I am treating Chapters 6 and 7 as a unit that describes the coming judgement on Judah. When reading the prophets, one must learn to appreciate the vivid symbolism aimed to stir up an emotional response in the people. One must learn not to disconnect oneself from these emotional devices just because we modern people are not immediately involved in the context, but rather, allow the poetic words to charge up our zeal for the Lord once we understand the principle the Scripture meant for us to apply. We can understand the work of the prophets to be a kind of commentary for the books that narrate the constitution God’s people and their history.
1. What is the historical background?
The constitution of Israel was given at Mt. Sinai when the people first covenanted with God. As a part of their covenant, they were to remain faithful and loyal to their Redeemer. They were not. And so, according the constitution, the people would be dispersed in exile among the nations, and that is the reality Ezekiel find himself elaborating on in a prophetic word. Chapter 6 and 7 concerns itself with the curse that is pronounced on them. The curse is the only appropriate response a Holy God must take against a sinful, unrepentant nation, or unrepentant individuals.
God will destroy the paganism of the land, but leave a remnant of faithful people (6:1-14).
That curse is being spelled out in colorful language in chapter 6. The curse falls on the mountains, rivers, and valleys, but Ezekiel is speaking about the people who live their. God is going to sweep up the whole land in judgement so that the idols and alters will be smashed and ruined. (6:1-7).
Ezekiel tells the people that God has a plan beyond the judgement to leave a remnant of people who will realize the sin of the nation and their individual sin and who will repent (6:8-10).
God’s coming judgement, though regrettable, still serves a purpose to make His glory known. None will escape who are guilty (6:11-14).
The judgement will be comprehensive and is imminent (7:1-13)
This segment is a speech that uses repetition to magnify the distress and looming darkness. Look for the words “end” and “is come” and note how many times it used in this section. As a basic observation in hermeneutics, we count repetition of words to signify the theme and importance of a theme. God repeats those themes in the Bible which hold significant weight.
How the Judeans will experience this judgment (7:14-27)
Because of famine, the army will be too weak and too apathetic to care that they are being invaded (7:14-15). Survivors will flee to the mountains in great shame (7:16-18). They will hate their wealth and jewels they used to make idols with and throw it out like garbage; it will not comfort them in the face of judgement. What God gave them for use of worship at the temple, now will be plundered and defiled by foreigners (7:19-22). The people will be taken away in chains to slavery and exile (7:23). Foreigners will come to live in their houses (7:24). Finally they will look to the prophets for help, but it will be too late (7:25-26). The judgement will be total and complete, from peasant to king, all will know and understand they forced God’s holy hand to bring judgment on them for their idolatry (7:27).
2. What can we learn about God (Theological Question)?
The purpose of the book as a whole is to teach the people something of God’s holiness. Holiness in application means judgement without pity on sin. It is a terrible conundrum for sinners who cannot overcome their sinful natures; how can God and sinners finally be reconciled? As sin permeates the kingdom, the holiness of God responds in judgement. God expects those created in His image to respond to Him in fear and reverence to His holiness.
But even in the midst of this judgment, the mercy of God is also seen. While the holiness of God will not be ignored, still God prefers mercy. There is a remnant that escapes. This remnant is repentant and humbled before God. They learn to hate their sin, and even though they deserve judgement, somehow God, against sense of justice, provides a way of escape for them.
3. How is the scripture fulfilled in Jesus Christ?
We ask this question, not simply because we fly under Christ’s banner, but Christ and the apostle has shown how the Old Testament scripture point to Jesus as the “final answer” in all things. Scripture points to Christ in roles, themes, and rituals.
Roles. Chapter 3 has already established Ezekiel’s role to Judah as “watchman”, on the lookout for Israel, providing a warning of coming judgement and giving an opportunity for repentance. God refers to Ezekiel as the son of man, a title that Jesus takes on Himself (6:2 cf. Luke 22:69). In the same way but with finality, Jesus is the final Watchman. Beyond Him is no further warning of judgement. Likewise, the word of Christ is the absolute final chance of repentance. All hail the greatness of our Savior Lord and Christ!
Themes. Judgment and the holiness of God is on terrible display in these verses. But there is a scene in the Bible more terrifying than this, it is the scene of the cross. Judgement day, in a sense, has already happened. The cross of Christ is a substitute judgment day for the “remnant” who wisely choose to humble themselves before God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The act of repentance that Ezekiel is calling his people to, leads them all to the cross, even though the cross was a mystery to them, it has all along been the plan of God. People both old and new testament are saved by the cross. Old testament believers put their belief in God and demonstrated it with obedience. New testament believers have the privilege of knowing exactly where our faith rests (the cross), and we demonstrate it with discipleship (taking up our cross) (6:8 cf. Matt. 16:24-27 .
4. How do modern believers apply this passage?
The principle for application is timeless, unaffected by political or popular thought our culture. As Christians living with the revelation of the cross, we look for a principle of a particular Old Testament passage then apply it with the understanding of how Christ satisfies the conditions for forgiveness and salvation. Our principle then simply calls people every where to repent. Choose wisdom and heed the final warnings. God is holy and will not abide sin. Yet He is merciful, so we see a delayed period of time in our present age so that God might have mercy on those who believe and turn to Jesus. We look to other scriptures to validate this principle we deduce from Ezekiel (see 2 Peter 3:9).
With this principle in hand, I leave it to you, my beloved, to prayerfully seek how you may live it out in all areas of your life. God is immensely interested in how you live your life. We are made in His image. Though Christians live our lives in Christ already accepted, free from the pressures of an unattainable law, we still strive to gratefully live our lives as a sacrifice for Him, pleasing Him in our social and private lives (See Romans 12:1-2). I am far from perfect in this, though with all my heart wish this for myself and for you my beloved. I pray for you daily to be the man of God He has called you and created you to be.
J. C. Walz – Faith, Fiction, and DEvotional Writing 
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