THE CONGREGATION OF THE MARKED “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood-shed, and the city full of perversity” (Ez 9:9). Yet, there were a remnant, although few, who were sighed and cried over all the abominations that were done within Jerusalem. These, God put a special mark (taw) on their foreheads, to keep them under His name, well pleased with them. This is the subject of the vision that God granted to the prophet Ezekiel; probably to reveal to him what He previously proclaimed to Elijah when his soul got greatly belittled; saying: “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal” (Rom 11:4; 1 kings 19:18). 1- The six men 1-2. 2- The man clothed with linen 3. 3- The mark (the taw) 4. 4- Those who carry the mark (the taw) 4. 5- An act of chastisement 5-10. 6- The appearance of the Lord 11. 1- THE SIX MEN “And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand” (Ez 9:2). Coming from the north, probably refers to the Chaldean attack from Babylon. And probably because the seat of the image of jealousy, was at the entrance of the inner court, that was facing north (Ez 9:3). It is as though, from wherever evil comes, the divine chastisement sets forth. Having been six in number, was probably because Jerusalem at that time had six gates; as though the attack would come through all the gates, with no place to escape. The leaders of the Chaldean army were also six (Jer 39:3). Anyhow, the figure 6 most probably refers to incompletion; that is why the number of the name of the beast is 6661; three times indicating its incompletion. Therefore those men are repaying the wicked with the wage of their wickedness, as being its natural fruit. 2- THE MAN CLOTHED WITH LINEN In the midst of those who were chastened was someone clothed in priestly attire: “A man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn at his side” (Ez 9:2). In the old days, those who know how to write were few; a scribe used to accompany people of importance, or those who had a special mission, as a secretary. The ink pot was an animal horn filled with ink, formed of soot of oil lamps mixed with glue and water. The pen used to be of wood or bone. The scribe, ever ready to write2, represents the Lord Christ who came to save us; and from whose stabbed side came blood and water, to record our names in the book of life. When Ezekiel became “a sign to the house of Israel,” their iniquities, as though brought him paralysis, and made him lie motionless on his side. The Lord Christ, on the other hand, as He bowed his head to bear our iniquities, and to judge them in His body, it 1 Cf. The author: Revelation, chapter 13. 2 Boyd’s Bible Handbook, p. 302. 5 was not possible for death to seize Him, nor for sin to cling to Him; from his side He poured for us the mystery of life and an everlasting salvation! His side was opened to let us enter into His infinite love, to lift us up to the bosom of His Father, reconciling us to Him by His precious blood; And as the apostle Paul says: “Therefore brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh. And having a High Priest over the house of God. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb 10:19-22). The six men “went in and stood beside the bronze altar” (Ez 9:2), that symbolizes the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, bearer of the sacrifice; and in whose light the nonrepentant will be judged. Through the sacrifice the repentant would enjoy the infinite mercies, and the wicked would fall under the everlasting judgment. “The glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the Cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple” (Ez 9:3). The throne of grace is transformed into a throne of judgment; the divine grace was treaded upon, and the holiness of God was abused. 3- THE MARK (THE TAW) “And the Lord said to him, ‘Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the forehead of the men who sigh and cry over the abominations that are done within it” (Ez 9:4). The word mark or (taw) here, namely a seal, is connected to the name of God. When the Lord Jesus Christ, presented His blood as an atonement for our sins, He brought us into the possession of God; and we became bearers of His name on our foreheads as the source of our sanctification; as the high priest of the old days, used to put a golden plate on his forehead, on which was written, “Holy to the Lord,” and without which he could not enjoy the divine sanctuaries (Exod 28:36-38). By it we can enter into the Fatherly bosom, to be kept against perdition. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, with which we are sealed in the sacrament of ‘Meyron;’ so that all our members would come in the possession of the Lord, and our souls would be kept in His divine protection1. The word ‘Mark’ or (Taw) attracted the attention of many, as the Greek letter “Taw” or T has the shape of the cross. Origen refers to this chapter, speaking of the ‘Mark’ as the sign of the cross2. Tertullian speaks of it as being the sign of the passions of the Lord Christ, as the mystery of salvation from perdition3. [The Greek letter “Tou,” or our Latin letter “T,” has the same shape of the cross that he prophesied of as a sign of Jerusalem the true community4.] This is the sign that keeps the believer]; and as also said by St. John Chrysostom: [Being a believer, you should make the sign of the cross, and say ‘This is my only weapon, my medicine, I do not know any other5.] And [Let us hang the cross over our beds instead of the sword; Let us inscribe it on our doors instead of a bolt; and let it be around our houses instead of a fence6.] 