
Ezekiel 6
Ezekiel 6 speaks of God’s judgment upon Israel for their idolatry. Through Ezekiel, God pronounces punishment upon the mountains of Israel, symbolizing the places where idolatrous worship occurred. Despite the coming destruction, God promises to leave a remnant who will remember Him and recognize their sins. The chapter emphasizes God’s desire for exclusive devotion and the consequences of turning away from Him.
Ezekiel 6:1-10 (NKJV)
1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2 "Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,
3 and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to the mountains, to the hills, to the ravines, and to the valleys: "Indeed I, even I, will bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places.
4 Then your altars shall be desolate, your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
5 And I will lay the corpses of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones all around your altars.
6 In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate, so that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, your idols may be broken and made to cease, your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
7 The slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the Lord.
8 "Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries.
9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations.
10 And they shall know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them."
In these verses, God speaks directly to the mountains, symbolizing the high places where Israel’s idolatry occurred. He declares that judgment will come upon these sites, and the idolatrous altars will be destroyed, with the slain left as a testament to their unfaithfulness. This imagery serves as a vivid warning about the consequences of abandoning God for idols. However, a note of mercy appears: a remnant will survive the coming calamities and be scattered among the nations. This remnant will remember God and repent of their idolatry, acknowledging their sins and God’s sovereignty. This acknowledgment, even in exile, fulfills God’s purpose in allowing their suffering.
Ezekiel 6:11-14 (NKJV)
11 'Thus says the Lord God: "Pound your fists and stamp your feet, and say, 'Alas, for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.
12 He who is far off shall die by the pestilence, he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged shall die by the famine. Thus will I spend My fury upon them.
13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when their slain are among their idols all around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, wherever they offered sweet incense to all their idols.
14 So I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land desolate, yes, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblah, in all their dwelling places. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.' "
Here, God commands Ezekiel to demonstrate the intensity of His judgment by physically expressing grief over Israel’s sins. The people of Israel are warned that they will face sword, famine, and pestilence as a result of their abominations, with each form of suffering targeting those in different circumstances, ensuring no escape from God’s wrath. The devastation will be comprehensive, reaching every location where idol worship occurred. Through this desolation, God’s justice will be recognized, underscoring His identity as the Lord who does not tolerate idolatry. The imagery of complete ruin aims to bring Israel to an understanding of the gravity of their sins and God’s absolute authority.