Eze 9:7-8 | KingComments | STEP | The executors of judgment are commanded to go after the Man in linen ( ). They are to pass through the city and kill without any pity for anyone and without sparing anyone. The judgment is without regard to persons; age and gender are not considered either ( ; cf. ). However, they are not allowed to even touch anyone who has the mark applied by the Man in linen. The mark is the sure protection from judgment because He has applied it. The LORD also says where the six men are to begin. According to the Divine principle, they are to begin where the worst sins have happened and that is in the place where the greatest privileges were given. It is precisely in that place that His people have despised them and replaced them with the greatest abominations. It is an illustration of the saying: the corruption of the best is the worst corruption. Therefore, they must start from God’s sanctuary. Those who are in the closest relationship to God and serve in His house are most responsible to live in accordance with this great privilege. If they do not, they are the most guilty. That is what the two oldest sons of Aaron experienced. They drew near to God in His dwelling place in a self-willed way. For this, God had to judge them. As the reason for this judgment He pronounces: “By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy” ( ). According to this principle, God also acts with His New Testament house, the church: “For [it is] time for judgment to begin with the household of God” ( ). When the men start to judge, they also start with the most responsible, “the elders”, the twenty-five who worship the sun ( ). They are commanded to “defile the temple” by filling the courts with the slain ( ). This is no different than making visible what had long been the condition of temple. This is how God makes visible the hidden transgressions.

‏ Ezekiel 9:7-8

Judgment Begins With the Household of God

The executors of judgment are commanded to go after the Man in linen (Eze 9:5). They are to pass through the city and kill without any pity for anyone and without sparing anyone. The judgment is without regard to persons; age and gender are not considered either (Eze 9:6; cf. 2Chr 36:17). However, they are not allowed to even touch anyone who has the mark applied by the Man in linen. The mark is the sure protection from judgment because He has applied it.

The LORD also says where the six men are to begin. According to the Divine principle, they are to begin where the worst sins have happened and that is in the place where the greatest privileges were given. It is precisely in that place that His people have despised them and replaced them with the greatest abominations. It is an illustration of the saying: the corruption of the best is the worst corruption. Therefore, they must start from God’s sanctuary. Those who are in the closest relationship to God and serve in His house are most responsible to live in accordance with this great privilege. If they do not, they are the most guilty.

That is what the two oldest sons of Aaron experienced. They drew near to God in His dwelling place in a self-willed way. For this, God had to judge them. As the reason for this judgment He pronounces: “By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy” (Lev 10:3). According to this principle, God also acts with His New Testament house, the church: “For [it is] time for judgment to begin with the household of God” (1Pet 4:17).

When the men start to judge, they also start with the most responsible, “the elders”, the twenty-five who worship the sun (Eze 8:16). They are commanded to “defile the temple” by filling the courts with the slain (Eze 9:7). This is no different than making visible what had long been the condition of temple. This is how God makes visible the hidden transgressions.

Ezekiel’s Response – Answer From the LORD

It seems that Ezekiel has felt so closely involved with what the LORD has said to the six men and the Man in linen that he feels as if he is in their midst. When he sees the men leave to strike, he feels he is left alone (Eze 9:8).

It is not the application of the mark by the Man in linen that makes a great impression on him, but the striking of the men with their destroying weapon. He has seen what abominations the people have committed (Eze 8:1-16). However, when he sees the judgment being carried out without mercy, he falls on his face and makes intercession. We also see this love for an ungodly people to be judged by God in people like Moses and Paul.

He cries out to the Lord GOD (Adonai Yahweh) whether He intends to destroy what is left of Israel in Jerusalem by His wrath. Surely this cannot be true. Ezekiel is still too attached to the city to believe that the city will be destroyed. We see the same thing later with the disciples of the Lord Jesus. They are impressed by the temple, while there is no place there for the Lord. He therefore tells them that not one stone will be left upon another (Mk 13:1-2).

God answers Ezekiel and justifies Himself (Eze 9:9). Israel and Judah have sinned “very, very great”. “The land is filled blood and the city is full of perversion” (cf. Exo 23:2b) Twice God uses the word “full”. The measure of iniquity is full. It can’t get any worse. God is patient, but when the measure is full, He must judge. If His people no longer have an eye for Him, if they act as if He is not there, although He has so often shown His goodness and also His discipline, their situation is incorrigible and judgment must come without pity and without exception (Eze 9:10). They get no more than they deserve, nothing but what they themselves ask for. Their self-willed way comes on their own heads.

Judgment, however, does not have the last word. In a striking way, at this moment the Man clothed in linen with the writing case at His loins comes to give an account (Eze 9:11). He has done what was commanded Him by God: He has put the mark on the foreheads of those to whom judgment will pass. This means that not all the people have been annihilated, but that there is a remnant. God thinks of His own when they are in the greatest need and protects them.

Only the Lord Jesus can give such an account. Only He can say: “I have done just as You have commanded me.” No other man has ever been able to utter that before God or will ever be able to utter that. He alone has perfectly done what He was commanded to do. What the Man says here is an impressive reminder of the words of the Lord Jesus to His Father: “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do” (Jn 17:4). This includes that He would guard those whom the Father gave Him, which He did perfectly (Jn 17:12 ; Jn 18:8-9).