Ezekiel 9:3 Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side….
Even in the midst of bringing judgement—with the hopes it will allow His people to see their error, repent and return to Him—Gods still demonstrates compassion. His level of fierce compassion is what jumps out at me with this reading—the hope, the opportunities to repent and return. He gave the Israelites opportunity after opportunity before He went to extremes to get their attention.
Ezekiel 9:4 …and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”
My childhood memory of the God of the Old Testament is of an angry, vengeful God. This fiercely loving and compassionate God that I’m finding in this reading of His word is an incredible gift. At every turn He offers hope if they will only repent and return.
Ezekiel 9:9 He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’”
Lord, Thank You for the call to read Your word and to know You more. Thank You that the vengeful God of my youthful memory is not the God that I find in Your word. You are fiercely loving and deeply compassionate. Leaving the 99 to rescue the one began in You. Thank You for that insight. Thank You for Your love. Amen.
Ezekiel 9:10 “So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.”
Have a blessed day.