Ezekiel 7
-The Word of God continues throughout this chapter again
centered on the coming destruction of Judah for the purpose of people knowing
that the LORD is supreme and ruler of all (Ezekiel 7:4,9,27). An end is decreed
on the four corners of the land. God’s anger has been kindled and will not
abate. His people will be judged for their waywardness and false religious
systems. He will show no pity, nor will He spare them as He brings their vile ways
upon them ending in a destruction of unique proportions. Tumult instead of
rejoicing on the mountains of Israel will mark the end in this day of God’s
vengeance. Their “doom has gone forth; the rod has budded, arrogance has
blossomed. Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness. None of them shall
remain, none of their people, none of their wealth, nor anything eminent (noahh- lamentation, importance,
distinction) among them (Ezekiel 7:1-11).”
-“The time has come, the day has arrived. Let not the buyer
rejoice not the seller mourn; for wrath is against all their multitude.” Their
hedonism has betrayed them and none will maintain their way of life as the
consequence of their iniquity. “They have blown the trumpet and made everything
ready, but no one is going to the battle, for My (God’s) wrath is against all
their multitude. The sword is outside, and the plague and the famine are
within. He who is in the field will die; famine and the plague will also
consume those in the city. Even when their survivors escape, they will be on
the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning over their
iniquity. All hands will hang limp and all knees will become like water.”
Sackcloth and shuddering will overwhelm these objects of the wrath of God;
shame on each face and baldness on each head will be the marks of His retribution.
They will fling their silver and gold into the streets as an abhorrent thing
because these precious metals will not save them in the day of destruction.
“They (silver and gold) cannot satisfy their appetite nor can they fill their
stomachs; for their iniquity has become an occasion of stumbling (Ezekiel
7:12-19).”
-The Temple also will be profaned by the enemies of the LORD
in the overthrow. The reason is listed. God’s people “transformed the beauty of
His ornaments into pride, and they made the images of their abominations and
their detestable things with it.” Therefore, God tells them that He will make
the Temple an abhorrent thing to them by “giving it into the hands of the
foreigners as plunder and to the wicked of the earth as spoil, and they will
profane it.” The LORD promises to turn His face from these foreigners as they
profane even the holy of holies with robbery and other detestable deeds. The
prophet gives the Word of the LORD further by telling them to “make the chain,
for the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence.” The
worst of the nations will be able to come in to confiscate and possess their
houses. The pride of the strong ones of Judah will cease, and there will be no
place of refuge from the chaos and calamity. “Disaster will come upon disaster
and rumor will be added to rumor; then they will seek a vision from a prophet,
but the law will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders. The king
will mourn, the prince will be clothed with horror, and the hands of the people
of the land will tremble.” According to their despicable conduct the LORD will
deal with them. By their judgments, He will judge them. All this will be for
the purpose of exposing the futility of their ways and the eventual acknowledgement
of Him as the One they should “know (Ezekiel 7:20-27).”
-*Application* At the heart of any downfall is pride. We
must recognize and acknowledge that the LORD God is above us by a vast margin.
Our own devise and ways cannot bring redemption or salvation. False gods can
never deliver in the clutch. God wants us to “know” Him as the only way, truth,
and life (John 14:6). So humble yourself before His majesty (James 4:10, 1
Peter 5:5-6).
Verse to Memorize:
Ezekiel 7:20
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