharoah takes comfort to know that he is not alone in his fate (32:31). The manner of their deaths was reflective of the violent ways they had lived their lives. The common expression, "they that live by the sword shall die by the sword" is well illustrated in this oracle. Some of the nations mentioned, such as Sidon and Edom, had yet to fall, but with his prophetic insight, Ezekiel saw their ultimate condition in Sheol. Any worldly power that opposes itself to God will go down into the Pit and suffer the judgment that was due Egypt.

        Although the Egyptians practised circumcision, it made them no different, just as it made the Jews no different from the violent and wicked uncircumcised nations. They would all lie together in death, and they would all feel the guilt and shame because of the way in which they conducted their lives, for even in the grave they would have to bear their iniquities (32:27). The only difference comes when one's heart is circumcised in consecration to the Lord and when one's iniquities have been removed by the Lord Jesus, who takes away our guilt and shame.

        With chapter 33, Ezekiel's prophecies are once again directed to his own people of Israel, and he receives a fresh charge from the Lord to be their spiritual watchman (33:7; 3:17). This new prophecy is an amplified version of chapter 3:16-21, and it also has many similarities to chapter 18. The Lord stressed the responsibility of Ezekiel, as His called servant, to warn the wicked. Believers today who are called by God out of darkness into His marvelous light have this same responsibility toward the lost (cf. 1 Pet. 2:9). We need to give them the simple message of the Gospel (cf. 1 Cor. 14:8), as did the Apostle Paul who could say with confidence that he had faithfully fulfilled his task in warning all the people with whom he came into contact (including us through the written Word). He was therefore innocent of their blood (Acts 20:26-27, 31). If we do not witness for Jesus Christ, we will be called to account for it.

        This prophecy was given almost one and a half years after Jerusalem had been destroyed and some of the exiles had been saying that God was not fair and just. Ezekiel again stressed to the people that the Lord was indeed fair and His judgments were righteous, for He demanded true repentance, that they might have life (33:17-20). Although during the conflict with the Babylonians some righteous people had died and some of the wicked remained to dwell in the land of Judah, the Lord's justice would yet be executed. The righteous would have eternal life and the wicked would perish. The wicked remnant who remained in the land were soon to leave the land desolate (33:28) and flee for refuge in Egypt after the slaying of Gedaliah. In Egypt they would meet the sword of the Lord (cf. Jer. 42:14-22; 43:7). When they were still in the land of Israel, they claimed it as their own on the basis of God's promise to Abraham and because they were Abraham's descendants. But this was (and is) not a valid claim (33:24). Because of their unrepentant hearts, hypocrisy, idolatry, adultery, pride, and shedding of innocent blood, they had not lived up to the necessary conditions wherein they were to enjoy the land (cf. Matt. 3:8-9; John 8:33-44). Sadly, those in the exile were also hypocritical, for even after the prophecies of Ezekiel had been fulfilled and they had recognized him as a true prophet, God's words still made no difference in their lives (33:30-33).

        Lord, may our hearts be true and pure before You, for You know even the thoughts and intents of our hearts. Enable us to hide Your Word in our hearts, "that we might not sin against You", just as David once prayed.