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Daily Devotions

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 251

"The cup of horror and desolation"

Text: Ezekiel 23:33

THE CUP OF THE LORD

The word “cup” is drawn from the idea of feasting and fellowship. Over time, the word “cup” had two broad applications. The first one is that of God’s great provision. This imagery is found in Psalm 23 where the Psalmist David wrote about how his cup overflows because of God’s provision.

The second application is a grim one. This was the cup of suffering and death. This was a bitter cup that Israel drank. It was the cup that Judah would also drink because of its sinful and wicked ways.

“Thus says the Lord God:
‘You shall drink of your sister’s cup,
The deep and wide one;
You shall be laughed to scorn
And held in derision;
It contains much.
You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
The cup of horror and desolation,
The cup of your sister Samaria.'”
Ezekiel 23:32-33

1. Thus says the Lord God.

a) This word came from the Lord.

b) This was a judgment that God had to pronounce against Jerusalem and Judah.

2. Your sister’s cup.

a) Israel drank from this bitter cup.

b) Judah would also drink from this cup.

c) The cup was “deep and wide”.

i) Israel and Judah participated in drunken revelry.

ii) Both drank foolishly and were drunk with dire consequences.

3. On-lookers

a) They would laugh at Judah with scorn.

b) Drunken Judah would behave foolishly because of intoxication.

c) All the guests would view Judah with derision.

d) The erstwhile holy nation had become hopelessly drunk.

4. The consequences

a) There will be drunkenness and sorrow.

b) There will be horror as well.

c) Desolation would come to Judah.

d) These things were experienced by Samaria.

e) They would also be sorely felt by Judah.