Ezekiel 9
Idolaters’ Death
“Then the Lord thundered, ‘Bring on the men appointed to punish the city! Tell them to bring their weapons with them!’ Six men soon appeared from the upper gate that faces north, each carrying a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man dressed in linen, who carried a writer’s case at his side. They all went into the Temple courtyard and stood beside the bronze altar” (Ezekiel 9:1-2).
The Lord had previously given Ezekiel a vision that showed the secret sins of Judah’s leaders and people. He laid out the charges and incriminating evidence against His people. Ezekiel was an eyewitness to their crimes. Now, the Lord was about to carry out the penalty phase of His judgment. The Lord had His ministers of justice, His warring angels, ready to deliver the deadly destruction to the city. These six men were God’s executioners who were armed with deadly weapons to destroy the inhabitants of Judah. The number six represents mankind; thus, judgment was being brought on mankind at the altar. The Lord has used His angels of death numerous times throughout the Bible, with one occasion being right before the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. The death angel went throughout the land, killing every firstborn human and animal whose homes did not have blood on the doorpost. The Bible says: “And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died” (Exodus 12:29-30). Therefore, the Lord was once again ready to use His ministers of justice to render His guilty verdict upon Judah. Even Michael, the great prince who protects the Lord’s people, could not intervene in this deadly assignment. The Bible says: “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1). The Prophet Daniel was speaking of a later time, but Judah had been judged by God himself and had been found wanting.
Ezekiel described a man wearing linen garments, representing Christ’s righteousness, carrying a writer’s case or vessel (an inkhorn) by his side. This was no ordinary man but the pre-incarnated Jesus Christ who was about to place a seal, represented by the inkhorn, on His people to distinguish them from the others. The sealed ones were those who were heartbroken over the abominations that had taken place in the city. Everyone present went to the Temple’s courtyard and stood by the bronze altar. As a reminder, some of Judah’s citizens, such as Daniel and his three friends, had been taken into captivity during Babylon’s first siege, who had been faithful to the Lord.
The Apostle John also wrote about those who would have the seal of God at the end and would have refused to be marked by the beast. The Bible says: “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4). There is a remnant of God right now who is refusing to follow along to get along but has chosen to follow the Lord no matter the cost. Is that you?
“Then the glory of the God of Israel rose up from between the cherubim, where it had rested, and moved to the entrance of the Temple. And the Lord called to the man dressed in linen who was carrying the writer’s case. He said to him, ‘Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city’ ” (Ezekiel 9:3-4)
The departure of the Lord took place in stages, moving from the Most Holy Place to the Temple’s entrance, where He would make His exit to the East Gate and the Mount of Olives before His final departure. Even so, the Lord had those who had genuine sorrow for the despicable acts having been done throughout the land to be sealed and protected from judgment. These were those who had not defiled themselves with idol worship and remained true to the Lord.
“Then I heard the Lord say to the other men, ‘Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all—old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin right here at the Temple.’ So they began by killing the seventy leaders” (Ezekiel 9:5-6).
All who did not have the seal of the Lord were killed. The seal of God was a sign of His divine protection, just as the blood on the doorposts in Egypt was a sign for the death angel to pass over that home. Similarly, upon Jesus’ return or through death, those whose names are written in the Book of Life are sealed by God. The Bible says: “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).
The Lord told His executioners to begin at the temple, and the 70 leaders were the first to be killed. Why was this? The Bible says: “For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17). The ones who are to know the Lord is responsible for living better than those who do not. Judah knew the way of the Lord, but failed to live accordingly. The leaders were responsible for leading the people to God but failed in their roles and lived just as unholy as the people they were supposed to lead. Therefore, they were the first to be on God’s chopping block.
“ ’Defile the Temple!’ the Lord commanded. ‘Fill its courtyards with corpses. Go!’ So they went and began killing throughout the city” (Ezekiel 9:7).
During Moses’ day, the priests would be considered ceremonially unclean if they were to touch a dead body. The Lord had strict instructions regarding their contact with anyone or anything that had died. The Bible says: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Give the following instructions to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.’ ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean by touching the dead body of a relative. The only exceptions are his closest relatives—his mother or father, son or daughter, brother, or his virgin sister who depends on him because she has no husband. But a priest must not defile himself and make himself unclean for someone who is related to him only by marriage’ ” (Leviticus 21:1-4). To touch the dead would make the priest defiled. Therefore, when the Lord commanded for His temple to be defiled with dead bodies, this was symbolic of the defilement that had already taken place within the temple spiritually and naturally.
The temple was no longer a place of holiness where the Most High could dwell. It had been defiled by the sins of the people and their priests. The priests had allowed the people to desecrate their Lord’s house with foreign gods and altars. Not only did the people fail to honor the Lord and His house, but the priests entertained their debauchery as well. The priests did not uphold God’s laws and decrees. They did not teach the people the ways of the Lord. The priests allowed them to feel comfortable in their sins and committed the same evil practices themselves. They were thus guilty of spiritual malpractice.[1]
What is malpractice? According to various dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster, malpractice is a dereliction of professional duty, misconduct, negligence, or failure to exercise or meet a standard of professional care, resulting in injury, loss, or damage. According to some statistics, medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States.[2] Researchers from Johns Hopkins Hospital performed a study that concluded medical errors are the cause of 250,000 deaths each year.[3] So, if these are the statistics for deaths in the medical field, how much more would they be for those in the spiritual?
