Chapter 11 continues the vision that God showed to Ezekiel of His departure from Jerusalem. He highlights the problems of the 25 leaders who remain in the city.
In 597 BC, many of Judah’s key leaders were exiled to Babylon. Left behind were second-tier leaders who continued the sinful practices of those before them. These leaders engaged in iniquity and wicked counsel.
And he said to me, “Mortal, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city;
They say, ‘The time is not near to build houses; this city is the pot, and we are the meat'” (Ezekiel 11.2-3).
Daniel Block explains the saying used by the 25 leaders as they spoke to the remaining inhabitants of Jerusalem. In that era, meat was stored in a sealed pot, which helped preserve it and kept rodents out.
When the leaders said, “The city is the pot, and we are the meat,” they were implying that they were safe and preserved because they were within the city.
God’s Reversal
God empowered Ezekiel to overturn the saying the leaders were relying on. Instead of being preserved by staying in Jerusalem, they would face God’s judgment due to their actions.
“Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O mortal.”
Then the spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the Lord: This is what you think, O house of Israel; I know the things that come into your mind.
You have killed many in this city, and have filled its streets with the slain.
Therefore thus says the Lord God: The slain whom you have placed within it are the meat, and this city is the pot; but you shall be taken out of it.
You have feared the sword; and I will bring the sword upon you, says the Lord God” (Ezekiel 11.4-8).
The 25 leaders who remained in Jerusalem likely believed that staying in the city would ensure their safety. Meanwhile, they saw those who had been exiled as being under God’s judgment.
However, because they continued the sinful behavior of their predecessors, they too were under the same judgment as the exiles. Rather than being safe in Jerusalem, God declared that they would die by the sword.
Accountability
Instead of being safe inside the “pot,” meaning within Jerusalem, they would face the same fate as those exiled in 597 BC. The cause of their downfall was their iniquity, wicked counsel, and failure to follow God’s ordinances.
This city shall not be your pot, and you shall not be the meat inside it; I will judge you at the border of Israel.
Then you shall know that I am the Lord, whose statutes you have not followed and whose ordinances you have not kept, but you have acted according to the ordinances of the nations that are around you” (Ezekiel 11.11-12).
Each of God’s reasons for judging Israel warrants careful reflection. The first is iniquity.
Iniquity can refer to being inwardly twisted—twisted thinking, twisted will, twisted desires, and twisted purposes—or it can refer to the guilt that results from these, depending on the context in which it is used.
Wicked counsel refers to evil or harmful advice, planning, or leadership. The general population relies on its leaders, and when those leaders lead people away from God’s will, they contribute to the people’s ongoing disobedience and ultimately bring God’s judgment upon them.
As we reflect on the behavior of these leaders in Jerusalem, it becomes clear that their primary concern is their own survival, security, and well-being, rather than the well-being of the nation. They show no concern for those exiled in Babylon, focusing solely on what they can gain from the situation for themselves.
They have adopted their behavior from the surrounding pagan nations and have rejected God’s revealed guidance for their lives. As the leaders act in this way, the rest of society follows their example.
This is why God’s glory is departing from Jerusalem, and His judgment is coming upon the people.
Reflections
It seems that hardly a day goes by without hearing about a scandal involving a political, business, or religious leader in the news. In every part of society, when we turn away from God’s revealed will and follow our own distorted desires, we are headed for trouble.
One of the best things we can do is ensure that our lives remain focused on following God’s guidance, while also praying for those around us to do the same.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 