Ezekiel 7 – “The Fury of God”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
God promises to punish the people by bringing a day of wrath upon them. Most of the people will die and the survivors will be miserable.

II. Photo
God seals Israel’s fate: “Forge the chain, for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of lawlessness!” (v. 23)

III. Important Verses
2-4: You, O mortal, [say:] Thus said the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: Doom! Doom is coming upon the four corners of the land. Now doom is upon you! I will let loose My anger against you and judge you according to your ways; I will requite you for all your abominations. I will show you no pity and no compassion; but I will requite you for your ways and for the abominations in your midst. And you shall know that I am the LORD.
6: Doom is coming! The hour of doom is coming! It stirs against you; there it comes!
15-18: The sword is outside and pestilence and famine are inside; he who is in the open shall die by the sword, he who is in the town shall be devoured by famine and pestilence. And if any survive, they shall take to the mountains; they shall be like doves of the valley, moaning together — every one for his iniquity. All hands shall grow weak, and all knees shall turn to water. They shall gird on sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; every face shall betray shame, and every head shall be made bald.
22: I will turn My face from them, and My treasures shall be defiled; ruffians shall invade it and defile it.

IV. Outline

1. Introduction
2-4. God will show no mercy to Israel
5-9. A reiteration: God will show no mercy to Israel
10-22. The day of wrath
    10-11. Cause: lawlessness
    12-13. Businesses will come to a halt
    14-15. People will die by famine or the sword
    16-18. The survivors will suffer immensely
    19-21. The people’s riches will be given to others
    22. The temple will be invaded
23-27. A reiteration: God will ravage the land because of its sins

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Allen, Leslie C. “Ezekiel 1-19” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 28 (Waco, Texas: Wordbook, 1994).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Hals, Ronald M. “Ezekiel” The forms of the Old Testament Literature vol. 19 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1989)
Photo taken from http://farm1.static.flickr.com/11/17303893_7cfabc48b1.jpg