Leaders within the body of Christ are supposed to lead people away from sin and to Jesus, but how can they do so when many of them are the main ones advocating for their sin of choice? For example, Judah’s leaders did not teach God’s law; they broke it. The leaders did not live holy, but only looked the part. The Bible says: “And I said: ‘Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice? You who hate good and love evil; Who strip the skin from My people, and the flesh from their bones’ ” (Micah 3:1-2).
The priests did not keep foreign idols from the Lord’s temple, but they invited the idolatry in and made altars for their gods. Instead of warning the people to return to the one true God, the false prophets encouraged the people to continue in sin as if their defiance would not bring about undesirable consequences. Even their legal system was corrupt, and the judges took bribes and perverted the cause of justice. The Bible says: “Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who make my people stray; Who chant ‘Peace’ while they chew with their teeth, But who prepare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths” (Micah 3:5). The false prophets chewed the people and spit them out, not in a cannibalistic manner, but they robbed the people of finances and wealth, a true relationship with God through genuine repentance, and the opportunity to regain His favor, only to give them lies and falsehoods in return with no regard for their spiritual well-being.
The same is happening today. The President of the United States made 2024’s Resurrection Sunday a day to celebrate men wanting to be women, ultimately self-made eunuchs, and women wanting to be men. So-called Pastor and Democrat Senator Warnock, aka Warlock, had this to say when rebutting Representative Mike Johnson’s stance against the President’s actions: [“Apparently, the Speaker finds trans people abhorrent, and I think he ought to think about that. But this is just one more instance of folks who do not know how to lead us trying to divide us. And this is the opposite of the Christian faith. Jesus centered to marginalize. He centered the poor. And in a moment like this, we need voices, particularly voices of faith, who would use our faith not as a weapon to beat other people down but as a bridge to bring all of us together”]. This is a prime example of why the United States and its leaders from the White House to the Church House will be judged as well as the whole nation. We can’t support what God is against, even when it is popular. The Bible says: “ Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them” (John 14:21). Jesus did not change God’s law but fulfilled it perfectly (Matthew 5:17). Therefore, it the Lord went as far as to rain down fire upon the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their evil, how much more will He do to any nation who defies Him? Therefore, the Lord had something to say about those who spoke falsely in His name. The Bible says: “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst” (Deuteronomy 13:1-5). The Lord did not and does not take kindly to those of the cloth who lead people astray.
“While they were out killing, I was all alone. I fell face down on the ground and cried out, ‘O Sovereign Lord! Will your fury against Jerusalem wipe out everyone left in Israel?’ ” (Ezekiel 9:8).
Ezekiel was shown the devastation concerning Judah as the Lord carried out His wrath upon the nation. Yet, he took no joy in what he saw nor gloated regarding the punishment of the wicked. Instead, he interceded on their behalf, just as Moses had done on behalf of Israel. The Bible says: “ ‘The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the Lord on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin.’ So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a terrible sin these people have committed. They have made gods of gold for themselves. But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!” (Exodus 32:30-32). Moses not only rebuked the people for what they had done against the Lord, but he interceded on their behalf by asking the Lord to have mercy on them. Likewise, as leaders in the body of Christ, one should always pray for and over the people, intercede on their behalf, and ask for the Lord’s mercy in forgiving those who had done wrong. Similarly, Ezekiel interceded on behalf of the people, not because of their deserving God’s mercy, but because of who God is.
“Then he said to me, ‘The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are very, very great. The entire land is full of murder; the city is filled with injustice. They are saying, ‘The Lord doesn’t see it! The Lord has abandoned the land!’ So I will not spare them or have any pity on them. I will fully repay them for all they have done” (Ezekiel 9:9-10).
God heard Ezekiel’s intercession, but His reply did not come as he would have wanted. The Lord’s answer was likened to a parent who had had enough of their child’s insolence. The Lord once again gives a synopsis of Judah’s sins in His response to Ezekiel. Judah had done great evil before the Lord, such as murder, lying, stealing, cheating, worshiping idols, killing their children, and much more. Their sins required nothing less than a mighty response in the form of judgment from the Lord. They refused to change, and their evil was increasing the longer the Lord waited. Therefore, it came time for them to be judged due to their failure to repent and change. The Bible says: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).
Judah tried to make a mockery out of God and His temple, but the Lord was the One who had the last laugh. God’s wrath was well-deserved, and when He finally poured out His judgments upon them, there was no turning back, for He had been merciful to them, but they rejected Him. Yet, even in His judgments, He is a God of mercy and justice. The Bible says: “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is life eternal through Jesus Christ the Lord” (Romans 6:23). The Lord does not want anyone to be lost, but the choice is up to each and every individual. Yet, the day is coming when the living and dead will be judged according to their deeds.
“Then the man in linen clothing, who carried the writer’s case, reported back and said, “I have done as you commanded” (Ezekiel 9:11).
The Man in linen with the writer’s case, Jesus, had carried out what the Father had asked. Those who were to be sealed had been sealed, and those who were not received their judgment as the six men had been told to carry out accordingly. Those who had the seal of God were protected from His wrath and did not receive the judgments that had fallen on the wicked. This is why we always want to be in good standing with the Lord; He protects those who are His and hears when His children cry out to Him for help and protection. This is not to say that one will not encounter trials, but even in the midst of trials, one can see the Lord’s hands in operation if one stays at His feet.
[1] "Definition of MALPRACTICE," Merriam-Webster, last modified November 3, 2023, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malpractice.
[2] Christy Bieber, "Medical Malpractice Statistics Of 2024," Forbes Advisor, last modified February 5, 2024, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/personal-injury/medical-malpractice-statistics/.
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