Ezekiel’s proclamation from the Lord in chapter 7 is one of the strongest prophetic messages ever offered. It is a message of sure and certain judgment that is no longer something that is coming—but something that has arrived. This message is something of a summary of the message of judgment that Ezekiel was proclaiming from the Lord. Throughout this passage God condemns the following sins:
Detestable practices (idolatry and fertility rites associated with them), Materialism, and Pride coupled with arrogance. He also confirms that Judgment has arrived and will be based on their sinful conduct.
VERSES 1-4 The End isn’t Near—The End is Here!
First, God’s message is that the end has come and that it is not a partial judgment, but a complete and total judgment. He refers to the four corners of the land- meaning that this judgment was not simply upon the people of Jerusalem who were under siege, bu5t that it related to all of the people of the land. Not only would Jerusalem not be spared, but no city would be spared.
The NIV uses the phrase (verse 3) “unleash my anger” and I like that phrase because of the visual image it gives me. God has his anger on a leash, like a rampaging pit bull. His anger, a natural response of a holy and righteous God, is held back. There comes a time when that righteous anger is unleashed and woe be unto those it comes against.
God also declares that this will not be a judgment tempered with mercy. There will be no pity. God is going to demonstrate His Lordship with judgment. The cause of this judgment is not simply that God is angry… It is the proper payment (KJV=recompense) for their detestable actions and disgraceful conduct. (KJV=abominations). When God judges sin it is a bold demonstration of His Lordship.
VERSES 5-9 The Party is Over
Ezekiel reminds his listeners that the message comes from God. He declares that God is sending a terrible disaster upon them that is completely unprecedented. It is “unheard-of.” The Hebrew translation of this is “Evil that is one” meaning a singular, unprecedented, and therefore unimaginable event. This is likely a reference to the destruction of the temple, which the Jews did not think could ever happen.
Lately, I’ve seen a television commercial about a service that allows you to receive your home phone’s voice mail from your computer. The scene shows a man and his wife, relaxing before a fire in a cabin-type setting and checking their email. The message is from their neighbor, who indicates that there is a party going home. The man picks up his cell phone and calls his home and tells his son that he and mom are on the way home because of bad weather. The next scene shows the son, with phone in hand, and a look of absolute shock on his face.
This is the message being communicated (only stronger) when God declares that the day is at hand and that instead of joy (party atmosphere associated with idolatrous worship) on the mountains there is panic. God has said in no uncertain terms that the party is over. Once more, God declares in this section, as he did in the first section that there will be no pity or mercy and that his judgment is the proper payment for the sinful conduct of His people.
In the first section, He declares that His judgment will demonstrate His Lordship. In this section, God emphasizes that the people will finally recognize that it is God Himself judging them. It wasn’t just bad circumstances, nor was it an attack of the devil, it was God’s judgment.
At times believers do not recognize God’s chastisement. Instead, we just declare that our tough circumstances are just the way life goes. At other times we suggest that Satan is attacking us. Isn’t it time that we recognize the hand of God sometimes is against us because we have sinned? Isn’t it time that we recognize that some of the tough times we are going through may be God working to get our attention. God used the Babylonian people to judge the nation of Judah—but they blamed the evil Babylonians. God wanted His people to be aware that He was meting out judgment. He was pouring out the grapes of His wrath. When the temple was destroyed He was certain that they could not miss the message!
VERSES 10-13 The Rod
The rod in Scripture is often a symbol of authority as well as an object of discipline. For example, Proverbs tell us that a rod is for the back of a fool as well as discipline for a child. Psalm 2 declares that the Messiah will break the nations with a rod of iron.
The reference to the blossoming rod is likely a reference to Aaron’s rod in Numbers 17:8. The people had challenged Aaron and the Levitical Priesthood. God’s response was to demonstrate His choice of Aaron’s family and lineage by causing Aaron’s rod to bud. In other words, here in Ezekiel, God is saying that he clearly has demonstrated right from wrong and the choice of the people to continue in sin has allowed that demonstration to grow stronger and stronger. This is something like the discipline of a baby who continues to play with an electrical outlet. First, the baby is moved and warned. Eventually, the baby might be sternly scolded. If the conduct continues, the parent may need to spank the baby’s hands.
God had demonstrated His Lordship and now that demonstration of His Lordship and His displeasure towards the people had grown into a more violent demonstration.
Ezekiel proclaims that buying and selling will cease. Simply paraphrased we might say, “the buyer should not celebrate his bargain and the seller should not grieve being forced to sell.” Because of the imminent invasion, gaining or losing property would mean nothing. Normal commercial activities will be disrupted. Material things would have no value in the time of God’s judgment.
Verses 14-18 Destruction Leads to Mourning
King Zedekiah had attempted to rally the people towards throwing the Babylonians out of their government. He had attempted to restore national pride, but with Nebuchadnezzar surrounding the city and the people suffering the results of that siege (starvation, disease, etc.) morale was at an all time low. There would come a point when the bugle could call them to come to the city walls to defend the city, but they would not come because the suffering was so great.
God’s message of total destruction continues as He declares that whether in the city or outside the city, destruction is imminent. He describes the limp hands and weak knees to demonstrate the inability to stand up against God’s judgment.
Instead, they will wear sackcloth and shave their heads.. These are signs of mourning. However, they will not be mourning their sin (as the people of Nineveh did in the book of Jonah). Instead, the y will be morning the loss of friends and family. They will be suffering the results of the invasion that God has sent upon them and their national pride will turn to shame.
Verses 19-22 Silver and Gold Have I Much- but it ain’t worth nothing!
The world has a golden rule that differs from that which we as believers use. That rule is “Whoever has the gold makes the rules.” That seems to be true at times. I look at how wealth and fame have protected people who appear to have been involved in criminal activity. Why hasn’t Charlie Sheen been locked up over his cocaine abuse? Why is Lindsey Lohan still walking the streets? How did Mel Gibson get away with spousal abuse without serving any jail time? Apparently, their fame and fortune has allowed them to continue to do their own thing.
When God judges, He declares that they will throw their silver and gold into the streets. This action means two things. First, it meant that they were aware that their riches were not going to buy them out of the judgment that was coming. Second, it was meant to be a distraction to the invading army. When a soldier (in ancient times) came across the silver and gold in the street he might be so busy carrying it off that he might not enter the house it was thrown from. Their valuables would not buy them anything.
Finally, God declares that He will turn His face away as the invading army enters and violates the temple itself. This is exactly what Nebuchadnezzar did. The sacred vessels were desecrated by being used for pagan worship in Babylon.
However, the worst thing the people could imagine would be that God would not defend His holy temple. He had defended Jerusalem in the past because He declared that he lived there. However, now, He would turn his back and allow the temple itself to be desecrated and destroyed.
Verses 23-27 All Chained up with Somewhere to Go!
The people thought that they would obtain their freedom from Babylon. God’s proclamation was for them to prepare to be wearing chains. Prepare for further captivity. When the end comes, the people would attempt to make peace, but their Babylonian enemy would not accept anything other than unconditional surrender. Calamity would come and rumor. Today, in March 2011, as I write this, the news media is making every effort to tell us in California that we are not in any danger from some of the nuclear disaster problems occurring in Japan as a result of the recent earthquake. Tragedy often breeds frightening rumors.
When judgment came the people would try to get a Word from God. They would seek out the priest and the prophet, they will run to obtain counsel from the elders. However, even the higher echelon of society (the king and the prince) will be in sorrow which will cause the common man to shake in fear.
God declares once more that He will judge them based on their conduct and based on their own standards. He will do this to declare that He is God and to demonstrate it in such a way that they cannot miss the message.
