He said to him, “Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.” [Ezekiel 9.4]
I want to pull this verse out of its context today in attempt to glean a spiritual principle evident in it.
In all the destruction Ezekiel is prophesying over God's people, there is a distinguishing characteristic that deserves a mark setting some apart from the others. That distinguishing characteristic is repentance.
All who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed... are singled out and delivered from the punishment commissioned upon all the others:
Then I heard the LORD say to the other men, “Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all—old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin right here at the Temple.” So they began by killing the seventy leaders. [Ezekiel 9.5-6]
The point is made here that, even within the harsh all-encompassing destruction set upon the people, there remains deliverance for the genuinely repentant, all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed.
A couple chapters back reveals how the idolatry of the people affects God:
“But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world. Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins. They will know that I alone am the LORD and that I was serious when I said I would bring this calamity on them. [Ezekiel 6.8-10]
Genuinely repentant people recognize God's feelings of betrayal, in effect hating themselves for their involvement.
Father, may I be found repentant. My people where I live are committing idolatry and sin without shame or remorse. I fear I have been recruited into that evil cause more often than not. I fear I have been drawn into the idolatry of misplaced trust in things, people, and even ideas that are not You. Forgive me and forgive those "in my city" for our blatant disregard of You. Look upon us through the blood of Jesus and forgive us as You are inclined to do. May we always be reminded of our faith-failure when calamity sets upon us and always return to You in pure undivided faith.
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