Ezekiel chapter 9

vs 1

Oh, this doesn't sound good. Weapons in hand. But God has shown full well why this is deserved.

vs 2

It's only six guys! No doubt they represent something, because I don't think six guys are going to cause the kind of judgment God is wanting. Seven guys, if we include the guy with the writing kit. In any case, these guys are in the temple, next to the bronze altar, so something is going to happen.

vs 3

This verse just flows happily along, but it contains an immense, incredible truth that is so vital to understanding this whole book, the whole exile. God's presence, which has lived in the temple for so long, even through all the wickedness, is now standing at the door, ready to leave.

vs 4

This guy doesn't write anything. He goes around marking people's foreheads, much in the way the Israelites marked their doorframes on the first passover. There are still people, you see, who wail and lament the horrible blasphemy that their leaders have accomplished. What's going to happen to them? Will they be saved?

vs 5

These six are to go through the city following the scribe guy, and kill people. This reminds me of the punishment Israel suffered when they made the golden calf - the Levites took swords and killed 3000 people. Certainly it's something similar.

vs 6

So, starting from the temple, they just kill anyone they meet, regardless of age, gender, marital status - the only thing that matters is whether they are mournful of the blasphemy their nation has wrought against God. Probably aren't many.

vs 7

God doesn't care if they defile the temple - it's not his any more.

vs 8

This seems an odd question, considering that there are people who are going to be specifically marked so as not to die.

Oh, and the term "While they were killing" is just priceless.

vs 9

You would hope the sin was exceedingly great. You wouldn't want God to say, "Oh, they didn't pay their tax this year, but other than that they've been fine - I'm leaving the temple, kill them all!" No, they have turned around in their wickedness and accused God of dropping the ball. Well, now he's going to drop it - on them.

vs 10

They want to play this game? Now they will see what it's like to ACTUALLY have God not listen. Yes, pardon the caps, I've been on the Internet too long.

vs 11

For the end of a chapter, that is rather ominous. I know Ezekiel didn't number it, but whoever split the chapter up did well. Ending with flair. Also, it didn't take long - Ezekiel had a one sentence conversation with God in this time. Does that mean there aren't many to mark?