August 29: Ezekiel 9-12

August 29, Ezekiel 9-12

Ezekiel continued…

Ezekiel 9 God gave Ezekiel the vision of God bringing 6 men, executioners, to the scity with weapons for slaughter. With them was a man clothed in linen. The man clothed in linen had a writing case by his side. God told the man to go through the city and mark on the foreheads of the people who mourn over the sins and abominations of God’s people. To the other 6 men, they were to go into the city and kill all who did not have God’s mark. Historians believe that the mark was the Hebrew X, called a taw. This would have been seen as anticipation of the cross of Jesus Christ. The first ones to die, who did not have the mark, were the elders that Ezekiel saw in his earlier vision. Then the executioners went throughout killing the rest. Ezekiel fell on his face and pleaded for their lives (remember, he had relatives there as well). God reminded Ezekiel that they were all guilty and had forsaken God. Therefore, God was bringing their guilt upon them - basically their deeds were being deeded to them. Then the man clothed in linen came to God and told him that the people were marked.

Ezekiel 10 is a bit of a revisit of what Ezekiel saw in chapter 1 with the wheels and the Cherubim. This serves as a reminder that the destruction of Jerusalem is inevitable. The Cherubim went where they were led. The Glory of God was upon the Cherubim…

Ezekiel 11 Ezekiel gets another vision where he is lifted up and brought to the East gate of the House of the Lord. God showed him the wicked men that were there and how they were falsely prophesying that the time was not near for judgment. God told Ezekiel to go tell them otherwise and call out their lies. Their sins have led to their destruction and the sword will come upon them. God will judge them and the will know that God is the Lord. They have obeyed the practices of their neighbors and not that of God. But there still will be a remnant that God will protect. Even though God scattered them, he will bring some back and give them a heart for Him and they will want to serve Him and obey Him. Those that want their sin will have death. 

Ezekiel 12 God tells Ezekiel to basically move out of his house, preparing for exile - during the day so that the people will see him. This was to be a sign for Israel. Ezekiel obeyed. 

The next day the Lord told Ezekiel about what was going to happen to Zedekiah. The people were to go into exile and Zedekiah will be trapped. Some will escape again but the majority will have to experience famine, pestilence - realizing their abominations, so that they will know that the Lord is Lord. 

God warned Ezekiel that the days are coming when all of his visions will come true. There will be no more false prophets and lies. Whatever God says will happen will happen.

To sum it all up: 

• Fear the Lord and kill your idols. Do this, and live.