1 للمؤلف: الروح القدس بین المیلاد الجدید والتجدید المستمر. 2 Selecta in Ezek. 3 An Answer to the Jews 11. 4 Adv. Marcion 3 : 22. 5 In colos, hom 8. 6 In Tim. hom 2. 6 St. Jerome says: [Ezekiel says: ‘Put the (Thaw) on the foreheads of those who sigh, and do not kill anyone who has it. The devil will not be capable of striking anyone who has the sign of the cross on his forehead, as he cannot wipe it away; whereas only the sin can.] 4- THOSE WHO CARRY THE MARK He says about them, “Those who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it (Jerusalem)” (Ez 9:4). He does not say, ‘those who did not fall into sin, but confirms their hatred of it, and their continuous sighs over the abominations. St. Augustine believes that they present a living portrait of those who strive, who, although they live in the midst of abominations, and are exposed to them, yet they pray to get rid of them through persistent sighs. [Because they sigh and cry, they were marked on their foreheads; the forehead of their inner man and not the outer one; as there is a forehead for the conscience, as there is the one for the face... The sign, so as not to perish, marked those; as although they are not able to correct the situation, in the midst of which they dwell, yet they grieve for it. This grief, itself, makes them, in the eyes of God, separated from the wicked, even though, in the eyes of others, they are mixed with them. They carry the mark in a secret way, and not openly1.] The book of Ezekiel, that concentrates in most of its first chapters, on chastisement and punishment, often speaks of the remnant kept for God. It is the story of every generation, and the object of God’s care. God did not forget Lot and his household, when the abominations of Sodom and Gomorrah went too far, and were destroyed by fire and brimstone from heaven (Gen 19); nor forgot Noah and his household, when He swept the earth with the great flood (Gen 6, 7). And when He was rejected by Jerusalem, the city of the great King, the Lord Christ found His comfort, in the time of ‘Pasch’ in the house of ‘Bethany.’ 5- THE ACT OF CHASTISEMENT “He said: ‘Begin at My sanctuary.’ So they began with the elders, who were before the temple. Then He said to them, ‘Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain; Go out.’ And they went out and killed in the city” (Ez 9:6, 7). The divine command was out for chastisement; to begin with killing the elders who work in the house of God; and as said by Origen: [Judgment starts with the house of God2.] When the Lord called His servants, and delivered to each of them a certain number of minas, before going on business into a far country, in order to know how much every man would gain by trading, he started by the one to whom he gave 10 minas, and ended by him to whom he gave one mina. So God particularly cares for those who work in His vine to sanctify them, to make of them, living role models for His people. If these abuse their responsibility, they would fall before others under chastisement. How much is the need of the Church to care for the sanctity of its priests, and all those who work in the house of the Lord, before the other members of the congregation, to keep them from acting like the Pharisees and the scribes of the Law. Here God leaves His divine house defiled by the corpses of those killed; those who defiled His house with idolatry, and rebelled against Him. 1 St. Augustine: Sermon on N.T. Lessons 57 :7. 2 In Matt. hom 14 :10. 7 6- THE APPEARANCE OF THE GIRDED LORD In the Septuagint version it came that the man clothed with linen, was girded. And St. John Chrysostom1 comments on this by saying that, being girded refers to unceasing vigilance; that is why God commanded ‘Job’ to gird himself (Job 38); and Moses, the prophets, and the Lord Himself appeared girded. The prophet Ezekiel fell on his face (Ez 9:8) when he saw the corpses of the priests and people, and cried out bitterly to God, begging Him to spare the remaining few as He poured out His fury on Jerusalem. The Lord answered him that He is girded with righteousness. If He allowed for severe chastisement, yet He would not disregard the holy remnant; He already said: “Do not come near anyone on whom is the mark” (Ez 9:6)... The cry-outs of the prophet will not go in vain; he will hear the divine voice, saying: “I have done as you (asked) from Me.” (Ez 9:11). 1 In Eph. , hom 23. 8 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF E ZEKIEL 9 HOW GREAT IS THE SEAL OF THE SPIRIT! How great is the seal of Your Holy Spirit on me! You had me sealed in the Sacrament of ‘Meyron.’ And so counted me as Your possession! Your cross on my forehead is the mark of membership in Your spiritual corps! And on it is the sign “Holy to the Lord”! By You I became fearful; No enemy can destroy me as long as I am with You! I fear that my black attire may judge me; I fear lest I become slothful, under the cover of the priestly attire! Guard me; I am in danger! How awesome are You, O the Holy One; In chastisement, You start with Your priests; You are firm with Your disciples for the sake of their edification! But You are the High Priest working in them. You are sweet even in Your chastisements. The wounds of Your chastisements are sweeter than the kisses of the enemy! Let Your left arm chasten me, and Your right arm embrace me, O the Groom of my soul.
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