I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in anger and fury and great wrath.

This is a terrible judgment. The Lord Himself will fight against them. In the past, the Lord Himself has been Israel’s protector and guardian. Now, He has pledged to be their destroyer, yet even in this pledge we catch a glimpse of the unearned grace, the abundant mercy of God. vs. 8 and 9 Furthermore, tell the people, “This is what the LORD says; See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life.