In our study of Ezekiel chapter six, we will look at the significance of mountains and hills in the Bible. We will come to understand what God means when He says that He will judge the mountains.
Now, if God speaks to you in this study, you can save your own personal notes on this page. Then, every time that you look at this study, your notes will automatically be added to the page. To add a note or to display your previous notes, click on the YOUR NOTES button.
The word of ADONAI came to me: "Human being, face toward the mountains of Isra'el, and prophesy against them:
In chapter 5, we saw the prophet declare judgment on the city of Jerusalem. Now, God tells him to turn to the people of the northern part of the country. In Jewish thought, mountains are associated with male leaders and hills are associated with female leaders. With that in mind, we see that Ezekiel is called to proclaim judgment on the leaders of what was known as the northern kingdom of Israel.
'Mountains of Isra'el, hear the word of Adonai ELOHIM: here is what Adonai ELOHIM says about the mountains, hills, ravines and valleys: "I myself will bring a sword against you and destroy your high places. Your altars will be wrecked and your pillars for sun-worship broken, and I will throw down your slain ones in front of your idols. I will lay the corpses of the people of Isra'el in front of their idols and scatter your bones all around your altars.
Here, we see that the judgment is proclaimed on the leaders as well as the common man (ravines/valleys). Their idolatry would be punished and all who looked to the idols for help would perish.
Everywhere you live, the cities will be destroyed and the high places wrecked; so that your altars can be destroyed and wrecked, your idols broken and abolished, your pillars for sun-worship cut down and the things you have made wiped out. The slain will fall among you; then you will know that I am ADONAI.
We see that this judgment was going to be on all of the land and all who trust in the things of their hands. Ever since the Tower of Babel, man has attempted to reach the heavens by their own work. The same thing was true in Ezekiel's day and is even today. In the last days, there will be the spirit that says that, if all men just band together, they can accomplish anything. Ezekiel proclaimed this judgment and tells us that its purpose is so that men will see that they are only men and God is in charge.
"'"Nevertheless, I will leave a remnant, some who will escape the sword among the nations, when you have been scattered throughout the countries.
The principle of the remnant of God's people flows throughout the Bible and, here, it is promised again. God has always had a small group of people that, though they strayed, would always return to Him. The same thing is promised in this judgment on the northern kingdom.
Those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they have been exiled. How broken I have been over their whoring hearts that left me, and over their eyes that went whoring after their idols! They are going to loathe themselves for all the evils they committed in their disgusting practices.
This remnant of God's people all share the characteristic of a repentant heart. Though they may have faced a partial judgment by being exiled, they are yet saved from destruction. God's partial judgment was enough to get them to see their sin and to repent. This is also the basis for the great revival that will take place during the time of the Great Tribulation. Many people will face a partial judgment of God in order for them to turn to Him.
Then they will know that I am ADONAI; it isn't for nothing that I said I would bring this calamity upon them."'
The people will see that their idols were really nothing and that God is in control of all things. The people will also see that God knew that it was necessary for them to face the partial judgment in order to bring them back to Him. In the same manner, God knows that, in the last days, men's hearts will become so hard that the only way for them to come to Him is through severe judgments.
"Here is what Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Strike with your hand, and stamp with your foot, and bemoan all the terrible disgusting practices of the house of Isra'el. For they will fall by sword, famine and plague.
Once again, God tells Ezekiel to act out a scene for the people. Striking the hands together and stomping the feet was a sign of great anguish. Saying alas was a sign that the judgment had been decreed and will not be stopped.
Those far away will die from the plague, those nearby will fall by the sword, and whoever stays and is besieged will die from famine. This is how I will spend my fury on them.
The judgment was to be on all of the people in all of the kingdom.
You will know that I am ADONAI when their slain men are lying among their idols around their altars on every high hill, on every mountaintop, under every green tree, under every thick pistachio tree, wherever they offered sweet-smelling sacrifices to appease their idols.
Once again, the purpose of the judgment is so that the remnant will understand that it is God that is in control. The dead are at the places where they committed their idolatry as they turned to their false leaders to save them from God's wrath.
I will stretch out my hand over them and make the land wherever they live into a desolate waste worse than the Divlah Desert. Then they will know that I am ADONAI.'"
The ground itself is judged and once again it is so that the remnant will see that God is in control.
Read about what we do with the data we gather and the rules you agree to by using this website in our privacy policy.