Bible Studies
The End Is Upon You (Ezek. 7:1-4)
Series: God Speaks to Our People In ExileIntroduction:
1. Can you imagine what it would be like for the Lord to speak to us reminding us of all our sins and then say, “I am sending My anger against you and I will have no pity?” 2. This is exactly what He did in Ezek. 7:1-4. 3. Already the Babylonians have attacked twice.a. One group was taken captive in 606.
b. A second group was taken captive in 597. Ezekiel was taken captive with this group (2 Kings 24:10ff).
c. It is 592(Ezek. 1:2)--591 (8:1) the city of Jerusalem still stands along with the temple. It is ruled over by Zedekiah, an appointee of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
4. Then the Lord God said, (reading 7:5-9). 5. I think that I would get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. My knees would turn to water and all my strength would be gone. 6. Indeed this is the very description used in 7:17ff. As each man mourned over his iniquity “all hands will hang limp and all knees will become like water. They will gird themselves with sackcloth and shuddering will overwhelm them; and shame will be on all faces and baldness on all their heads. They will fling their silver into the streets and their gold will be an abhorrent thing; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.” 7. The temple would be plundered by robbers. In their anguish the people would seek peace, but there would be none. They would seek a vision from a prophet, the law from the priest and counsel from the elders. Even though they mourned, and clothed themselves with horror and their hands trembled stillthe judgment of God was coming. 8. Why? Why is Israel being judged?Discussion:
I. The four images of chapter 8 reflect the idolatry of Israel.A. The first occurs to the north of the altar gate at the entrance to the gate. It is the “idol of jealousy.” See 8:1-6.
1. Idols were characteristically found at gates.
2. That jealousy is mentioned here reminds us of God’s repeated call for Israel’s exclusive devotion because He is a jealous God (Ex. 20:4-6). He calls for our exclusive devotion with the same language (James 4:1-10).
B. The second occurs at the entrance of the court. See 8:7-13. Each image takes us closer into the temple and to the place marking the very presence of God.
1. Ezekiel was instructed to dig through the wall.
2. Entering he saw every form of creeping thing and beasts and detestable things, with the idols of the of the house of Israel were carved on the wall all around.
3. Seventy elders of Israel were standing among the idols each with a censor in his hand and the fragrance of the incense rising. They are worshiping the idols.
4. They say, “The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.” Their understanding of the Lord contradicts the voice of the prophets who see God as both omniscient and omnipresent. The coming judgment is testimony both to His seeing them and being present (Ezek. 9:10).
C. The third element of the vision takes place at the entrance of the gate of the Lord’s house toward the north. See 8:14-15.
1. Here Ezekiel is shown women weeping for Tammuz.
2. This is the only place in Scripture where Tammuz is mentioned.
3. Some identify Tammuz as a Babylonian agricultural or fertility deity originating from a Sumerian shepherd-god (Dumuzid), but also known as a god of food and vegetation.
4. Beginning with the summer solstice came a time of mourning as the Babylonians marked the decline of daylight hours and the onset of killing summer heat and drought with a six-day “funeral” for Tammuz. He was assigned to the underworld for six months then reborn bringing life to agricultural production once again.
5. Others identify Tammuz with the Greek god Adonis, god of vegetation. Who also had a similar life-death-rebirth cycle.
6. So what Ezekiel sees is women weeping for Tammuz, the Babylonian god of fertility or the Greek god Adonis.
7. In each visionary element God says, “You will see still greater abominations than these.”
D. The fourth element of the vision takes place in the inner court of the Lord’s house. See 8:16-18.
1. Here Ezekiel sees 25 men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east. They are worshiping the sun.
2. C. F. Kiel identifies these as 24 leaders of the priests + the high priest.
3. Moses had warned against the worship of the host of heaven in Deut. 4:19-20. It was a crime punishable by death (Deut. 17:2ff).
E. Thus God said, “I will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them” (8:18).
II. God commands six executioners to go throughout the city and slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women (9:1-3, 5-8).A. Immediately you question the justice of slaying everyone, even little children.
1. Ezekiel questioned the extent of the destruction as well (7-8).
2. The answer is given in verses 9-10.
3. The extent of the destruction is consistent with the gravity of the sin committed.
4. It is hard for us to comprehend the severity of the sin and therefore the severity of the destruction.
B. It is interesting that the destruction begins with the elders who were before the temple.
1. The elders should be leading others to respect the Lord.
2. The judgment of God begins with these elders.
C. The glory of God moves from the cherub (of the mercy seat?) to the threshold of the temple to issue His instructions.
1. The iniquity is very very great therefore the destruction is very very great.
2. The six executioners complete their task.
III. A mark was placed on the foreheads of those sighing and groaning over the abominations in the city (9:3-4).A. Before the command to execute God justice there is another command.
B. It is given to the commander of the six executioners. He is dressed in linen. He has a writing case.
C. The command is that he put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are being committed in the city.
D. These are separated from the destruction.
1. It is interesting that the mark is on their foreheads. Evidently they were not hardheaded like the others (cf. Ezek. 3:8-9). They sigh and groan over all the abominations.
2. In Revelation you may recall those who had marks on their foreheads.
a. The bondservants of God were sealed on their foreheads (Rev. 7).
b. These were protected from the judgments of God (Rev. 9:4).
c. But those associated with the beast were given a mark on their forehead (Rev. 13:16).
d. These came under the judgment of God (Rev. 14:9).
e. Some are marked for judgment; others are marked for preservation.
3. These in Ezekiel’s image who have a mark on their foreheads escape the judgment of God.
E. Even though the destruction is severe those who grieve over sin are rescued (cf. 2 Pet. 2:4-10a).
Conclusion:
1. God’s wrath is coming upon the wicked. 2. God’s mercy is reserved for those who grieve over sin. 3. Are you marked for wrath or for mercy?
