If there was any doubt that the people deserved everything that was coming to them, it is erased with the revelation in Chapter 8.
Today’s reading begins with a symbolic representation of what will happen to the people. As they are divided into thirds, I am reminded of how John describes the destruction of the earth using thirds. (Revelation 8-9). The idolatry and disobedience that are on the earth today must certainly be greater than it was when one nation was disobedient. How much more angry must the Lord be today, when parts of the Body of Christ are advocating for immoral and ungodly behavior? If thinking about this doesn’t send a chill down your spine, you’re a stronger person than I am.
Even the tiny bit of hair that is left is partially destroyed by fire. I wonder….will the actual number of people who enter heaven be far less than those who believe they are going? I suppose there are many people today who pay little attention to righteous living who believe themselves destined for heaven. How very sad. In humility, I want to make sure that I am not one of the ones who is deceived.
The message that Ezekiel shares with his fellow exiles must have been crushing. They may have been hoping or reprieve, or the quick overthrow of the Babylonians….after all, Isaiah said it would happen. But with this message they know that their punishment is just beginning, and will become far worse before it gets any better. I don’t even want to think about what happens when you become so hard hearted and disobedient that God not only withdraws His protection, but begins to actively punish you. With His unlimited power He could easily crush into extinction the entire creation. considering that, God must have been using restraint as He brought about His punishment of the people. Unrestrained anger from God would destroy everything…earth and heaven alike.
After reading chapter 8 I begin to understand God’s anger. Within the most precious and holy building on earth they are worshipping every image and deity except the true one. Women are upset about some false god…and the fact that they care enough about a false god to cry about makes God upset with them. It seems that every corner of the temple is being used to worship incorrectly. How could it possibly get so bad? The Lord says here that even the nations around them aren’t as wicked as they are.
I note several things: the rod of violence grows until it beats us. Violence isn’t ever going to get you what you think it will, there are always unintended and undesirable consequences.
People who have been “godly” and then drift or walk away seem to fall further than they were to begin with. They behave worse, and involve themselves in more paganism than even the pagans do.
When the temple of God is abused and defiled it incites God to anger. Our bodies are the current “temple” in which the presence of the Lord dwells. I wonder if the way we treat our bodies makes God angry? Or would it only be what we “put inside” them spiritually? Would God be angry because we have watched a movie that espouses ungodly doctrines, even if we don’t believe them ourselves? I think there’s room to be “among them…but not one of them” otherwise, no one would see us, and then what good would our testimony and example be?
It’s worth thinking about further: In what ways could my actions and habits be placing inside the “temple” objects that shouldn’t be worshipped? This is simply another call to holiness!
Faithfully,
PR