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One-sentence summary: Ezekiel prophesies judgment on the people for their unfaithfulness and bloodshed; Ezekiel's wife dies, but the Lord tells him not to mourn as a sign to the people of what is to come.
The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel. He tells him a story of two sisters who "committed harlotry in Egypt," Oholah and Oholibah. They were the Lord's and bore sons and daughters. He tells him that Oholah is Samaria, and Jerusalem is Oholibah. Samaria lusted after the Assyrians and defiled herself with their idols, so the Lord has delivered her into the hands of her lovers who "uncovered her nakedness, took away her sons and daughters, and slew her with the sword." Even though Jerusalem saw this, she became even more corrupt than her sister in her heart, and also lusted after the Assyrians. The Lord says He saw she was defiled. She "looked at the Chaldeans portrayed on the wall," and as soon as she saw them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them. Then, the Babylonians came to her, "into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their immorality." Then, the Lord alienated Himself from her, but she multiplied her harlotry just like she had done in her youth in Egypt. The Lord says, "Their flesh is like donkeys' flesh, and their emission is like horses'." Therefore, the Lord says to Jerusalem that He will stir up her lovers against them and bring them against her from every side- the Chaldeans, Babylonians, and Assyrians- and they will judge her according to their judgments. They will "deal furiously with [them.]" The Lord will make them "cease their lewdness and their harlotry," and they will be left exposed and bare, because they went after the Gentiles unfaithfully and have been defiled by their idols. They will drink of their sister's cup, "the cup of horror and desolation," and they will be "filled with drunkenness and sorrow." Because they have forgotten the Lord and "cast Him behind their back," they will "bear the penalty of their lewdness and harlotry." The Lord tells Ezekiel to judge Samaria and Jerusalem and tell them their abominations; they committed adultery with idols- even sacrificing their own children- and are guilty of bloodshed. They have defiled the Lord's sanctuary and profaned the Sabbath by entering His sanctuary on the same day they sacrificed their own children. The Lord says that He thought they would not still play the harlot when they were older, but they did, so righteous men will judge them for adultery and murder. The Lord says to bring up an assembly against them to stone them and slay them with the sword and to give them up to trouble and plunder. After they have paid for their idolatrous sins, they will know He is the Lord.
The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel again, and He tells him to write down that day, because it is the day the king of Babylon is beginning His siege against Jerusalem. He also tells him to give t"he rebellious house" a parable, saying, "Thus says the Lord God." The Lord says to put on a pot and pour water into it, and put choice cuts of meat in it. Then, boil the meat, and let it simmer. Then, he is to say that the Lord says, "Woe to the bloody city.... for her blood is in her midst." The Lord says the filth will be consumed by fire. The Lord cleansed her, but she refused to be cleansed, so she will not be cleansed any more until the Lord's fury has rested upon her. They will be judged according to their ways and deeds. The word of the Lord comes again and tells Ezekiel that He will take away the desire of his eyes (his wife) in one stroke, but he will not mourn or weep; he will only sigh in silence. The Lord tells him not to eat man's bread of sorrow. Ezekiel speaks to the people in the morning, and in the evening, his wife dies. The next morning, he does as the Lord commands him to do, not weeping or mourning. The people ask him what these things signify, and he tells them that the word of the Lord came to him and told him that He will profane His sanctuary- their boasts, the desire of their eyes and delight of their soul, their sons and daughters whom they left behind, will fall by the sword, and they will not mourn for them either. They will pine away in their iniquities. Then, they will know He is the Lord. The Lord says when He takes their stronghold, their joy, their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that on which they set their minds, their sons and daughters, then one will escape and will come to Ezekiel, and he will hear it with his ears. Then, he will not be mute any longer and will speak to the one who escapes. After all this, they will know He is the Lord.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
Think about how long-suffering the Lord is: before He brings calamity, He gives many, many chances for repentance.
The Lord paints a vivid picture of how disgusting idolatry is to Him as a faithful Husband to His people.