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Ezekiel

Ezekiel 7

Judgment on Israel is Near

Ezekiel 7:1-4

The oracle of chapter six flows into a lamentation.  Ezekiel is the son of Adam speaking his word against the land, 'adamah'.  The word 'end' is repeated to show intensity and importance of the message.  This is the culmination of judgment, of the work God would do.  There had been a seemingly endless call to repentance, a cycle of repentance and falling away, over and over.  It would end.  There would be no relenting, judgement would come to the land.  The 'you' is the land, but it is the land that was used by idolatrous and rebellious, covenant breaking people.  The abominations were those offensive things, sacrilegious things; idols, altars and temples to false gods.  God's eye would not look away, nor would He look on them in pity.  When judgment came, the powerless, useless abominations would be in their midst of a reminder to them.  Then, they would know He was Lord.    

 

Ezekiel 7:5-8

There is an underlying poetry in the original language, a sing-song of alliteration, wordplay and assonance (repetitive sounds).  The disaster is repeated, again for intensity and importance.  It's here and it was coming on the land.  The 'you' is the same several times in this passage except in verse seven.  The second 'you' is the inhabitant and not the land.  The message moves the judgement from the land to the inhabitants of the land.  The 'you' is now the people.  They could not believe such a thing could happen to them.  They seemed as though they were doing well.  They were prosperous and blessed and religious and thought tomorrow would always be like today.  They took for granted God would continue to deal with them as they were less than serious in their relationship with Him.  It changed, from relationship to empty religion. 

 

Ezekiel 7:9-11

This section opens with a refrain repeated from earlier.  God would not look away.  He would no longer have pity on them.  He would not allow the cycle to continue.  They would receive their due; no longer would the wrath be stored up, held back.  The abominations would be seen for what they were.  Then they would know it's the Lord.  The words 'who strikes' is added to the phrase; meaning sudden, adverse and divine.

 

Behold, behold the day is the repeat, again for emphasis.  It is Hin'neh ha yom Hin'neh; a sing song, poetic phraise.  It is a call to see, pay attention because things were not as they had been.  'The day' had come.  This is specific day when God's wrath comes on the people.  It was something new, a rod (arrow) has blossomed to meet the budding pride and arrogance.  The violence of the people would come back to them.  The same word is then repeated four times in the next four lines; 'none' would remain. 

 

Ezekiel 7:12-13

The idea of the 'Day of Yahweh' continues.  The buyer shouldn't be too happy about getting a deal due to someone's need or circumstances, nor should the selling mourn for having to sell.  God's wrath would fall on rich and poor alike.  The seller, whether he sells or not, won't return to the property.  There would be no return to the 'old way of life'.  No one would save themselves from the onslaught of judgment.  To 'live' in iniquity was day to day life, going, doing, saying the forbidden.

 

Note: There is some thought that verse 13 is a reference to land going back to the original owner on the year of Jubilee.  It says the seller wouldn't be going back to the land, even if he is alive.  The context seems to be more of a reference to exile and not escaping God's judgment. 

 

Ezekiel 7:14-15

Verse 15 explains verse 14; the sword, pestilence and famine had so devastated them, when the trumpet was blown as a call to arms, there was no one to answer the call.  Everyone was in the mode of just trying to survive and no longer concerned about the nation, city of anyone else.  This is the covenant curses of Leviticus 26 taking their toll.

 

Ezekiel 7:16-18

Among the people are those who survive the sword, pestilence and famine and escape to hide away in the mountains.  This survival isn't on merit of goodness of any kind.  They are simply the few hears left in the fold (5:3).   Their mourning indicates they understand the nature and cause of the judgment.  Their resolve and courage will be weak from their fear they live under.  The knee that is 'weak as water' is likely to indicate their circumstances and fear were so severe they lost control of their bladder.

 

Ezekiel 7:19

When survival is all that matters, then silver and gold lose their value.  Among their valuables may have been their silver and gold idols, some of which were likely status symbols.  See Isaiah 2:20.  Neither their silver and gold gods nor their money will save them from God's judgment on their life.  The blessings they took for granted, they glorified other gods and were disobedient to Yahweh.  The precious valuables brought them satisfaction in their soul and helped fill their stomach, but it was a temporary circumstance.  There was no long-term improvement in their standing with God.   The 'stumbling block of iniquity' is an Ezekiel phrase (Ezek 14:3, 4, 7; 18:30; 44:12); and not used by any other.

 

Ezekiel 7:20-22

The beauty of the ornaments is thought to refer to temple decorations.  It could be a reference to jewelry but the fact that 'He set it in majesty' points to the temple.  What was set in majesty was then made abominable by the people.  God would take the defiled and deliver it to the defilers, the gentiles who would raid and sack the temple. 

 

Ezekiel 7:23-27

Scholars are unsure what the chain references.  Possibly chains prepared to bind those to be taken captive.  Because of the violence of the land, judgment would come from the worst and most violent of the Gentiles.  Israel will have met their match.  The 'pomp of the strong' will cease, this seems to be the priests, or religious powers.  This happens when their holy places are defiled. 

 

They were violent and bloodthirsty will it came back on them.  Then, they will desire peace and seek it.  No peace would be found.  They will long to know a word of hope, to see some relief but disaster is piled on disaster.  "Where's God?" they would ask.  For so long they ignored the prophet and God's word.  Now they are desperate for it.  The guiding principals and boundaries that kept them safe and in Yahweh's care were gone; the prophet was silent, the law from the priests, the counsel of elders and the king would only mourn. 

 

Since they refused God's mercy and grace and rejected obedience and relationship, they would receive what was due to them.  God would judge them.  Then they would understand, then they would know He was, is and always would be God.

 

©2019 Doug Ford