Ezekiel 9–12
Common Theme
God’s judgment begins with His own people, revealing the depth of their rebellion, spiritual blindness, and refusal to repent. Despite signs, warnings, and prophetic acts, the leaders and exiles remain defiant, prompting God to scatter them and display His holiness among the nations.
Questions
- What does it reveal about God’s character that judgment begins at His sanctuary?
- How do we respond when God’s Word confronts us with hard truths we don’t want to hear?
God Shot
God is utterly just and sees all corruption with perfect clarity; He does not ignore sin, even among His chosen. Yet even in judgment, He acts with deliberate patience and sorrow, desiring recognition of His holiness and the restoration of His glory among His people.
Deeper✝
Ezekiel 9
In this passage, a voice commands executioners to mark the foreheads of those who lament the abominations in Jerusalem. Six men with weapons enter, and the glory of God departs to the threshold of the house. The marked individuals are spared, while the others, including the elderly, young, and women, are to be killed without mercy, starting at the sanctuary. The speaker, distressed by the impending destruction, questions God about the fate of Israel. God responds, highlighting the great guilt and injustice in the land, affirming that judgment will be executed.
Ezekiel 10
The passage describes a vision of the glory of the LORD departing from the temple. The narrator sees a figure resembling a throne above the cherubim and is instructed to gather burning coals from between them to scatter over the city. As the man in linen enters, the cherubim are positioned on the south side, and a cloud fills the inner court, signifying the presence of the LORD. The glory ascends from the cherub to the threshold, filling the house with brightness. The cherubim, described with human-like hands and multiple faces, move in unison with their wheels, which are full of eyes. The vision concludes with the glory of the LORD moving to the east gate, confirming the identity of the cherubim as the living creatures seen earlier by the Chebar canal. Each cherub has four faces and wings, maintaining a consistent appearance throughout the vision.
Ezekiel 11
The Spirit of the LORD brings the prophet to the east gate of the temple, where he sees twenty-five men, including Jaazaniah and Pelatiah, who are giving wicked counsel in Jerusalem. They claim that it is not time to rebuild, likening the city to a cauldron and themselves to meat. The LORD instructs the prophet to prophesy against them, revealing their thoughts and the bloodshed in the city. The LORD declares that they will be judged and removed from the city, which will no longer serve as their cauldron. While prophesying, Pelatiah dies, prompting the prophet to cry out to God about the fate of Israel. The LORD reassures the prophet that despite scattering Israel among nations, He will gather them back, giving them a new heart and spirit to follow His statutes. The vision concludes with the glory of the LORD departing from the city and the prophet sharing these revelations with the exiles in Chaldea.
Ezekiel 12
In this passage, the Lord instructs the prophet Ezekiel to act out a symbolic exile to illustrate the impending captivity of Israel. Ezekiel is to prepare baggage for exile and demonstrate this in front of the rebellious house of Israel, who are blind and deaf to the truth. He carries his baggage out at dusk, covering his face to symbolize the fate awaiting the people. The Lord reveals that the prince in Jerusalem will also face exile, and despite his attempts to escape, he will be captured and taken to Babylon, where he will die without seeing the land. The Lord will scatter the prince’s supporters and make them aware of His sovereignty. The inhabitants of Jerusalem will experience anxiety and despair as their land becomes desolate due to violence. The Lord declares an end to the proverb that dismisses His prophecies, asserting that His words will be fulfilled without delay. The people are warned that the visions they dismiss are imminent, emphasizing the certainty of God’s judgment and the fulfillment of His promises.
✝Deeper excerpt from NIV Application Commentary, One-Volume Edition.