Ezekiel, 11:4

Ezekiel 11:4 says, Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.  Ezekiel was told to prophesy against these twenty-five men.  God will always first send us a message of grace and hope, but if we do not accept it, then He will send a message of doom.   

Verse five adds, And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.  Ezekiel said the Spirit of the Lord fell on him and gave him the message to proclaim to these men.  Ezekiel said he was to tell them that God knew not only what they were doing but also their thoughts about it.  This message was not just to these twenty-five men but was also to all the house of Israel.  When God’s judgment comes, it will not just be on religious and government officials, but it will apply to all the world.   

Verse six continues, Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.  God said that they had multiplied their slain in the city, even though they thought they were safe from judgment simply because they were in Jerusalem, God’s Holy City by name, but this was not the case.  We today may think that God's judgment is far off if it comes at all and that we are safe from His judgment because we have our name on a church roll without having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but this will never be the case, just as these men were not safe because they were a part of God’s chosen people in name alone.   

Verse seven states, Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.  God said because of their stubbornness in refusing to repent and turn to Him by faith for protection that their actions had led to the streets being filled with dead people.  As followers of Christ, we need to pray that our actions will never lead to the death of others but will lead them to new life in Christ.   

Verse eight concludes, Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord God.  Ezekiel said that they had been acting out of fear of the sword of those around them, but that He was going to bring the sword of righteousness upon them.   We should never fear what the world may do to us more than we fear what disobedience to God will bring to us.  There is no place of safety outside the will of God.