Ezekiel 7:3
The end is now upon you, and I will unleash My anger against you. I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your abominations.
The end
The phrase "The end" in Ezekiel 7:3 signifies a definitive conclusion or termination. In Hebrew, the word used is "קֵץ" (qets), which often denotes a boundary or limit. This term is used throughout the Old Testament to indicate the cessation of a period or the fulfillment of a prophetic timeline. In the context of Ezekiel, it marks the impending judgment upon Israel due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry. Historically, this reflects the period leading up to the Babylonian exile, a time when the Israelites faced the consequences of their actions. From a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a sobering reminder of God's justice and the certainty of His prophetic word.

is now upon you
The phrase "is now upon you" emphasizes immediacy and inevitability. The Hebrew word "בָּא" (ba) translates to "comes" or "arrives," indicating that the prophesied events are not distant but are currently unfolding. This urgency underscores the seriousness of the situation for the Israelites, who had been warned repeatedly by prophets. In a broader theological context, it serves as a warning to all believers about the importance of heeding God's word and living righteously, as divine judgment is not only a future event but can manifest in the present.

I will unleash My anger against you
Here, "I will unleash My anger against you" conveys the intensity of God's wrath. The Hebrew word for "anger" is "אַף" (aph), which can also mean "nostril" or "face," metaphorically describing the flaring of nostrils in anger. This anthropomorphic expression illustrates God's righteous indignation towards sin. Historically, this reflects the divine response to Israel's covenant unfaithfulness. From a conservative viewpoint, it highlights the holiness of God and His intolerance of sin, reminding believers of the need for repentance and obedience.

I will judge you according to your ways
The phrase "I will judge you according to your ways" indicates a direct correlation between the Israelites' actions and the divine judgment they will receive. The Hebrew word "דָּרַךְ" (derek) means "way" or "path," symbolizing one's conduct or lifestyle. This principle of retributive justice is consistent throughout Scripture, where individuals and nations are held accountable for their deeds. For Christians, it underscores the biblical truth that God is just and that our actions have consequences, encouraging a life of integrity and faithfulness.

and repay you for all your abominations
Finally, "and repay you for all your abominations" speaks to the recompense for the Israelites' detestable practices. The Hebrew word "תּוֹעֵבָה" (toebah) refers to actions that are morally repugnant, often associated with idolatry and moral corruption. This repayment is not arbitrary but is a direct response to their violations of God's covenant. In a conservative Christian context, this serves as a warning against sin and a call to holiness, emphasizing that God's patience has limits and that persistent rebellion will lead to judgment.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, tasked with delivering God's messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites.

2. Israel
The nation to whom Ezekiel is prophesying, specifically the people of Judah who are facing imminent judgment due to their persistent idolatry and rebellion against God.

3. Babylonian Exile
The period during which the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, serving as a backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies.

4. God's Judgment
The central event in this passage, where God declares the impending judgment on Israel for their sins.

5. Abominations
Refers to the idolatrous and sinful practices of the Israelites that have provoked God's wrath.
Teaching Points
The Certainty of God's Judgment
God's declaration of "the end" emphasizes the certainty and imminence of His judgment. Believers should live with an awareness of God's righteous standards and the reality of His judgment.

God's Righteous Anger
God's anger is not arbitrary but a response to sin and rebellion. Understanding God's anger helps us appreciate His holiness and the seriousness of sin.

Personal Accountability
The phrase "according to your ways" highlights personal responsibility. Each person is accountable for their actions, and this should motivate us to live righteously.

Repentance and Restoration
While this passage focuses on judgment, it also implicitly calls for repentance. God's desire is for His people to turn from their abominations and seek restoration.

The Hope of Redemption
Even in judgment, there is hope. God's ultimate plan includes redemption and restoration for those who turn back to Him, as seen throughout the prophetic books.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the context of the Babylonian exile help us understand the urgency of Ezekiel's message in 7:3?

2. In what ways does the concept of God's judgment in Ezekiel 7:3 challenge or affirm your understanding of God's character?

