Ezekiel 9:1-7
'Those who have charge over the city' are the Babylonians. Six men came new with their clubs in hand. Then another man arrives, dressed in linen and carrying his tools for writing. The Babylonian mythology speaks of the 'the seven'. These are seven deities that are said to bring judgment and destruction. Broken treaties were to be bring the 'wrath of the seven'. The one in linen was resembles the Babylonian god Nabu with his writing utensils. He supposedly recorded people's destiny. Daniel saw a man dressed in linen also (Daniel 10:5; 12:6-7).
At God's command, the man in linen went throughout the city and put a mark on the forehead of those who grieve and lament over the detestable things that are done in it. The NKJV says these men are the ones who 'sigh and cry' over the abominations. These men weep over sin and are characterized by groaning.
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:3-6)
The mark is thought to be the 'Tav' which is the last letter of the Greek alphabet, seen as an x or + . It was the mark of righteousness, at least until it was likened to the symbol of the cross when Rabbis dropped it. Revelation 7:3 speaks of a time when the saints will be marked (likewise, in Revelation 13:16-18 the anti-christ will mark his followers). Once the righteous were marked, the seven were then sent to slay the others. They would slaughter man, woman and child alike who was not marked. They were to begin at the temple. How telling, that judgment would start at the center of religion. Will it not be the same when our judgment comes? The center of worship is also the center of hypocrites, fakes and hard hearts. The temple had already been defiled, slaughter of these idolaters would not make it any worse, but only better.
Are we troubled about the detestable things we see happening around us? Are we taking part in it, promoting it? Do we look the other way so we don't have to deal with it? Do we rationalize it, "everybody is doing it" or "nobody will know?" The followers of Christ are hard on each other. Some of the greatest scoffers are from other churches.
Ezekiel 9:8-11
Ezekiel is left alone as the man in linen is marking followers and the six and gone to the temple to begin their judgment. The prophet was overwhelmed at what he was watching play out. He'd never heard or seen such a thing. He saw the idolatry and abominations, now he sees the recompense. Would God destroy the entire nation?
- The iniquity was great.
- The land was full of bloodshed.
- The city full of perversity.
The man in linen reports back that he had done what was commanded. The work of the single scribe didn't take long. Wide is the road to destruction, narrow is the way to salvation. See also John 17:4.
©2019 Doug Ford
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