How should Ezekiel 9:7 influence our understanding of God's response to sin? The Setting of Ezekiel 9 - Jerusalem has embraced idolatry, violence, and corruption (Ezekiel 8). - God commissions six angelic executioners; one has an inkwell to mark the faithful (Ezekiel 9:3–4). - Judgment begins at the temple, the very place that should have modeled holiness (1 Peter 4:17). Focused Snapshot: Verse 7 “Then He told them, ‘Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go!’ So they went out and began killing throughout the city.” Revealed Attributes of God • Holiness that tolerates no impurity – “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil” (Habakkuk 1:13). • Justice that repays sin without partiality – “All His ways are justice; a God of faithfulness without injustice” (Deuteronomy 32:4). • Sovereign authority to judge when patience ends – “Woe to you who add house to house… Surely many houses will become desolate” (Isaiah 5:8–9). • Faithfulness to His word—promised curses as well as blessings (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). Practical Implications for Believers 1. Sin is never trivial. God’s intense response exposes its lethal seriousness (Romans 6:23). 2. Holiness matters now. Judgment started at the temple; God expects purity in His house—today, in each believer (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). 3. Repentance is urgent. Delay invites discipline (Hebrews 10:30–31). 4. Intercession for others is vital. Ezekiel’s vision shows a remnant spared because they grieved over sin (Ezekiel 9:4). 5. Evangelism gains urgency. Eternal judgment is real (2 Corinthians 5:11). Judgment and Mercy Held Together - The “mark” on the faithful (Ezekiel 9:4,6) foreshadows the sealing of God’s servants (Revelation 7:3). - Even amid wrath, God distinguishes those who repent and mourn over sin (Psalm 32:5; Romans 5:9). - The cross ultimately satisfies the justice glimpsed in Ezekiel 9:7 (Isaiah 53:5–6; 1 Peter 2:24). Summary Truths to Remember • God’s wrath against sin is real, righteous, and sometimes sudden. • His judgments vindicate His holiness and protect His glory. • Mercy is offered, but never at the expense of justice; both meet perfectly in Christ. |
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