As you read Ezekiel 21, were you singing, “Glory, glory Hallelujah!”? Perhaps not, but this is how the hymnwriter calls us to respond when our “eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the LORD.” In “Battle Hymn of the Republic,“ God’s “truth is marching on,” as He not only tramples “grapes of wrath,” but has “loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword.” Throughout this chapter and all of Scripture, the sword of the LORD is an image of God’s holy judgment. The wrath prophesied against the southern kingdom of Judah was first pictured as a devasting forest fire (20:45-48). Now it becomes this terrifying sword, unleashed against Jerusalem and “all flesh,” both the righteous and the wicked. Some had escaped the earlier invasions of Babylon, but none will be spared when Nebuchadnezzar comes again (v 1-5). To emphasize that fearful certainty, Ezekiel is told to publicly sigh and groan. When people ask him what’s wrong, he is to share the bad news: a sword is “sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning!” It will be handed over to the slayer to use against Israel and their princes (v 6-13). God instructs the prophet to publicly clap his hands and brandish a sword three times. These threatening gestures are meant to signify the LORD’s determination to satisfy His fury by decimating His own people (v 14-17). In another dramatic sign-act, Ezekiel is told to make a map with a crossroads. Signposts provide two options for the king of Babylon to follow as he comes to this fork in the road. One road leads to Ammon and its capital, Rabbah. The other leads to Judah and its capital, Jerusalem. Which city shall he attack? Nebuchadnezzar calls for his magicians. Utilizing all the pagan methods of decision-making, he concludes that Jerusalem will be his next target (v 18-22). The people of Jerusalem will think it’s a false omen, because they had made a treaty with the Babylonians. But the king of Babylon will remind the people of their rebellion against him. Then he will attack and capture them. Yet, as the LORD reminds His people, ultimately they had rebelled against Him. Their guilt was undeniable; their punishment was near. Zedekiah, their king, will be stripped of his jeweled crown, and the kingdom will be destroyed (v 23-27a). The ruinous state will continue until the coming of Him to whom judgment finally belongs (v 27b). The house of David will be humiliated, but it will rise again when God gives it to His Son, Jesus Christ. It is only through faith in His cross that we can escape God’s just wrath, for the avenging sword of the LORD was unsheathed on Him who died in our place. Glory, glory hallelujah! For further meditation: