Thank you for coming today. Visions of slaughter are so difficult to see.
Let’s Pray:
Thank You, Lord, for this being a very short chapter. When I saw that heading I was just so glad to not see a whole lot of it. Help me, Lord. To see what You want me to see. Thank You, Lord. It’s all for You, Jesus.
Please read Ezekiel 9:1-2
The Vision of Slaughter
1 Then [in my vision] I heard Him cry out with a thunderous voice, saying, “Approach now, executioners of the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.” 2 Behold, six men [angelic beings] came from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with his battle-axe in his hand; and among them was a [a]certain man clothed in linen, with a scribe’s writing case at his side. They entered and stood beside the bronze altar.
There is reason for this and salvation for the faithful ahead in this. Thank You, God.
But look, He calls the executioners and they come with their weapons. If He called you, would you come? Would you answer? Does all we’ve seen thus far in Ezekiel make you mourn and feel sorrowful for what the people are doing? Do you see parallels in our world today? Oh Lord, help us.
Please read Ezekiel 9:3-4
3 Then the [[b]Shekinah] glory and brilliance of the God of Israel (the cloud) [c]went up from the cherubim on which it had rested, to [stand above] the threshold of the [Lord’s] temple. And the Lord called to the man clothed with linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side.4 The Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, throughout all of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh [in distress] and grieve over all the repulsive acts which are being committed in it.”
Mark on the foreheads…that can be found in Revelation 7:3 where they do this too. A further judgment is coming on the rest of the world. And this mark is what confers ownership by God on you. If He owns you, you will be saved; you are saved. Today and forever. You are not your own.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.
The Slaughter
Please read Ezekiel 9:5-8
5 But to the others I heard Him say, “Follow him [the man with the scribe’s writing case] throughout the city and strike; do not let your eyes have pity and do not spare [anyone]. 6 Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women; but do not touch or go near anyone on whom is the mark. Begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple [who did not have the Lord’s mark on their foreheads]. 7 And He said to the executioners, “Defile the temple and fill its courtyards with the dead. Go out!” So they went out and struck down the people in the city. 8 As they were executing them and I alone was left, I fell face downward and cried out, “Alas, Lord God! Will You destroy all that is left of Israel [the whole remnant] by pouring out Your wrath and indignation on Jerusalem?”
It’s common for the prophets to feel alone. Ezekiel is not the only one who can’t see he’s not the only one grieving over what the people are doing. Can you imagine the number of people these angels slaughter that would make him feel alone? But God does respond…
Please read Ezekiel 9:9-10
9 Then He said to me, “The wickedness (guilt) of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of blood and the city is full of perversion and injustice; for they say, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land; the Lord does not see [what we are doing].’ 10 But as for Me, My eye will have no pity, nor will I spare, but I will bring their [wicked] conduct upon their [own] heads.”
God is righteous and will destroy all wickedness. You can count on that. Can you even imagine, however awful it is, what this slaughter will look like once it’s finished?
Please read Ezekiel 9:11
11 Then behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side, reported, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”
Love is the Command
Have you done what He’s commanded?
Oh Lord, forgive us. Help us live like You want us to live and Lord let our lives honor You and bring You glory.
Footnotes
[a] Ezekiel 9:2 a certain man – The linen clothing of the seventh angel denotes his superior rank.
[b] Ezekiel 9:3 Shekinah – The word Shekinah does not appear in the Bible, but it was used by ancient Jews to refer to the physical presence of God among men; usually the Shekinah glory.
[c] Ezekiel 9:3 up from the cherubim on which it had rested – God begins His departure from the temple.