God is sending bleak messages to those already captive in Babylon.
Just as a reminder, this is how chapter 4 ends:
16 Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, behold, I am going to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they will eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and drink water by measure and in horror, 17 because bread and water will be scarce; and they will be appalled with one another and waste away in their iniquity. Ezekiel 4:16-17
Ezekiel's prophesy from God was a description of life in Jerusalem. The description was being given to those already captive in Babylon. Why? Why do those already experiencing captivity need such graphic descriptions of the terrors back home. Because Babylon, under the God-inspired leadership of Nebuchadnezzar, was acting relatively civilized to these captives. They were farming and living in relative peace as captives, so they thought they would soon be heading home. Their leaders assured them that everything was fine and they had no need to repent or stop any of the sins that got them there.
Ezekiel warns them that there will be nothing to go back to. Those still in Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar grows weary of the rebellion will be anxious even when they do eat because they'll know it's not enough. and ever sip of water will bring horror in knowing that it's not enough. Not surviving, but still alive. That is the stuff of horror films.
However.
The captives in Babylon still aren't getting it. So God has a new message to be demonstrated through hair. That's not a typo. Hair. In addition to being God's prophet, Ezekiel is now a priest and they have guidelines around how to treat their hair. In this chapter, Ezekiel is commanded to shave all of his off and divide it in thirds. Each third will demonstrate different ways those still in Jerusalem will live.
- when the siege is complete, one third will be destroyed in the city (by fire)
- one third will be struck by the sword and die in battle
- one third will be scattered into the wind, with an unsheathed sword being sent after them
A few pieces of hair (a remnant) are to be secured in the edges of his robe (safe as they abide in God). Verse 4 says that some of those will be set on fire and it will spread to all of Israel. The Ryrie Study Bible footnote makes it sound like that verse 4 fire is additional trials for the remnant, and maybe it does mean that; but spreading to all of Israel may be a good fire. This is the remnant (of whom Jeremiah is among), maybe it's a purifying fire–cleaning out the last of the rot.
Verse 5 starts a new paragraph, reiterating why this is happening. Jerusalem was set at the center of civilization by God, surrounded by land and provided for beyond anything she earned on her own. But her rebellion was even worse than the pagan and barbarians she was sent to save. They refused to walk in the ways prescribed by the Lord, which was supposed to light the way for all nations.
Therefore, says the Lord, I will punish you in the sight of those nations so they can see Me in how I treat your rebellion. It was God's will to use Israel as the good example to the nations, now they will still be the example God uses but now it will be what NOT to do.
I don't think I have thought about that before. We all know that God's will WILL be done. And if His will was to shine His light, it will either be by our obedience or He'll just shine the light of us being set on fire. When we tell Him "no", it doesn't mean it won't happen, it just means we won't get the blessing and may even get something much worse.
The Lord goes on to describe just how bad it will be. Fathers and sons committing cannibalism against one another. The remnant scattered in all directions. The Lord will withdraw from the defiled sanctuary and no longer have pity or spare them. He reiterates that one third will die by plague or famine, one third by the sword, and one third scattered with an unsheathed sword to follow.
Verse 13 starts a new paragraph with an assurance from the Lord that this will leave His anger spent and His wrath satisfied. he will be appeased and people will know that He had zeal in His wrath. [Tough to read "love is love" in that message.]
He goes on to emphasize that, although His wrath will be spent, they will remain a reproach and reviled among the nations. So even when He punished those other nations, Israel will still feel it. Israel will still face famine, wild beasts, loss of children, bloodshed, and the sword.
This should cure the captives of any hope of returning to their previous life of depravity. It should have made them weep in regret and beg Ezekiel to help them get right with God. But we are a stubborn rebellious creature. What good is should?