Set a Mark
by Jarrod M. Jacobs
Ezekiel 9 continues the record of Ezekiel’s vision from chapter 8. Here, he sees God calling men, specifically executioners, to Him, for they were going to execute those who had gone astray into idolatry. Remember, this is a highly figurative vision, but these men in the vision stood for the execution that would take place against Jerusalem by Babylon. Seven men answered the Lord’s call (Ezekiel 9:1-2). Six men in this vision were ready to execute, and one man appeared “clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side.” This man’s work is the subject of this study (Ezekiel 9:3-4).
This man may seem insignificant, but this is not the case. This one man had an essential duty to perform. God told him to “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it” (Ezekiel 9:4 ESV). Away with this false notion that God is vengeful and looking for opportunities to condemn mankind! Even at this stage in history, God tells one to go and put a mark on those who “sigh and groan.” In other words, mark those righteous people who are upset and sorry over the wickedness of the majority, for God intended to spare them from destruction.
Marking those who are God’s gets my attention. This means God knows people individually. We are not “cogs in a wheel” or “just a number,” as some want to say. Paul told Timothy, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Timothy 2:19). The word “seal” used in this text carries with it the idea of a mark God set upon those who are His [Mounce]. When we read the book of Revelation, we see that folks who belong to the Lord and those belonging to Satan receive a particular mark (Revelation 7:2-4; 9:4; 13:18; 14:1-5). In all of these cases, the mark was not a physical mark but a spiritual indicator that God recognized those who belong to Him because they are His children and those He did not recognize.
Notice that God’s mark was set upon those who “sigh and groan” over the sin of the people (Ezek. 9:4). Have there been no other people who have done this? Of course, not! Noah would have done this, as well as Abraham, Lot, Moses, the prophets of God, the apostles, and Christians since the first century! Thus, people today who faithfully follow God despite what the world does are also “marked” as His! What a glorious thing to consider!
How could we be “marked” as belonging to God today? We get the Lord’s mark by believing on Jesus as the Son of God, repenting of sin, confessing our faith in Christ, and being baptized (John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Romans 10:10; Mark 16:16). The Lord’s mark continues on us as we continue faithful to the Lord. It is on us as we “sigh and groan” over sin, but also as we tell people what the truth is, and lead them to the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 2:10; II Timothy 2:2; Matthew 28:20)!
Has God marked you?
