Only One Way to Be Spared – Eze 9
After exposing the deep idolatry and wickedness of the people of Judah (Eze 8), God called for judgment. Those who were in charge of the city (probably angels) came with destroying weapons and were told to go through the city, killing indiscriminately. No one was to be spared. Young and old, men and women, all were to die for their sin.
The only ones who were saved were those that the “man clothed in linen” put a mark on. He marked the foreheads of all who sighed and cried for the sin that was done (v.4). In other words, the humble and repentant were spared God’s wrath.
This is exactly what happened when Nebuchadnezzar came into the city (2 Chron 36:17-19). He destroyed young and old, rich and poor, men and women, all died. Only a remnant was spared.
The lessons for us are: Sin brings death. Sin destroys all. The only way to escape is to receive God’s mark of righteousness through humble faith and repentance.
What is in your heart? Do you sign and cry over your sin? Or do you pridefully play with sin? One day, death with come and after that is the judgment (Heb 9:27).
Also, we need to care about the plight of people, as Ezekiel does. In v.8, he falls on his face and cries out to the Lord. May we fall on our faces and then rise up and warn those who will face God’s wrath one day.