3. How can we apply the principle of personal accountability in our daily lives, especially in light of God's judgment?

4. What are some "abominations" in today's world that might provoke God's anger, and how can we, as believers, respond to them?

5. How does the theme of judgment in Ezekiel 7:3 connect with the hope of redemption found in other parts of Scripture, and how can this hope influence our perspective on current events?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 28
This chapter outlines the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, providing a backdrop for understanding the consequences Israel faces in Ezekiel 7:3.

Jeremiah 25
Jeremiah also prophesies about the coming judgment and exile, reinforcing the message of impending doom due to Israel's unfaithfulness.

Revelation 20
The theme of judgment is echoed in the final judgment described in Revelation, where individuals are judged according to their deeds.

Romans 2
Paul speaks about God's righteous judgment, emphasizing that God will repay each person according to their deeds, similar to the message in Ezekiel 7:3.
The Punishment of the WickedW. Jones Ezekiel 7:1-4
The Hand of the Dock on the Hour of DoomJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 7:1-15
People
Ezekiel
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Abominations, Acts, Anger, Bring, Conduct, Detestable, Disgusting, Judge, Judged, Judging, Loose, Practices, Punish, Punishment, Recompense, Repay, Wrath
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 7:2-4

     7259   promised land, later history

Ezekiel 7:2-6

     4930   end

Library
Motives to Holy Mourning
Let me exhort Christians to holy mourning. I now persuade to such a mourning as will prepare the soul for blessedness. Oh that our hearts were spiritual limbecs, distilling the water of holy tears! Christ's doves weep. They that escape shall be like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity' (Ezekiel 7:16). There are several divine motives to holy mourning: 1 Tears cannot be put to a better use. If you weep for outward losses, you lose your tears. It is like a shower
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Healing a Demoniac in a Synagogue.
(at Capernaum.) ^B Mark I. 21-28; ^C Luke . IV. 31-37. ^b 21 And they [Jesus and the four fishermen whom he called] go into { ^c he came down to} Capernaum, a city of Galilee. [Luke has just spoken of Nazareth, and he uses the expression "down to Capernaum" because the latter was on the lake shore while Nazareth was up in the mountains.] And ^b straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. { ^c was teaching them} ^b 22 And they were astonished at his teaching: for he taught
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Hebrew Sages and their Proverbs
[Sidenote: Role of the sages in Israel's life] In the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Jer. xviii. 18; Ezek. vii. 26) three distinct classes of religious teachers were recognized by the people: the prophets, the priests, and the wise men or sages. From their lips and pens have come practically all the writings of the Old Testament. Of these three classes the wise men or sages are far less prominent or well known. They wrote no history of Israel, they preached no public sermons, nor do they appear
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Blessed are they that Mourn
Blessed are they that mourn. Matthew 5:4 Here are eight steps leading to true blessedness. They may be compared to Jacob's Ladder, the top whereof reached to heaven. We have already gone over one step, and now let us proceed to the second: Blessed are they that mourn'. We must go through the valley of tears to paradise. Mourning were a sad and unpleasant subject to treat on, were it not that it has blessedness going before, and comfort coming after. Mourning is put here for repentance. It implies
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

"Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on Thee, Because He Trusteth in Thee. "
Isaiah xxvi. 3.--"Thou shall keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." All men love to have privileges above others. Every one is upon the design and search after some well-being, since Adam lost that which was true happiness. We all agree upon the general notion of it, but presently men divide in the following of particulars. Here all men are united in seeking after some good; something to satisfy their souls, and satiate their desires. Nay, but they
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

There is a Blessedness in Reversion
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Having done with the occasion, I come now to the sermon itself. Blessed are the poor in spirit'. Christ does not begin his Sermon on the Mount as the Law was delivered on the mount, with commands and threatenings, the trumpet sounding, the fire flaming, the earth quaking, and the hearts of the Israelites too for fear; but our Saviour (whose lips dropped as the honeycomb') begins with promises and blessings. So sweet and ravishing was the doctrine of this
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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