Ezekiel 9

Ezekiel 9:1

E. The Removal of God’s Presence and the Subsequent Destruction of Idolaters (Chap. 9)9:1, 2 In this chapter, six executioners are seen coming from the north (the direction from which the Babylonians were to come) to destroy the idolaters of the previous chapter. The man clothed with linen may symbolize grace. 9:3 The glory cloud (symbol of God’s presence) leaves the holy of holies in the temple, grieved away by the idolatry of the people. The glory cloud moves to the threshold of the temple where its brightness fills the court. 9:4 Those faithful Jews who opposed the idolatry were sealed by a mark on their foreheads so that they would not be killed. This verse should challenge us. How do we react, if some do not follow the Lord? Do we join them? Will they influence us? Do we justify them? Do we show indifference? These faithful men and women sighed and cried; this reaction showed what was in their heart and kept them from judgment. The signor mark on the foreheadwas the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet (tau), which the rabbis said suggested completeness. It is also the first letter of tore2 (law). Feinberg notes a “remarkable similarity between what is stated here and in Rev_7:1-3.” He adds a fascinating parallel from much later times: Christian interpreters have seen a somewhat prophetic allusion to the sign of the cross. In the earlier script the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet (taw) had the form of a cross. Ezekiel, of course, could not have thought of Christian symbolism nor is the passage a direct prediction of Christ’s cross. It is a remarkable coincidence, however. 9:5-7 Then the executioners began to slay the idolaters, starting with the elders (ancient men). “Do not come near anyone on whom is the mark,” says God. We don’t know if they were aware of the mark, but believers today can be sure on the basis of the Word that they are safe from judgment. How frightening not to have this assurance! 9:8-11 When Ezekiel interceded for the people, the Lord said that He would not spare or have pity. The people were saying that because the LORD God had forsaken them and no longer saw their plight, they owed no loyalty to Him. “The Lord does not see” sounds like a very modern quotation! Judging from this and other texts (cf. Noah and the ark, e.g.), it seems to be characteristic of God to deliver true believers before pouring out judgment on the ungodly.