Ezekiel 7:1-9 – To know the Lord distinctly.

In Ezekiel 7, we come to the prophet’s third discourse after his silent dramatization of the judgement. In this address, he first made known the impending catastrophe on the house of Israel before detailing the different aspects of it in the rest of the chapter. Again, Ezekiel’s overarching intention was to make known to the house of Israel that their God indeed was their LORD.  We will first look at his announcement in verses 1-9.

Many from the house of Israel had the false idea that Jerusalem was safe. In fact, the Psalmist in Psalm 125:2 said, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people both now and forevermore.” Jerusalem was known as the city of the LORD, the joy of all the earth, the city of the Great King. However, different from the common notion then, God through Ezekiel announced with certainty that the once secured city would be conquered. He was signalling the Lord’s clear message to them. The message "Disaster is looming!"  

Verses 1-4, Ezekiel announced that the end had come for Israel. The end was going to be extensive. By indicating that it would extend to the four corners the prophet was making known that the destruction would be complete and total. Besides, it would not be delayed. God was unleashing His judgment in fury. He was demonstrating His righteous vengeance for their indulgence in the detestable practice of venerating the idols and false gods. His judgment would be executed without mercy. God was bend on correcting their flawed perception of Him. 

What horrifying was that the disasters coming was not only certain but relentless. It was “dooms day.” Many phrases such as “it comes,” “the end has come,” “it rouses itself,” “doom has come,” “the time has come,” and “the day is near,” were all intended to invoke the idea of the proximity of the judgment. And when judgment falls, what would replace joy in the mountain and their high places would be fear and panic. The disaster would come furiously one after another until the destruction of the city that was once wonderful.   

Here something to consider as we read concning the relentless judgment that Judah and Jerusalem would experience. Our security in life is only as sure as our relationship with God is right. Never presumed on the relationship we have with God. While He is working within us, He expects us to collaborate with Him and work out our salvation with fear and trembling. God wants to bring Christlikeness to the many areas where we are unlike Christ. Let us be sure to cultivate and practise all the needful spiritual discipline to have Christ formed in all areas of our lives incrementally.  We must seek to know Him more clearly, to follow Him more nearly and to love Him more dearly.