Chapter 7 enlarges upon the desolation of the land, completing the prophetic word whose beginning was in chapter 4. An end, the end, indeed, was come for Israel whose abominations (a term in Scripture associated with idolatry) brought upon the nation the unsparing judgment of a longsuffering God.
There could be no pity in that judgment, since forbearance had ever been despised, and the words of God’s prophets refused. The rod had blossomed, pride was full blown; violence was risen up into a rod of wickedness; nothing of them should remain, nor of their multitude (verses 10-11). Outside would be the sword; within, pestilence and famine; death in one form or another threatened all. Some would escape with their lives, bemoaning their state (verses 15-16). They gird on sackcloth; horror covers them; shame is upon all faces, baldness on all heads (verse 18). These are all part of the wages of sin, but it does not appear that conviction would come to many, with confession and humiliation before God. When men and women will not heed God’s Word while there is opportunity, there is little ground to suppose that when death threatens they will believe and be saved. Rather are they apt to be hardened then, and die determinedly in their sins.
What use are gold and silver when life’s bright day is over? Silver and gold shall not be able to deliver the possessor in the day of Jehovah’s wrath, nor would they satisfy the soul or fill the belly in the famine which besieged-Jerusalem would experience (verse 19).
The costly temple Solomon had erected was profaned by the images of idols and of detestable things; God had forsaken it, and would give it to strangers, to the wicked. The worst of the nations would shortly enter the land now full of bloody crimes, and the city full of violence (verses 20-24). Peace sought when destruction comes is not found, nor will prophet, priest or elder be of avail then.
A mourning king and a dismayed prince, and trembling people, complete the picture of human woe in that day (verses 25-27).
Fearful are the closing words of chapter 7: “I will do unto them (the unrepentant sinners of Israel who were involved in the judgment of that day) according to their way, and with their judgments will I judge them; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.” What then of the despisers of God’s Word in 1935?