And I will set my face against them. Though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
He confirms what had been said in the last verse, and at the same time explains it: as if the citizens of Jerusalem retained some form, because they were not reduced to dust; but the fire had burnt all round them, as if the flame was licking a bundle of twigs.
Jerusalem was planted a noble vine, meant to bear fruit for God's glory, but a vine without fruit is worthless, no better than thorns and briers. Strip away the fruit, and what is it? Just wood, fit for nothing but the fire.
AI summary
Commenting on Ezekiel 15:1-8
And I will make the land desolate,.... The land of Judea uncultivated, men and beast being cut off; see Eze 14:15; because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord God; acted a treacherous and perfidious part; apostatized from God, having committed idolatry, which was the cause of their ruin; and therefore it was not without a cause that the Lord did what he did, in it; see Eze 14:23.