Today’s passage: Ezekiel 9
Helpful thoughts:
- Today’s chapter is a continuation of the vision from chapter 8. Angels are presumably sent out by God to bring judgment.
- Judgment is commanded on all who had rejected God (And yet sought His favor). Ezekiel asks about the remnant being saved, but they are. Those who “sigh and groan over all the abominations” are those who believe and fear the Lord (Verse 4).
- The sin that brought so much offense to God was that the people (Who had been living in sinful idolatry) blamed the Lord for forsaking the land and not seeing their troubles!
- The people wanted to reject God and call on false idols to meet their needs, but when their needs were left unmet, it was perceived to be God’s fault.
Questions to consider:
- Even when the people received all they needed, and even if they had prayed to false gods to give any good thing to them, where had their provisions come from? Who alone deserved all praise and thanksgiving? (James 1:17)
- Who had come to Ezekiel for help in the previous chapter (8:1)? Who were to be the first to suffer under God’s wrath (The last sentence of 9:6)? Why would God command the judgment to begin with the leadership?
- If Ezekiel knew an angel had been sent to mark and preserve the faithful, what does his impassioned plea to God tell us about his knowledge of the people of Jerusalem? How can we know however that there will be a remnant (Both then and forever)?