April 6: BEFORE THE FINAL ASSAULT (part 2)

Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” Ezekiel 9:3-4

Among God’s people, in contrast with widespread apostasy, were “prayer warriors” in the temple who cared deeply about what was going on. In their prayers, they agonized before God for victory over sin. They would sigh and cry because they were yearning for holiness in their own lives, and yearning for holiness among God’s people as a body of professed believers. Like Isaiah, a single glimpse of the glory of God signaled a “reality check” – Isaiah had exclaimed, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips… (Isaiah 6:5) Isaiah was grieved over the sin of the church, and he also desired holiness for himself. Beloved, the LORD is able to purify those who desire it!  

Ezekiel had been taken to Babylon in 597BC, in the second (of three) Babylonian invasions. He, along with other religious leaders, were captives in Babylon, sitting by the River Chebar (Ezekiel 1:1). The Chebar was actually a Babylonian canal, not a natural river, that branched off the Euphrates. It may serve as a symbol for Babylonian ideas that are manmade deviations from divine communications. In the vision, Ezekiel was taken back to Jerusalem.

The vision of chapter 8 (listing offenses of God’s people) continues in chapter 9 with the LORD’s response to the unrepentant. Ezekiel heard God call with a loud voice, saying, “Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with a deadly weapon in his hand.” (v.1) Among the six men (angels) who came was another of greater authority (some scholars believe it to be the pre-incarnate Jesus): One…was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn at his side (v.2). Ezekiel heard God say to this One: “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark . . .” (v.4) It is vitally important to understand that the idea of a mark or a seal on someone is not a bad idea, if it comes from the LORD.

Paul wrote to Timothy about false messages that spread like cancer (2 Timothy 2:17) saying that the resurrection is already past (v.18). The truth is: those who have died are dead, and not alive; they sleep until Jesus returns to raise them.* Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His” (v.19). The mark on the foreheads of the [people] who sigh and cry . . . made by the One… clothed with linen is not visible, as a tattoo – but the angels can see it. This mark is comparable to the seal of God (Revelation 7:3).

Are you complacent or indifferent about sin in the church and in your life? Or does it grieve you? The mark/seal in today’s scriptures signifies those who will be saved when Jesus comes.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

*Genesis 2:17; 3:19; 5:5; Deuteronomy 8:19-20; 1 Kings 2:10; 11:43; 2 Kings 20:1b; Job 42:17; Psalm 104:29; 116:15; Ecclesiastes 9:5,10; John 5:28; Acts 2:29,34; 7:60; 13:36; 1 Corinthians 15:23, 51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Peter 3:1-14; Revelation 2:10-11; 14:13