How does Ezekiel 9:9 reveal God's response to sin and injustice? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel is shown a vision of six executioners and a man clothed in linen (Ezekiel 9:1-2). • Before judgment falls, the righteous are marked for protection (9:4). • Then God explains why judgment is unavoidable—Ezekiel 9:9 is that explanation. The Verse Itself “He answered me: ‘The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city full of perversity. For they say, “The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.”’” ( Ezekiel 9:9 ) Key Revelations about God’s Response • He SEES every act of violence – “The land is full of bloodshed.” Nothing escapes His notice (Psalm 94:9). • He NAMES sin for what it is – “Iniquity… bloodshed… perversity.” God uses moral language, not excuses (Isaiah 5:20). • He REJECTS the lie that He is absent – People claim, “The LORD has forsaken… does not see,” but God’s very speech disproves it (Habakkuk 1:13). • He MOVES to judge when wickedness becomes “exceedingly great” – Divine patience has limits (Genesis 6:5-7; Romans 1:18). • He PROTECTS the faithful while judging the guilty – The mark in 9:4 foreshadows God’s sealing of His servants (Revelation 7:3). • He VINDICATES justice publicly – The executions happen “in my sanctuary” (9:6), showing holiness demands action (1 Peter 4:17). How This Shapes Our View of Sin and Injustice • No injustice is hidden; God’s omniscience guarantees accountability. • Moral relativism collapses before God’s fixed standards. • Divine judgment is not arbitrary; it answers accumulated, unrepented evil. • God’s mercy and justice operate together—He spares those who “sigh and groan” over sin (9:4). • Confidence for the oppressed: God’s timing may feel slow, but He will act (Revelation 6:10-11). Complementary Scriptures • Genesis 4:10 — blood crying out from the ground. • Genesis 18:25 — “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” • Amos 5:24 — justice rolling like waters. • 2 Peter 3:9-10 — patience now, certain judgment later. Living It Out • Call sin what God calls it; refuse to minimize wrongdoing. • Trust that every unjust act is already on God’s docket. • Align with those who “sigh and groan” over evil—intercede instead of ignore. • Rest in the promise that God will finally set all things right while shielding His own. |
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