The end is coming.
The Lord speaks to Ezekiel and tells him that an end is coming to the four corners of the land. As in chapter 6, this means that this judgment isn't just about Jerusalem– it's all of the Promised Land. I would venture a guess that it will also be true in the end for all four corners (directions) of the earth. The Lord promises to send His anger and judgement and their own abominations on them. He promises no pity or being spared. When their abominations are on them they will know that He is God.
That's an interesting idea. The only reason they were able to live their abundant lives and worship other gods on the high places is because of the patience and grace from the one who had been providing and protecting them. It would take an absence of that grace and provision for them to understand Who He Is. That's quite a case for gratitude. If we look for God in our lives and thank Him for the protection and provision we receive, we get both the advantages of the blessings and the awareness of the Giver. If you don't see Him and don't acknowledge Him, you lose the blessing and the awareness.
This may seem like a small or petty example, but God often uses the little moments in life to demonstrate a point. If you don't learn it there, He has to escalate. So I am working on a really difficult puzzle. It's taken me weeks in my spare time to work on it. But yesterday, I spent hours and made almost no progress. It actually put me in a bad mood. Then I remembered that not only can I do all things through Christ who strengthens me, but I can do nothing without Him. Even something as simple as a puzzle.
The good news is, if you can hear from the Spirit and return to the Lord on those days, it makes all of your days better.
Starting in verse 5, God promises a unique disaster to come. He announces that their end has come, bringing doom. He promises tumult at the mountain alters, instead of the joyful singing they did while they were sinning. Here's how He closes out this paragraph, notice all of the words of judgement:
Now I will shortly pour out My wrath on you and spend My anger against you; judge you according to your ways and bring on you all your abominations. My eye will show no pity nor will I spare. I will repay you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst; then you will know that I, the Lord, do the smiting.
Yikes.
The next paragraph reiterates that the day of doom is at hand. Their fruit has blossomed from what they have grown. He promises that none of what they thought they were accumulated would remain. Just a reminder that anyone can lose everything at any time. And this time, His wrath is against all of them.
Starting in verse 14, He points out they they think they are prepared for war, but His wrath will keep them from even going into battle. The sword, plague, and famine will defeat them. Even the survivors will mourning over their iniquity. These survivors will grieve, weak-kneed and ill. They will be overwhelmed by their own shame. The gold and silver they had collected will be abhorrent to them because it won't be able to buy them enough to fill their bellies. The Lord promises to give all of their precious riches to foreigners and enemies. The enemies will even get the holy Temple instruments and profane them; because the people did not protect God's sacred, hidden place. The people will not find peace in their anguish.
Disaster will come upon disaster and rumor will be added to rumor; then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders. Ezekiel 7:26
The king will mourn.
The only fine linen for the prince will be horror.
The people will tremble in fear.
All of this will be based on their conduct and the judgement that comes with it.
And they will know that He is the Lord.
Acknowledge His Lordship in the good times or find everything fade away.
Amen.