He replied, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of perversity. For they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.' He replied, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great.God’s answer to Ezekiel’s intercession reveals that Jerusalem’s coming judgment was not arbitrary. Though the northern kingdom had fallen to Assyria more than a century earlier, Israel and Judah together had persistently broken the covenant. Idolatry had invaded even the temple precincts, as Ezekiel had just witnessed, while leaders and people alike rejected the holiness God required. The accumulated rebellion of generations had reached its appointed reckoning. Jer 11:10 They have returned to the sins of their forefathers… The land is full of bloodshed, Innocent blood had been shed through violence, oppression, corrupt courts, and the abuse of power. Jerusalem’s history included the sins of rulers such as Manasseh, who filled the city with innocent blood, and later generations had not turned from those ways. A land entrusted to God was defiled by the very people called to uphold justice, defend the weak, and reflect His righteousness. Num 35:33-34 Do not pollute the land where you live, … and the city is full of perversity. Jerusalem, where the Lord had placed His name and where His temple stood, had become bent by injustice and moral disorder. The city’s corruption reached from public life to worship itself. Those entrusted with spiritual and civil leadership had helped lead the people away from God, making the city ripe for the judgment announced by the prophets. Isa 1:21-23 See how the faithful city has become a harlot!… For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; The people interpreted national weakness, foreign threats, and God’s patient delay as evidence that He had abandoned them. In reality, their own sin had brought covenant discipline. The Lord had not ceased to rule over the land; His coming judgment would demonstrate that He remained faithful both to His warnings and to His holiness. Ezk 8:12 “Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders… the LORD does not see.’ Their confidence in secret sin rested on the false conviction that God neither observed nor acted. Ezekiel’s vision directly contradicted that unbelief: the Lord saw the hidden idolatries of the temple, the violence of the land, and the corruption of Jerusalem. His glory would depart because of their defilement, yet His judgment would also preserve a remnant marked as those who grieved over the nation’s sins. Psa 94:7 They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob… Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet during the Babylonian exile, tasked with delivering God's messages to the Israelites. 2. The House of Israel and Judah Refers to the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, representing the entire nation of God's chosen people. 3. The Land Symbolizes the Promised Land, which is now defiled by the sins of its inhabitants. 4. Bloodshed and Perversity Represents the rampant violence and moral corruption present in the society. 5. The LORD The God of Israel, who is perceived by the people as having abandoned them. Teaching Points The Consequences of SinSin has tangible consequences, both spiritually and physically, as seen in the bloodshed and perversity filling the land. God's Omniscience Despite the people's belief that God does not see, He is fully aware of all actions and intentions. This should lead to a life of integrity and accountability. The Danger of Spiritual Apathy The belief that "The LORD has forsaken the land" reflects a dangerous spiritual apathy and misunderstanding of God's nature. Repentance and Restoration Even in the face of judgment, God offers a path to repentance and restoration, as seen throughout the prophetic books. The Role of the Prophet Prophets like Ezekiel serve as God's mouthpiece, calling people back to righteousness and warning of the consequences of continued disobedience. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the condition of Israel and Judah in Ezekiel 9:9 compare to the world today, and what lessons can we learn from this comparison?2. In what ways can we ensure that we do not fall into the trap of believing that God does not see our actions? 3. How can we apply the concept of God's omniscience to our daily lives to live more righteously? 4. What steps can we take to avoid spiritual apathy and remain vigilant in our faith? 5. How can the role of prophets in the Bible inspire us to speak truth and call others to repentance in our own communities? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 6:11-12The earth was corrupt and filled with violence before the flood, similar to the condition of Israel and Judah in Ezekiel's time. Isaiah 59:2-3 Highlights how iniquities separate people from God, echoing the spiritual state described in Ezekiel 9:9. Psalm 10:11 Reflects the mindset of those who believe God does not see their actions, paralleling the attitude in Ezekiel 9:9. Jeremiah 7:9-11 Describes the false sense of security in the temple despite rampant sin, similar to the false belief that God has forsaken the land. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 Chronicles the repeated warnings from God through His prophets, which were ignored by the people, leading to judgment. People EzekielPlaces JerusalemTopics Blood, Bloodshed, Doesn't, Evil, Exceeding, Exceedingly, Filled, Forsaken, Full, Guilt, Iniquity, Injustice, Judah, Judgment, Perverseness, Perversion, Seeing, Sin, Town, Wresting, WrestlingDictionary of Bible Themes Ezekiel 9:9 1025 God, anger of Library The Evil and Its RemedyISHALL HAVE two texts this morning--the evil and its remedy. "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great;" and "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." We can learn nothing of the gospel, except by feeling its truths--no one truth of the gospel is ever truly known and really learned, until we have tested and tried and proved it, and its power has been exercised upon us. I have heard of a naturalist, who thought himself exceedingly wise with regard to the … Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858 First, for Thy Thoughts. Parable of the Pharisee and Publican. The Life and Death of Mr. Badman, The Upbringing of Jewish Children Ezekiel Links Ezekiel 9:9 NIVEzekiel 9:9 NLT Ezekiel 9:9 ESV Ezekiel 9:9 NASB Ezekiel 9:9 KJV Ezekiel 9:9 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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