Ezekiel 29:17
In the twenty-seventh year, on the first day of the first month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
In the twenty-seventh year,

The twenty-seventh year of Jehoiachin’s exile falls about 571 BC, making this the latest dated prophecy in Ezekiel. The long interval since Jerusalem’s fall shows that the Lord’s purposes continued to govern events beyond Judah’s immediate catastrophe.

1Ki 16:15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah,…
2Ki 15:1 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam’s reign…
Ezk 1:1 In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month,…

on the first day of the first month,

The first month, Nisan, marked the beginning of Israel’s religious year and included Passover, when Israel remembered the Lord’s deliverance from Egypt. God’s judgment upon Egypt therefore stood in striking contrast to His former use of Egypt as the setting from which He redeemed His people.

Exo 40:2 On the first day of the first month, set up the tabernacle…
2Ch 29:17 For eight more days they consecrated the house of the LORD…
Ezr 7:9 He had begun the journey from Babylon…

the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Ezekiel spoke by divine revelation rather than personal reflection. The message that follows reveals the Lord’s authority over Babylon, Egypt, Israel, and every nation, directing history according to His righteous purposes.

Ezk 1:3 The word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest…
Ezk 3:16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came…
Jer 1:4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet of God, Ezekiel is the recipient of God's word. He is known for his visions and prophecies concerning the judgment and restoration of Israel.

2. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who communicates His divine will and plans through His prophets.

3. Egypt
Although not mentioned directly in this verse, the context of Ezekiel 29 involves prophecies against Egypt, a nation that had been a significant power and often an adversary or unreliable ally to Israel.

4. Babylon
The rising power during Ezekiel's time, which God uses as an instrument of judgment against other nations, including Egypt.

5. The Twenty-Seventh Year
This date marks a specific time in Ezekiel's prophetic ministry, providing historical context for the prophecy.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Nations
God is in control of all nations and uses them to fulfill His purposes. This should remind us of His ultimate authority and our need to trust in His plans.

The Importance of Prophetic Timing
The specific timing of prophecies highlights God's precision and faithfulness. We can trust that God's timing in our lives is perfect, even when we do not understand it.

Judgment and Restoration
God's messages often include both judgment and hope. We should be aware of our actions and their consequences, but also hold onto the hope of restoration through repentance.

Reliance on God, Not Human Alliances
Israel's history with Egypt shows the danger of relying on human strength rather than God. We should evaluate where we place our trust and ensure it is in God alone.

The Role of Prophets
Prophets like Ezekiel were vital in communicating God's word. We should value and seek out God's word in our lives, understanding its relevance and authority.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the specific timing of this prophecy (the twenty-seventh year) enhance our understanding of God's control over history?

2. In what ways can we see God's sovereignty over nations in today's world, and how should this influence our prayers and actions?

3. Reflect on a time when you relied on human strength or alliances instead of God. What was the outcome, and what did you learn from it?

4. How can we discern and apply the messages of judgment and hope found in the Bible to our personal lives and communities?

5. Considering the role of prophets in the Bible, how can we ensure we are listening to and valuing God's word in our daily lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Ezekiel 29:1-16
Provides the context for the prophecy against Egypt, detailing God's judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt for their pride and false reliance.

Jeremiah 46
Another prophecy against Egypt, reinforcing the theme of God's sovereignty over nations and His use of Babylon as an instrument of judgment.

Isaiah 19
Offers a broader perspective on Egypt's future, including both judgment and eventual blessing, showing God's ultimate plan for redemption.
A New Year's Gift to a KingJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 29:17-20
Service Done for God RewardedW. Jay.Ezekiel 29:17-20
Service for God Always RewardedJ. Summerfield, M. A.Ezekiel 29:17-20
The King of KingsJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 29:17-20
People
Egyptians, Ezekiel, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar, Pharaoh
Places
Babylon, Cush, Egypt, Migdol, Nile River, Pathros, Sidon, Syene, Tyre
Topics
Month, Pass, Saying, Seven, Seventh, Twentieth, Twenty, Twenty-seventh
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 29:16

     5914   optimism
     8467   reminders

Library
But Perhaps Some one is Alarmed at Hearing us Discourse of the Death of Him
16. But perhaps some one is alarmed at hearing us discourse of the death of Him of Whom, a short while since, we said that He is everlasting with God the Father, and that He was begotten of the Father's substance, and is one with God the Father, in dominion, majesty, and eternity. But be not alarmed, O faithful hearer. Presently thou wilt see Him of Whose death thou hearest once more immortal; for the death to which He submits is about to spoil death. For the object of that mystery of the Incarnation
Various—Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.

The Plan for the Coming of Jesus.
God's Darling, Psalms 8:5-8.--the plan for the new man--the Hebrew picture by itself--difference between God's plan and actual events--one purpose through breaking plans--the original plan--a starting point--getting inside. Fastening a Tether inside: the longest way around--the pedigree--the start. First Touches on the Canvas: the first touch, Genesis 3:15.--three groups of prediction--first group: to Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3; to Isaac, Genesis 26:1-5; to Jacob, Genesis 28:10-15; through Jacob,
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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