Through Ezekiel’s message, we learn I AM will never cease to exist. And, He wants to be known by His people. In God’s Word, we see the Lord’s mercy and also justice.
At the beginning of chapter 7, Ezekiel refocused his audience’s attention to God’s Words.
“The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: “The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land! The end is now upon you, and I will unleash my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you.
‘“Then you will know that I am the Lord.”’ (Ezekiel 7:1-4, NIV).
- God stated this was the end of a specific period of time for Israel.
- If the Israelites had any doubt, God stated He would pour out His wrath and anger on them.
- He would place obstacles1 in their way because they walked paths in life that were offensive and against God’s holy law.
- The punishments they experienced reflect God’s judgment for their sinful actions.
- God weighed the evidence—their wrongdoing—and declared them guilty.
- Their conduct and detestable practices were “among” them—which can mean at the heart.
- God would not show them pity or spare
- Why? Then you will know that I am the Lord.
- Ezekiel didn’t mention it here, but I assume the nations all around Israel would also know I AM is the Lord.
*What obstacles might God place in our path when we choose to not follow God’s way? 
*What is the significance of the word “among” to describe Israel’s evil ways?
*What does God’s judgment reveal about His character?
“Now the end is upon you, and I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways and bring all your abominations upon you. For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the Lord!” (Ezekiel 7:3-4, NASB 1995).
A few observations from this alternate translation:
- God would send His anger, which implies the anger is directed at someone or something.
- God said He would “bring [their] abominations upon [them],” as if their sin would revisit them.
- He would not look on them with pity.
- Their abominations would be evident in the community—no secret idol worship in this scene.
- Jesus said it this way,
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs” (Luke 12:2-3).
*What is the “end” for Israel as described here?
*How does God “repay” Israel for their sinful practices? What does that mean?
*How would it look if our ungodly ways were revisited upon us?
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Disaster! Unheard-of disaster! See, it comes! The end has come! The end has come! It has roused itself against you. See, it comes! Doom has come upon you, upon you who dwell in the land. The time has come! The day is near! There is panic, not joy, on the mountains’” (Ezekiel 7:5-7).
- The repetition in verse 5 called those who heard to “look now,” expecting this will2
- This disaster is unlike any that has come before.
- They fully deserve their doom and destruction.3
- Ezekiel wanted his audience to grasp the severity of his message.
- The time had come for God’s exact time of judgment and it was about to happen.
- He drew a sharp contrast between panic and joy.
- The NASB 1995 translation reads “tumult rather than joyful shouting” to illustrate the chaos that would reign in the face of God’s wrath.
- This panic may also be described as confusion and disturbance.
*Why does mankind fully deserve doom and destruction from God?
*What do we expect to happen when God next judges those who are against Him?
*What stands out to you in the contrast between panic and joy?
“I am about to pour out my wrath on you and spend my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you.
“Then you will know that it is I the Lord who strikes you” (Ezekiel 7:8-9).
- In this section, God repeated Himself. He wanted to make sure Israel heard the message.
- God would judge them for their detestable practices and sinful conduct.
- There is no escape from God’s judgment and He will complete it.
- This scene showcased God’s wrath, not His pity and compassion.
- I wonder if the fact God mentioned pity is a reminder of the other side of His nature.
- In verse 9, Ezekiel wrote these phrases for the third time.
- He would repay Israel for their detestable practices “among you”—as a community, not only as individuals.
- Lest we forget in this age of grace, God takes sin seriously.
- They will know I AM is the Lord, and that God targeted4 them specifically for His wrath.
*When have we seen or experienced God’s wrath in our own times?
*What is significant about the repetition in this passage?
*What new insights does this passage provide into Ezekiel’s theme?
- Warren Baker, D.R.E., Eugene Carpenter, Ph.D. The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003). 761
- Ibid., 269
- Ibid., 964
- Merriam-Webster. “strike.” (verb) https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike