Ezekiel 6:1-7
This is the 1st spoken prophecy – up until now he had been acting things out. Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord. The 'word of the Lord' is one of 59 appearances in Ezekiel. He was to set his face against the mountains of Israel. Yet, it isn't the mountains that offend but the people who build idolatrous shrines on them. The warning of the coming curses spoken about in Leviticus 26 continues. God warns that a sword would come against them (Lev 26:25). The 'high places' were religious shrines build on top of the hills and mountains. The fall of the idolaters was part of the curse (Lev 26:30). The scattering of bones around the high places would defile them and prevent any further use for religious purpose. This is what Josiah did when eliminating the high places (2 Kings 23:14-20). These are the exact curses God said He would bring if His people were disobedient and worshiped other Gods. By this destruction and judgment, everyone would know that He is the Lord. This statement occurs 65 times in Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 6:8-10
Yet, the Lord would leave a remnant. This also displays that He is Lord. The scattering was promised in Leviticus 26:33. Among the scattered are the remnant who escaped the sword. They will be humble and repentant and have a desire to keep the covenant law in faith so as to avoid any failure and subsequent judgment (Nehemiah 9:1-38). God would be remembered among the nations. They would realize the love of God and the broken heartedness of their father. In this, the judged and those who survive it will know that He is the Lord. God says what He means and means what He said. So many mistook God's promises as empty threats because of the love He had for them. So many today are trusting that God is love and He won't cause harm, instead of repentance and faith. God is love, but he is also just.
Note: see also Romans 9:6-13; 11:5: Jeremiah 44:28
Ezekiel 6:11-14
Ezekiel recaps the judgment determined against them; the sword, famine and pestilence as called for in the Leviticus 26 curses. For those far off who thought maybe they would escape, the Lord brought pestilence, disease associated with plagues. For those near, they would fall by the sword of the gentiles the Lord brought against them. Those who remained, finding the city and temple would protect them, they would die by famine. Their idols were powerless to save them. They would learn that He is Lord when the slain are everywhere. They would be found among the religious shrines and under every oak. Trees were associated in these pagan practices, particularly oak trees.
Diblah is probably supposed to Riblah. There is no known Diblah. The Hebrew letters D & R are very similar. See Numbers 34:11; and 2 Kings 25:6-7 where Riblah was where King Zedekiah saw his sons executed and lost his sight.
©2019 Doug Ford
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