Ezek 7:16-27 describe some of the events that take place in the day of the Lord’s wrath upon Israel. Here’s what happens to them in the day of the Lord’s wrath, Ezek 7:19.
A few will escape the Lord’s wrath, Ezek 7:16-18
In the prior lesson The End is Come Ezekiel prophesied that the sword, pestilence, and famine would devour many in Israel, Ezek 7:15. However, they were not going to be totally wiped out. Ezekiel prophesied that a few of them would escape. When they do, they “shall be on the mountains.” Ezekiel said they would mourn like doves because of their iniquity.
Notice their other conditions:
- Feeble hands
- Weak knees
- Shamed faces
- Bald heads, see Is 22:12
- Girded with sackcloth
- Covered with horror
Their silver and gold won’t deliver them, Ezek 7:19
Ezekiel said, “They shall cast their silver in the streets.” See Is 2:17-20, Is 31:7. “Their gold shall be removed.” Nebuchadnezzar did this when he captured Jehoiachin, his mother, and his servants in 2 Ki 24:10-13. Neither their silver nor their gods made of silver will be able to deliver them from their enemies. Like Solomon said in Prov 11:4, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath.” See also Zeph 1:18.
Likewise, with their silver and gold they are not able to satisfy their souls or fill their bowels. You can’t eat silver and gold and in a siege there is no food to buy. The silver and gold are worthless. Ezekiel said, “it (their silver and gold) is the stumbling block of their iniquity.” That’s because they made idols out of it and depended on it instead of the Lord. See Ezek 14:3, 4, and 7.
The temple will be polluted, Ezek 7:20-22
Ezekiel was referring to the temple when he wrote, “As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty.” Of course, that’s not readily apparent when you just read verse 20. However, when you check the cross references to “they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein,” you can tell that he’s referring to the temple, 2 Chr 36:14, Jer 7:30, Ezek 5:11. Furthermore, you can see the temple in the context. Ezek 7:22 says, “they shall pollute my secret place.” That’s the holy of holies.
Ezekiel called the temple “his ornament” because of all the furniture, decorative parts, and structural components and applied details that embellished the house of the Lord. “He set it in majesty” by his own presence there, 1 Chr 29:11; Ps 96:6.
They made images, abominations, and detestable things therein, 2 Ki 21:4 Ezek 8:5-16. So, the Lord “set it far from them.” Indeed. He ran them out of the land and then Nebuchadnezzar burned the house of the Lord. The Lord gave “it into the hands of strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil.” See 2 Chr 36:18, Jer 52:17-22. They polluted his “secret place” and robbers defiled it.
Take note that this is going to happen again when the antichrist sits in the temple, 2 Thes 2:4, and sets up his image for the world to worship, Matt 24:15; Rev 13:14-15.
Mischief shall come upon mischief, Ezek 7:23-27
Ezekiel, said, “Make a chain.” They were going into captivity, Jer 39:7, Jer 40:1. This is because the land was full of bloody crimes, 2 Ki 21:16, and the city was full of violence, Jer 22:17-18. The Lord brought “the worst of heathen,” a testimony to the ruthlessness of the Chaldeans. And they possessed their houses. The pomp of the strong ceased and their holy places were defiled.
Ezekiel said, “they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.” Zedekiah wouldn’t go peacefully into Babylon. And then when the city capitulated, they killed his sons before his eyes and then put out his eyes, 2 Ki 25:6-7. There is no peace to the wicked.
Notice these other problems:
- Mischief upon mischief
- Rumor upon rumor
- There’s no vision from the prophet
- Nor law from the priest
- And no counsel from the ancients
Consequently, everyone in the land would be affected:
- The king shall mourn
- The prince shall be clothed with desolation
- The hands of the people shall be troubled
Conclusion to the Lord’s wrath
In all of this destruction, the Lord was only giving them what they deserved. He said. “I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts.” Once again the Lord said, “and they shall know that I am the Lord.” To this day, people still have a hard time knowing that God is the Lord, because they won’t believe him.