“You fear the sword, so I will bring the sword against you, declares the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 11:8, BSB).

In Ezekiel, we read this prophecy that they will face the sword, the thing they feared. God gives them what they feared. I have said before, when looking at how God gives people the thing they are desiring, that we should be sure that what our heart desires is God. This verse struck me the same way. If we are going to be turned over to the thing we fear, let it be God! David knew this and asked to fall into the hands of God because he knew He was a merciful God. What’s the context of this in Ezekiel?

Jerusalem is about to be captured. Some will go to captivity in Babylon. Many will die. In fact, Jeremiah had prophesied that anyone who leaves the city and surrendered to the Babylonians would live, but that anyone who remained in the city, to preserve their own life, would lose their life. They are fearing the thing God said wouldn’t happen. God said they would live if they went to the Babylonians. They didn’t trust God and tried to save themselves by hiding behind their walls, which will be broken. They will die by the sword. Those who try to save their life will lose it. Those who lose their lives for His sake, leaving their home because they feared God and trusted His Word, would save their lives. Let’s trust our good God. Let’s fear God and nothing else.