Ezekiel 7:15
The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him. The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.
The verse portrays danger on every side, with the sword threatening those in the field and famine and pestilence devouring those in the city. It describes a future time of trouble when sword, famine, and pestilence are in the land. It belongs to Jacob's trouble in the closing strife with the image of the beast, when a decree goes forth that as many as will not worship the image of the beast shall be killed. It comes at the commencement of the time of trouble, with great confusion in the land, after the Sabbath is proclaimed more fully with the Holy Spirit and after all God's chosen have seen the truth, come out, and endured persecution with the saints.
In that time the saints flee from cities and villages while the wicked pursue them with weapons. The saints are in fear and distress, mourning every family apart, with the spirit of grace and supplication poured upon them as they cry day and night for deliverance. The wicked think the saints brought the judgments upon them, so they rise up and take counsel to rid the earth of the saints, thinking the evil will then be stayed. The saints will not actually be killed but will be delivered by the voice of God.
The verse forbids making any provision for temporal wants for that time, for if food is laid up or left in the field it will be taken by violent hands and strangers will reap the fields. That time calls for trusting wholly in God, who will sustain His people so that their bread and water will be sure and they will not lack or suffer hunger. God is able to spread a table in the wilderness if necessary, sending ravens to feed them as He did for Elijah or raining manna from heaven as He did for the Israelites.
Food bought and laid by from fear when the price of food rises will breed worms, become full of living creatures, and be unfit for use in the time of need. Houses and lands will be of no use in that time and cannot then be disposed of. The saints must therefore cut loose from every encumbrance and dispose of houses and lands before the time of trouble comes. They are to make a covenant with God by sacrifice, selling when they lay property on the altar and inquire for duty and learning from God when to dispose of these things, so they will be free with no clogs to weigh them down.