Day 447: Ezekiel 9- God Defends His Glory

Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” 2 And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. 4 And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”5 And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. 6 Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house. 7 Then he said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out.” So they went out and struck in the city. 8 And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, “Ah, Lord God! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?”
9 Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’ 10 As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads.”
11 And behold, the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his waist, brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded me.”

Meditation
God declares, “I am the Lord… my glory I give to no other nor praise to idols” (Isaiah 42:8).  God defends His glory and wants to spread His glory. God designed His people, who bear His name, as a vehicle to spread His glory.
 
Today’s reading is a vision, a medium for Ezekiel to see into the holy of holies and discern the coming judgment of God. The guilt of God’s people was great, including injustice, idolatry, and forsaking the Lord. God’s glory cannot dwell with guilty people and judgment must come. The wages of sin is death.
 
Scripture compels us to interpret scripture in the context of covenant relationship. We cannot take passages like verses 9-10 and apply them carelessly to our contemporary situation. Isaiah 42, the chapter from which we began our meditation, begins with God’s demand to not give His glory to another and also includes God’s covenant promises, “a bruised reed I will not break and a smoldering wick I will not snuff out” (Isaiah 42:3- (Read the meditation on Isaiah 42 HERE).
 
The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). Jesus took the judgment of our idolatry so He can give us grace.  Jesus quotes Isaiah 42 (Matthew 12:20) and goes to redeem us to renew our purpose. Grounded in grace and covered with the blood of Jesus we are sent out into the entire world to extend the glory of God.
 
Richly Dwelling
-God’s covenant is the context for scripture interpretation. What difference does it make knowing Christ has taken your judgment and gives you grace?
 
-Where are you giving glory only God deserves to idols of your heart and life instead (self, others, material things, economy, family…)?
 
-Grace is the ground from which we step out to live for God’s glory. How can you redirect the glory you have stolen from God to be more fruitful for the purposes of God, to glorify His name across the globe?
 
Key Verse
9 Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’