Ezekiel 8,9

Ezekiel 8

This took place on the date September 17, 592 B.C.

A number of dates in Ezekiel can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Babylonian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. ~ Biblegateway footnote

 So I must admit, this scene is just as surreal as the first vision Ezekiel had from the Lord. Now he was being airlifted from Babylon to Jerusalem by God who was in the form of a ball of fire! We read about what Ezekiel witnessed.  Here Ezekiel saw all the appalling activities the Israelites were performing in God's Temple.

They secretly were worshiping idols made of images of animals, prostituting themselves to another god, and men were facing the sun and worshiping it IN GOD'S TEMPLE!

In verse 8:12 we are reminded of another Scripture that is similar and can be a great reminder today in 2014.

Genesis 6:5 (NLT)

⁵ The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.

Oh, not much has changed.
Then we read the news today, although I try not to because it's too depressing. What do I see? Nothing has changed since God created man and sin entered this world.  

In verse 8:14 we see the name, Tammuz. A little word search on this is quite interesting. Everything from the name of the 10th Hebrew month, to a Babylonian month to a Sumerian god.

What we know here is that Tammuz was an idol that later, the Greeks called Adonis. The Vulgate translated Tammuz as “Adonis.” Women worshiped Adonis by prostituting themselves. 

In verse 8:17 God's character is so very different than how I think of my Lord. 

"Therefore, I will respond in fury. I will neither pity nor spare them. And though they cry for mercy, I will not listen.” 

This is the justified wrath of God. His wrath is deserved.

So why don't we often view God this way now? Simple. 

He poured all His wrath out on Himself to save our pathetic souls.  He came to our Earth as a man because out of pure love, He knew we could do nothing to save ourselves.  We are so lost, so sinful, so wrong, so against all God desired for us to be. WE chose to separate ourselves from this perfect Creator, our Heavenly Father, by choosing what we wanted.  Yet He gave us the option to come back to Him in a right relationship; one where it's no longer broken, where He is no longer angry, and where He no longer holds back His mercy. 

He no longer seeks to destroy us like He should; and as He demonstrated in Ezekiel. Now we have the gift of His forgiveness through Jesus for all who believe. His forgiveness. Thank you, Jesus, for taking all the wrath that was due me and giving me your righteousness that is acceptable to the Father. What a Great Exchange.

Ezekiel 9

Here we see the destruction that God said would happen. Yet, in His great mercy, God spared the Remnant of Israel that was faithful.

This illustrates that even in the midst of judgment, the Lord was aware of those who were righteous and trembled at His name. He made special provision to spare them from this judgment.

Then, the slaughter begins. The unfaithful, the idolaters, and the adulterers of the Holy God are destroyed.

There are so many interesting points to make here. I have found a link for those who want to dig deeper.

Study on Ezekiel 9