Ezekiel 9-12

[wolfpurplemoon]

Ezekiel (at God's command) tells a guy to go kill everyone who isn't repelled by the abominations going on in Jerusalem. And he just goes and does it without question, what's wrong with these people.

What shocking behaviour the people of Israel have displayed, they didn't follow God's laws because they were (gasp) following the laws of the surrounding nations, wait, what's so wrong with getting along with your neighbours?

They'll know God when everything has been destroyed and most people have been killed, I'm sure they'll be really keen to follow God after that.

Comments

I serve this same God...

[(Anonymous)]

...and He does not delight in those that heap judgement on others.
Romans 2:1 NIV
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."
Ezekial is simply a messenger for the one true Judge. It saddens my heart that the actions a few have jaded your perception of Christians, but this is nothing new. About those that unfairly judged, Paul wrote:
Romans 2:1, 24 NIV
"24 As it is written: “God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”"
I'm happy that you have decided to read the bible for yourself, and I pray that you do it with an open mind and heart. God has put you on my heart, and so I will pray for you tonight and every night that He does so. Although you may have forgotten God, He will never forget you.

-Your friend, Adam

Re: I serve this same God...

[wolfpurplemoon]

Are you criticising the Christians who have been judging me or are you accusing me of judging all Christians because of the bad ones? Because I don't think there was anything in this post of mine that is judging Christians, especially as there weren't any at this point in biblical history.

Oh and I haven't forgotten God because I'm not an ex-believer, I've never believed in him.

Re: I serve this same God...

[(Anonymous)]

I am not criticising you or the "Christians" that act in this way. I am simply pointing out that God does not intend for humans to judge other humans, because we are all sinners.

"There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Rom 3:10-12

There is only one Judge, whether or not you beleive in Him.

-Adam

Re: I serve this same God...

[wolfpurplemoon]

Surely we have to 'judge' each other for our (yes, I know, 'merely human') justice system to work?

It seems to me that your comments don't relate to my post above about Ezekiel 9-12, especially as you keep quoting parts I haven't read yet, perhaps you can explain yourself more clearly without the constant bible quotes. Though you are more coherent than the commenter with the capital letter issues below, I'll give you that.

Re: I serve this same God...

[(Anonymous)]

I wasn't refering to legal matters. God even appointed judges to rule over Israel and make judgements in this regard, and indeed there is no authority on earth except that which has been established by God. I was referring to spiritual matters, in which case there is only one Judge. You are correct, my comments are more based on your 10/8/10 post and the comments that ensued...I copied it so that it would be more likely to be seen. Forgive me for quoting the bible, I'm not trying to throw bible darts. I'm simply using the same "work of literature" you are reading to make counterpoints.

-Adam

Re: I serve this same God...

[wolfpurplemoon]

I wondered why you'd left the same comment twice, it makes a little more sense on the original post! I see every comment left on my posts as they are emailed to me so don't worry that I won't see it, however I can't always guarantee a reply.

I'm not sure what you mean by spiritual matters, or why anyone would be likely to judge someone else by them. The previous post was about God harshly judging a harmless ritual that was observing the turning of the seasons, and instructing his people to punish the women accordingly, are these the sort of spiritual matters you mean, because I agree that we should live and let live when it comes to people harmlessly observing a sacred rite of any religion.

Who is the God you serve? A deity that creates Hell if you don't believe?

[zen-says.livejournal.com]

I too wish you read the bible with an open mind and heart and realise what the bible claims God's deeds through the ages.

From destroying humanities and picking on favorites like Israel to occupy places being occupied, and instructed Israelites to destroy all occupants,,,,,,

And what does God want? Nothing much but to get people to sing hallujahs all day and all night,,,

Re: Who is the God you serve? A deity that creates Hell if you don't believe?

[hypatiaslore.livejournal.com]

I am curious as to what you would consider an open mind and heart when reading the Bible?

To read the Bible as literature, or to read it without any preconceived notion or concept of a god figure seems to be the most open one could be. That would allow the Bible to speak for itself as it is written, wouldn't it?

If the hope of this God is for people to praise it continuously, what is the purpose of that necessity?

no such creature

[(Anonymous)]

WAIT...WHAT??? There are NO non believers...NON receivers living in DA Nile...Romans 1:19&20 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse...its GREAT that you have decided to read the ONLY TRUTH...but, for your sake, lay aside your liberal agenda; INDEED lay aside yourSELF...1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God...Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth...BUT, alas, ONLY God can give you the NEW heart it takes to follow/understand/TRULY KNOW...Ezekiel 36:26&27 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.(ESV)...SHALOM...Matthew

Re: no such creature

[wolfpurplemoon]

WHAT'S with the RANDOM capitALS? I can't work out what you're trying to say at all.

[(Anonymous)]

I think what amy is trying to say is that a that point in biblical history the christian church hadn't come into being yet not that there weren't believers. and for someone who wanted to apologize about judgmental christians adam you didn't do a very good job....at all. Amy you can read all these comments pushing you toward christianity but if you don't want it then you don't want it. I think deep down many christians themselves struggle with things in the bible. We don't have it all together nor do we have all the answers though we sometimes like to act like we do. Faith in god doesn't make sense until he shows himself real to someone.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm confused by this comment. I did not post that second comment. That was "Matthew."

[zteccc.livejournal.com]

Still in Ezekiel's vision of Jerusalem (continued from Ezekiel 8), God marks those in Jerusalem who still follow the covenant (those who are truly upset about the sins of Jerusalem) and then tells the warriors in the vision to kill those who didn't follow the covenant. The warriors presumably symbolizes the Babylonian army. Note that God still makes provision for those who follow him, even in the midst of his punishment for those who sinned in Jerusalem.

Ezekiel's vision shows God's glory departs from the temple signifying that he is withdrawing protection for Jerusalem and for the temple there due to the sins of the people. This is according to the covenant.

The vision then focuses on leaders in Jerusalem who are disobeying their covenant with God. The excuse of getting along with their neighbors doesn't really play well because in doing so they violate their own laws. If a person today shares military secrets with a neighboring country, they may be trying to get along with the neighboring country, but they can still be charged with treason and be punished or executed. If a person in Ethiopia today, were to take slaves as the Sudanese do, that person could claim to be trying to get along with a neighboring country, but in doing so, the Ethiopian would be violating his own country's prohibition of slavery (abolished in 1942), and could be prosecuted for the crime.

The Jews in Babylonia get a message that God is still part of their lives, that they should still worship God, and that God will one day restore them to their land.

Ezekiel is told to perform a visual representation of a person being exiled. The symbolism of the hole to the hole in Jerusalem's wall as well as the prophecy of what eventually happened to Zedekiah (fled Jerusalem, captured, blinded and taken to Babylon) all came to pass about 4-5 years later.
God tells Ezekiel to say that some of his prophecies will occur soon, within their lifetime, so they can see the truth of the prophecies. Clearly this happened.