Ezekiel 7:19: “They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.”
Today's verse comes from a chapter that discusses the day of God’s judgment. It's important to note that judgment always comes, even if it seems a long time in coming. People might believe that because they have lived in sin for so long, God doesn’t see or care, or even doubt His existence. But rest assured, He sees all, knows all, and is keeping track of everything. In verses 10-11a of this chapter, the long-awaited arrival of this day of wrath is compared to a blossoming plant: “Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded. Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness.” This is not a pleasant flower but a poisonous one. By nurturing this poisonous flower through their idolatry and pride, they brought it to full maturity. Oh What great care they gave to the blooming of their judgemnt! and what great care men go to in this hour to hasten the day of God’s judgement!
While the entire chapter addresses the day of His wrath, it was verse 19 that arrested me this morning. On that day, the very things they relied on will be cast aside: “They shall cast their silver in the streets.” This reminds me of Judas, who trusted in riches over Christ. When he faced his condemnation, he threw his silver at the feet of those he had betrayed Jesus to and went out to hang himself. In the day of God’s wrath, what he had valued more than Jesus was revealed to be worthless. Similarly, the rich of Israel, when faced with God's judgment, found their money, once valued above God, turned to bitterness. The idols they had crafted from gold and silver became repugnant. They cast them aside, not out of repentance, but because they realized too late that their stumbling blocks had failed them. How bitter will be the parties, reveling, and riches that people trusted in when they face hell! One second in hell, and people would repent of every idol they worshipped, yet it is too late. The day of God's wrath is approaching, and people continue to nurture it through their idolatry. When it blooms, everything they once valued will turn to wormwood (bitterness).
Our verse also illustrates the futility of idolatry to satisfy: “They shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels.” People often believe that worldly things will fulfill their deepest longings, but they cannot. The void man feels is that of the once living soul that God made us and was lost in the downfall of sin. No amount of money, power, or possessions can fill it. Only God Himself, through Jesus Christ, can fill that void. He is the fullness of all things, and "Ye are complete in him." Outside of Him, nothing and no one can be complete or satisfied, especially in the day of wrath. Silver and gold might satisfy in this life, but what can they do for you in death? I’ve heard of millionaires who, on their deathbeds, would give everything they owned for just one more day of life, hoping to delay their judgment. Oh dear reader, cast out your idols today and seek mercy while it can still be found! In the day of your judgment, you will cast them aside when it is everlasting too late. Christ alone can fill the void you’ve tirelessly tried to fill throughout your life.
In the day of God’s wrath, they will cast out their silver and gold because they will finally see it as the very thing that led to their downfall: “because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.” The things they loved most failed to satisfy and led to their destruction. This is a familiar story: the drunkard giving up alcohol only when his liver has failed, a mother abandoning addiction when her family is already broken, the rich man in hell lamenting his fate with no hope of escape. Dear reader, whatever you hold dear today—whether riches, pleasures, addictions, or any other idol— it might seem precious now, but in the day of judgment, you will despise them and wish you had never loved them so dearly. Today, before the wrath of God fully blooms, cast out these idols and call on Jesus. He can fill you to overflowing! The void you have felt and tried to fill with worldly things can be instantly filled by His fullness. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)
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