DBG - September 1 - Ezekiel 5-9

In this chapter is the object lesson of Ezekiel’s hair.

vs. 1-4 – Yet another object lesson to go with those in the previous chapter.  The prophet is to shave his head and collect his hair.  The hair is to be divided into three equal parts.  One part is burned immediately, the next minced with a knife, and the last scattered into the wind.  A few are to be kept and burned later. 

vs. 5-17 – The meaning of the object lesson is revealed.  One third of Judah would die in famine and pestilence, one third in the siege of Jerusalem, and one third scattered but still threatened.  It is a terrible picture.

In this chapter we see judgment against Judah and hope for restoration.

vs. 1-7 – Judgment would come against Judah for her idolatry.

vs. 8-10 – The remnant, dispersed throughout the Gentiles, would be restored when they repented of their idolatry and turned to God.

vs. 11-14 – Further description of the judgment against Judah for her idolatry.

In this chapter is a lament for the coming fall of Judah.

vs. 1-4 – The end is declared over all the land.  The deadline had been crossed and judgment was coming.

vs. 5-9 – The end is declared for the people and their idolatry.

vs. 10-13 – The terrible day of God’s judgment is described.

vs. 14-27 – The fall of Judah is described.

In this chapter the deep roots of idolatry are revealed in Judah.

vs. 1-6 – The time of this vision is 592 B.C.  Ezekiel is transported in this vision to Jerusalem where God reveals to him the idolatry embedded in the Temple.

vs. 7-13 – The idolatry is not just confined to the priesthood.  Ezekiel sees a room filled with the nation’s leaders and witnesses them offering incense to hosts of idols. That there are 70 of them is no accident, as this would correlate to the Sanhedrin. Jaazaniah (“whom God hears”) is identified.  We do not know the significance of why this person is singled out.  The same name is found in Ezekiel 11:1 but it is unclear if this is the same person or not.

vs. 14-18 – Tammuz is the Akkadian sun-god, who was said to die each year as the day lengths shortened and was resurrected as they grew longer.  This yearly observance featured mourning his death, which is the custom alluded to here.  This pagan worship had even infiltrated the Temple.

In this chapter Ezekiel sees a vision of judgment.

vs. 1-11 – Ezekiel sees a vision of seven angels.  Six of them have swords and the seventh has an inkhorn.  Those marked by the seventh’s ink have their lives spared in the judgment.  The judgment begins at the Temple and spreads through the city.  Think about that ratio: only one out of seven survive what is to come, and these only escape alive to be taken captive!  Ezekiel tries to intercede for mercy, but it is too late.

I am reminded as I read Chapter 9 of a phrase from I Peter 4:17: “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God”.  Ezekiel is careful to note the instructions in 9:6 that the judgment was to “begin at my sanctuary”.  In human wisdom we expect the most vile and wicked to be the first to taste God’s justice.  However, in divine wisdom, justice begins with those who should be the most holy among men.  Christ said in Luke 12:48 that “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required”.  Those of us that have the light of truth will be judged for what we do with it.  We are held to higher standard and thus face harsher consequences at times.

Our hymn today is “O Righteous God, Thou Judge Supreme” by Philip Doddridge.  It is a song of national confession, as witnessed in the third verse of this original version.  Such a cry would have been fitting for Judah, or at least the plea for a faithful remnant to be preserved.

O righteous God, Thou judge supreme,
We tremble at Thy dreadful name,
And all our crying guilt we own,
In dust and tears before Thy throne.

So manifold our crimes have been,
Such crimson tincture dyes our sin,
That, could we all its horrors know,
Our streaming eyes with blood might flow.

Britain, the land Thine arm hath saved,
That arm most impiously hath braved;
Britain, the isle its God hath loved,
A rebel to that love hath proved.

Estranged from reverential awe,
We trample on Thy sacred law;
And though such wonders grace hath done,
Anew we crucify Thy Son.

Justly might this polluted land
Prove all the vengeance of Thy hand;
And, bathed in Heaven Thy sword might come
To drink our blood, and seal our doom.

Yet hast Thou not a remnant here,
Whose souls are filled with pious fear?
O bring Thy wonted mercy nigh,
While prostrate at Thy feet they lie.

Behold their tears, attend their moan,
Nor turn away their secret groan;
With these we join in humble prayer:
Our nation shield, our country spare.

But if the sentence be decreed,
And our dear native land must bleed,
By Thy sure mark may we be known,
And save in life or death Thy own.