Ezekiel 9
Scripture
Ezekiel 9:3-4 NIV
"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 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.”
Observation-What does it say?
Israel continued in their rebellion against the Lord, but this time, the elders were worshipping idols in the temple. As a result, God commanded that everyone in Jerusalem without the mark on their foreheads be killed and showed no compassion. The ones given the mark and spared were those who grieved over "all the desirable things" that were done in Israel.
Understanding-What does it mean?
God spared the faithful and repentant.
This scene is very familiar. It reminds me of the Passover, where the angel of death was to pass every door that had the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, but the households without that mark, were to have their firstborn son killed.
Today, we no longer need a mark. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice that took the place of our sins, so that God's wrath and fury would pass over us.
“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.” Hebrews 10:14-18 NIV
Life Application
Knowing that He has spared our lives from spiritual death, how will that make us live our lives differently?
We are no longer slaves to our past and our sins before Christ, but rather new creations in Him, free from sin and slaves to righteousness. (Rom. 6:17-18).
I got 2 really painful elbow burns a couple of Saturdays ago as a result of sliding down a huge slide with my daughters at a birthday party. The burns are currently healing and it's so amazing how God created the body to restore and heal itself to create new skin after a burn. The old, damaged skin has to completely dry out and come off before the new skin can appear. Our old life is like the old skin. It needs to completely come off before the new skin can fully appear. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV