Friday, January 14 2011
Ezekiel 9
Verse of the Week: V4 “And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.”
1. God’s Glory Has Departed (V1-3)
V1 “He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.”
God spoke to Prophet Ezekiel that He would destroy the people of Israel because of their grievous sins and wickedness. The grievous sins and wickedness were so great that God’s glory had departed from the house of God. It was the saddest time of the history of Israel.
V3 “And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;”
2. God’s Men Are Preserved (V4)
V4 “And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst of thereof.”
Though God sent His angels to destroy the wicked there was still a remnant of God’s people who were holy and hated the grievous sins and wickedness of the people of Israel. God commanded His angels to set a mark upon the foreheads of these holy men so that they would be preserved from His judgment.
3. God’s Judgment Is Sure (V5-11)
V6 “Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.”
In the eyes of God, the worst sins were committed by the ancient men who were the priests and the Levites as they were nearest to Him serving in the sanctuary or the house of God. This was why God’s glory had departed from the sanctuary and His judgment was upon the sins of the people of Israel and Judah. God is grieved when His people who are supposed to be the light of the world become the stumbling block of the world.
V9 “Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.”
Prayer of the Week
Dearest God, please help me to be Your holy men in this unholy world.
