The Bible Recap – Day 247: Ezekiel 25-27 (Year 7)

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: September 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In today’s episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble recaps Ezekiel chapters 25-27, which detail God’s judgments against various enemy nations—Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, and Tyre—for their actions and attitudes towards Israel. She explores the complexities of biblical prophecy, the consequences of schadenfreude and arrogance, and reflects on God’s protective nature and justice. Tara-Leigh also uses this passage to encourage trust in God’s timing rather than personal retribution.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Prophecies Against Pagan Nations

[00:04]

• Several neighboring nations—each with their own sins—are the focus in Ezekiel 25:
  • Ammonites: Condemned for their schadenfreude—taking pleasure in Israel's suffering.
    • “Schadenfreude is the reason we laugh at videos of people slipping on ice. But for the Ammonites, it was far more sinister. They loved watching the temple be defiled... They literally celebrated death and destruction.” [00:14]
  • Moab: Distant relatives of Israel, but they were judged for dismissing Israel’s unique relationship with Yahweh, treating them as just another nation.
  • Edom: Acted with vengeance and cruelty; God declares He will use Israel as an instrument of His justice against them.
  • Philistia: Committed similar sins as Edom, but their attackers are left unspecified in the prophecy.

2. The Judgment of Tyre

[01:45]

• Tyre’s Background: A powerful, wealthy trading city north of Israel, with historic friendly ties to Israel:
  • Provided materials for David’s palace and Solomon’s temple.
• Tyre’s Sin: Rejoiced over Jerusalem's fall, seeing Israel's demise as an opportunity for their own gain, showing no concern for the loss suffered.
• Prophecy vs. History:
  • Ezekiel predicts Babylon would destroy Tyre, but historical fulfillment was complex:
    • Babylon laid a 13-year siege but didn’t fully conquer; full destruction came later by the Greeks.
    • Tara-Leigh discusses how commentators view this:
      • Some see prophetic language as hyperbolic/metaphorical, not meant to be literal.
      • “If you wonder what I mean by hyperbolic language, here’s an example. Ezekiel says Babylon would build a siege mound against Tyre, knowing full well that it’s an island. You can’t build a siege mound against an island. So, this seems to be intentionally puffed up language.” [03:34]
      • No specific timeline is given, so later Greek conquest could fulfill it.
      • Ezekiel himself later alludes to this complexity (Ezekiel 29:18).
    • Tara-Leigh underscores that biblical prophecies often make sense only in hindsight.

3. Lament for Tyre and Broader Implications

[05:02]

• Ezekiel 27 is a lament over Tyre’s wealth and eventual downfall:
  • Tyre was massively influential, trading in various goods—including even human beings, highlighting the city’s moral corruption.
  • The lament diverts to Tyre’s arrogance and the fleeting nature of power and prestige.

4. God’s Protective Justice

[06:02]

• Through all judgments, Tara-Leigh’s takeaway is God’s deep commitment to justice for His people.
  • “God is against the people who are against God’s people. Even after all Israel has done to betray him and break his heart, he’s still committed to working justice toward their enemies.” [06:10]
• God’s promise of justice is reassuring; it means believers do not need to retaliate or harbor bitterness.
  • “We can trust him to mete out justice even more precisely than we ever could. And in his perfect timing, I can lay down my weapons, even if they’re just words… I can lay down my bitterness because it says I don’t trust him.” [06:29]
• The episode closes on the note that God is our defender, and there’s joy in trusting Him.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Schadenfreude:
  “Schadenfreude is the reason we laugh at videos of people slipping on ice. But for the Ammonites, it was far more sinister. They loved watching the temple be defiled, the land be destroyed, and the people of Judah be killed and exiled. They literally celebrated death and destruction.” — Tara-Leigh Cobble [00:14]

• On Hyperbolic Language in Prophecy:
  “Ezekiel says Babylon would build a siege mound against Tyre, knowing full well that it’s an island. You can’t build a siege mound against an island, so this seems to be intentionally puffed up language.” — Tara-Leigh Cobble [03:34]

• On Trusting in God’s Justice:
  “Even after all Israel has done to betray him and break his heart, he’s still committed to working justice toward their enemies. God’s protective nature and his promise of justice is good news for us because it means we don’t have to take things into our own hands.” — Tara-Leigh Cobble [06:10]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:04 — Introduction to prophecies against enemy nations
• 00:14 — Explanation of Ammon’s schadenfreude and God’s response
• 01:05 — Moab, Edom, and Philistia’s sins and prophesied judgments
• 01:45 — Overview of Tyre and its significance
• 03:34 — Discussing prophecy fulfillment, hyperbole, and interpretive approaches
• 05:02 — Lament for Tyre’s wealth and arrogance
• 06:02 — Main takeaway: God’s protective nature and justice
• 06:29 — Encouragement to trust God and relinquish bitterness

Final Reflection

Tara-Leigh concludes by celebrating the near-completion of the Old Testament reading, encouraging listeners to reflect on their journey, and to trust that God’s justice—though sometimes mysterious—can always be relied upon. She reminds the audience, “He is my defender, and he’s where the joy is.” [06:55]

If you’re journeying through the Bible and need encouragement or clarity on tough passages, this episode offers both helpful context and plenty of heart.