January 18, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Ezekiel? Here’s today’s reading:
Ezekiel 9 (NIV)
Judgment on the Idolaters
1 Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.” 2 And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar...........Continue Reading
Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand. God had the man with the list to mark the foreheads of the ones that are against and detest what has been gong on. He then had them kill all others with no pity or compassion and put all the bodies in the temple. Since they all said God had forsaken them he showed them what that would look like with no mercy or pity shown. Ezekiel even cried but the Lord explained why it had to be this way. He did save the marked ones.
Ezekiel 9
Ezekiel’s vision continues in chapter 9 as God brings judgement on all those who embrace and participate in the detestable practices and offers protection over those who are saddened by it. It is good to know that there was a remnant of Jews who still cared about the things of God. We also know that God always makes a distinction between those who are faithful to His ways and those who are not. And so texts like this reenforce how important it is to make sure we too are on the Lord’s side. And the ways we follow now is to believe on Jesus and receive His righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Although it is quite freaky to think of this situation (mothers and children being killed), it was probably for their best.. their detestable actions would have killed them anyway..
Ezekiel 9
The vision continues with God’s response to our sin and we know that the wages for sin is death. He spares those who still believe and obey. This is a hard picture to see but it is the reality of living a life detestable to God and outside of His will. It will only bring pain, despair, and death.
This vision is very difficult for Ezekiel to handle, and he cries out to the Lord as the destruction unfolds before him. However, God in his wrath, does not kill the people who obey him, follow his ways, and grieve over the sins of their people. Although he is angry, he protects his faithful followers. He will do the same today for those who believe in his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
“And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; 4 and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”
5 To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. 6 Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.”
This reminded me of the marking of the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel in Revelation 7 and 14.
“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
God marks and protects those who are marked or sealed. I wonder if the Holy Spirit is the “mark” of the believer.
It is interesting that Satan will mark people.
I believe we will be raptured before that “offer” is made, nonetheless, we should be watchful.