Main Idea: Sin should grieve us as it grieves God.
A Look at the Text:
With the idolatry and abominations of the previous chapter in view, God now called for executioners upon the city of Jerusalem.
Yet, judgment wasn’t going to be all-consuming.
Before the executioners went to the city, a certain scribe, a man clothed in linen, went through it to mark the people of Jerusalem who sighed and groaned about the abominations that were committed in the temple (Ezek. 9:2-4). All of those who were grieved would be spared; those who approved of the abominations would be destroyed.
Then, beginning at the sanctuary and amongst the elders, the executioners were sent out to bring God’s judgment and destroy those who not only practiced abominations but also those who were indifferent to them (Ezek. 9:6).
Once more they would have to pay for their guilt, as they believed that God wasn’t there and that He had left them (Ezek. 9:9-10).
Sadly, that is what actually happens in the following chapter.
Once more, Ezekiel was shown a vision of God’s throne chariot with the cherubim and their wheels as they were shown in chapter 1 (Ezek. 10:1-3). Yet now God’s chariot was in Jerusalem, not the Chebar Canal of Babylon.
But as Ezekiel gazed upon the glory of the Lord upon the temple (Ezek. 10:4), he saw that same glory depart (Ezek. 10:18-19). In judgment, the people were now separated from their God.
Bringing it Home:
The worst thing about sin isn’t the natural consequences it brings to us, but the fact that it separates us from God.
The prophet Isaiah once pointed out to a sinful people that their problems weren’t the lack of God’s power or ability to deliver, but the problem was that their iniquities had separated them from their God (Isa. 59:1-2).
Praise be to God that this separation was bridged through the cross. Yet that doesn’t mean that we should suddenly be indifferent to sin.
Ezekiel saw a scribe marking those who were hurt by the abominations of the temple. There was a separation between those who were brokenhearted for what broke the heart of God and those who were indifferent to the corruption all around them.
If sin grieves the heart of God, it should grieve our hearts too. We shouldn’t be dismissive of it. We shouldn’t treat it as if it were of little consequence. If sin was serious enough to put my Savior on the cross, then it’s serious enough that we must not overlook it.
Even more, if our churches dishonor God, let us not be surprised if He is the first one to leave.
Challenge:
Am I indifferent to sin?