Empty Crowns
One Year Bible: November 14
Ezekiel 29:1-30:26
Empty Crowns
Egypt, Oh Mighty Egypt!
This lament is for you, not that you are being stricken and taken down in all of your evil, but that it didn’t happen to you sooner because you were like a “Crocodile in the Nile”.
Why does God have Ezekiel tell the stories with such angst and descriptive words?
This is poetry or analogy common to their day and time, but not common to us.
When you hear the word “Egypt” what comes to your mind?
Ahhh, yes! The Ten Egyptian plagues for the Ten Egyptian gods and goddesses that God sent to force Pharoah to “let my people go.”
The number TEN is a significant number in biblical numerology as it stands for the fullness or completeness of their discipline.
So, there were the TEN Unforgettable Plagues and the TEN Commandments.
What a big contrast there is between those two things. One was symbolic of the fullness of God’s moral code, and one of His expressed judgment on those who would not repent.
TEN TIMES Pharoah had the opportunity to repent and let “My People GO!” Ten Times he said “NO”. It was a memorable moment even for Charlton Heston! (If I need to explain that little comment you might want to watch the movie, “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS”).
Speaking of the Nile and the Crocodiles, that’s where the Egyptian army ended up, and while God’s people walked through an open, parted SEA for all the world to SEE!
But all of that and the amazing miracles of deliverance performed by God on behalf of his people seem to be long forgotten and that is why we are where we are today.
This passage describes them as “LIVIN’ IN THE SHADE” but before they know it they too are in the “EVERGLADES”. That mirky Nile has come back to haunt them again.
Did you read the reaction of their neighbors? It is basically, “Why didn’t you get here sooner, (Sheol) because it is what you have always deserved. The monstrous crocodile was not nearly as powerful as he thought.”
There is another analogy used here which says, “I have broken the arm of Pharaoh King of Egypt.” He had no strength to pick up a sword to defend himself. Instead, he would groan in agony and defeat.
This king held onto his crown with every morsel of evil strength that was in him. He would not bow to TEN COLOSSAL PLAGUES nor to a God who demonstrated HIS SOVEREIGN POWER by dividing the RED SEA. It was simply an unforgettable event to the nation of Egypt, but now it is long FORGOTTEN or PRIDEFULLY IGNORED…
Yet, the facts remain. God’s people were set free from their evil then, and they would be set free again… The crown of the evil empire is laid bare, powerless, defeated… AGAIN!
In this special season of mourning, I am reminded of another crown, however.
The United States declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776, and even with all of that history, we have once again become admirers and on-watchers of “The Crown” and “All Things Royal”. We have watched the royal spats and the death of a beloved princess through the years… But, now, “God Save the Queen”, and I believe He has done just that…
Listen to Queen Elizabeth’s words about her crown and power.
The Queen exclaimed: “How I wish that the Lord would come in my lifetime!”
“Why?” asked the chaplain.
The Queen replied with quivering lips and her whole countenance lighted up by deep emotion--
“I should so love to lay my crown at His feet.” @theroyalfamily
AND, SO SHE SHALL…EMPTY CROWNS speak of true allegiance!
