Sometimes, it is easier to understand the meaning of a passage of scripture by presenting it in bullet form. I have summarized Ezekiel 22:6-12 this way to provide a clearer picture of God’s reasons for bringing judgment on the people:
- Princes’ corruption: Leaders abuse their power, shedding blood and committing injustices.
- Disrespect for family and society:
- Parents are treated with contempt.
- Foreigners face extortion.
- Orphans and widows are wronged.
- Religious desecration:
- God’s holy things are despised.
- The Sabbath is profaned.
- Violence and immorality:
- People slander to cause harm or death.
- Sexual immorality is widespread, including incest and violations of women.
- Adultery and other abominations are committed.
- Economic exploitation:
- Bribes are accepted to commit murder.
- Usury and extortion are practiced to exploit neighbors.
- Spiritual neglect: God has been forgotten amidst these acts.
The Holiness Code, found in Leviticus 19, forms the basis for God’s judgment on His people. The foundation of the Holiness Code is that God’s people are to reflect the character of God.
“Speak to all the congregation of the Israelites and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19.2).
God’s holiness includes righteousness, justice, steadfast love, and many more qualities. As God’s representatives, they were to honor His name (God’s reputation) in the Earth.
Instead of reflecting God’s character, the nation’s powerful leaders oppressed the people through numerous injustices, including acts of murder.
The Sabbath was a gift from God to Israel, a day of rest that He established for His people. Before the Sabbath, they worked seven days a week, with no distinction between one day and another.
Along with this, God commanded His people, who bore His name, to honor their parents as a reflection of His character.
“You shall each revere your mother and father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19.3).
In God’s courtroom, Ezekiel brought the charge against the people that they had failed to respect their parents and to observe the Sabbath.
The very design of agriculture was intended to provide for the poor and the most vulnerable members of society.
“You shall not strip your vineyard bare or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19.10).
Lord Acton aptly stated, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This was evident in Jerusalem, where the inhabitants—particularly those in positions of power—failed miserably in their responsibility to care for their families, society, the poor, and the vulnerable.
Let’s consider one more example from the Holiness Code, which addresses the importance of delivering just judgments, especially for the poor and those in need. It calls for speaking the truth in a manner that uplifts and builds others up, rather than causing harm.
God emphasizes the weight of this command by declaring, “I am the Lord.”
“You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor.
You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand idly by when the blood of your neighbor is at stake: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19.15-16).
Once again, the nation in Ezekiel’s day was found lacking and fully deserving of the judgment they received.
Perhaps the most tragic statement in Ezekiel’s list is that they had forgotten God. Despite continuing their religious activities, God was no longer at the center of their lives.
Reflections:
Ezekiel faced an extraordinarily difficult life. In 597 BC, he was on the path to becoming a priest in the temple. However, as an exile in Babylon in 593 BC, God called him to be a prophet. While he carried the dual roles of priest and prophet, his calling as a prophet became his primary mission.
When Ezekiel grasped the enormity of the task ahead and the weight of God’s judgment on the nation he loved, he sat in silence for seven days (Ezekiel 3:15). This period of silence reflected the depth of his grief and contemplation.
In light of the challenges in our own world, we too might find value in sitting quietly before God, as Ezekiel did, and asking, God, what do you want me to do? How can I pray? What small part can I play?
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 