GOD’S PEOPLE ARE MARKED

Ezekiel 9:1-11 / Keywords 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.”

 

Judgment on the Idolaters

9:1 Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.” 2 And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

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 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.”

5 As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.

7 Then he said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city. 8 While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown, crying out, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?”

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.’ 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.”

11 Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded.”

1. While Ezekiel was being shown visions of Jerusalem’s sin, next he saw six men who were coming to execute God’s judgment, plus one who had a writing kit! His job was to put a mark on all those who grieved and mourned over the detestable things done in Jerusalem (4). Then the terrible judgment was carried out, but those who had the mark were spared (6).

 

2. This vision symbolizes how, in Jesus, we are marked by God to be saved from his judgment. Just as the mark was put on those who grieved and lamented, the requirement for our salvation is repentance—genuine grief over our sin and others’ sin. The true mark God gives us is not something visible. It is the Holy Spirit, who is the seal of our salvation, the proof that we belong to God.

 

3. This vision also reminds us that we can be confident that God is able to save us out of judgment, even if it is happening all around us. We should see ourselves as “marked” and have a sense of identity as set-apart people.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for marking those who belong to you in order to save us from judgment. Help me grieve over the sins of myself and others and see myself as your treasured possession.

One Word Marked for the Lord