Another message from the Lord came to Ezekiel.
God told Ezekiel that utter destruction was coming upon Judah.
Everywhere the people looked, their land would be laid waste, and no hope would remain. God would pour out His anger against Israel because of all their detestable sins. No pity would be shown. The people’s wickedness and pride had reached full bloom, and none of the proud or the wicked would survive.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
Ezekiel 7:5-6 (NLT)
Disaster after disaster
is coming your way!
6 The end has come.
It has finally arrived.
Your final doom is waiting!”
This destruction will affect everyone. Normally, when a crisis strikes, the wealthy and those in a position to buy see it as an opportunity to gain great wealth at little cost. But God emphasises that the buyer should not rejoice, for His wrath will fall upon them as well. This judgment will impact the entire multitude.
“…Buyers should not rejoice over bargains,
Ezekiel 7-12-13 (NLT)
nor sellers grieve over losses,
for all of them will fall
under my terrible anger.
13 Even if the merchants survive,
they will never return to their business.
For what God has said applies to everyone—
it will not be changed!
Not one person whose life is twisted by sin
will ever recover.”
The people of Israel had placed their trust in wealth rather than in God. Their riches had become their idols, and they had turned away from Him. As a result, God’s judgment would cause them to realise that their wealth could profit them nothing.
“They will throw their money in the streets,
Ezekiel 7:19-20 (NLT)
tossing it out like worthless trash.
Their silver and gold won’t save them
on that day of the Lord’s anger.
It will neither satisfy nor feed them,
for their greed can only trip them up.
20 They were proud of their beautiful jewelry
and used it to make detestable idols and vile images.
Therefore, I will make all their wealth
disgusting to them.”
Then God instructed Ezekiel to prepare chains for His people, for the land was stained with blood from terrible crimes. Jerusalem was filled with violence. The most ruthless of nations would come and occupy their homes. God would tear down their proud fortresses and defile their sanctuaries. The kings and princes would stand helpless, weeping in despair, and the people’s hands would tremble with fear. Then they would know that He is the Lord.
All of this prophecy of disaster was meant to make the people realise that they needed to turn from their pride and understand that God’s judgment upon them was near and real. The people of Jerusalem were proud; they had witnessed the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel and assumed they would be spared. But God’s message through Ezekiel told them otherwise.
It is a fearful thing to be so proud that even after hearing of judgment, one still refuses to believe. Let us humble ourselves, repent of our sins, and ask for mercy. May we pray that when judgment comes, we will be found walking in righteousness and not in sin, so that we will not be utterly destroyed.
Stay blessed!
Faith With Petra 