Sins of Jerusalem
September 14, 2021
Commentary
This chapter explains why Jerusalem’s judgment would come (vv. 1-16), how it would come (vv. 17-22), and who would be judged by it (vv. 23-31). The leaders were especially responsible for the moral climate of the nation because God chose them to lead.
A very strong indictment against a city, people, and land that had wholly gone into moral decay is expressed (vv. 1-16). They have served idols instead of the Lord. By bloodshed they have despised the sanctity of life; and by sexual perversion they have despised the highest form of creation, which is man’s body. Also by seeking material gain at any cost, they have put material things above the spiritual. They have done all of this because they have forgotten the Lord God. All segments of the social world have become involved in this decay: which includes prophet, priest, and people. Therefore, the Lord must bring judgment by dispersion to a segment of society, and fire, sword, and plague to the others. God’s holy purpose in this is to purge out filthiness and dross, appease His wrath against sin, and bring His people back to Himself.
So terrible and widespread were the bloody crimes of Israel that they were a reproach unto the heathen all over the world. Earlier in their history, the Lord spared them in spite of their wickedness, so that other nations would not be able to say, the Lord can not save. But now, if the Lord’s name was to be upheld, He must deal with His sinful people in judgment. Unfortunately, many of the sins mentioned here have been committed in recent years by Christian leaders of our generation.
Application
We are living in a time of unprecedented attacks by Satan. Therefore I need to uphold our leaders in prayer, and encourage people everywhere to seek accountability that will help them keep their moral and spiritual integrity.
Ezekiel 22:1– 16 (NET)
1 The Lord’s message came to me: 2 “As for you, son of man, are you willing to pronounce judgment? Are you willing to pronounce judgment on the bloody city? Then confront her with all her abominable deeds! 3 Then say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O city, who spills blood within herself (which brings on her doom), and who makes herself idols (which results in impurity), 4 you are guilty because of the blood you shed and defiled by the idols you made. You have hastened the day of your doom; the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations, an object to be mocked by all lands. 5 Those both near and far from you will mock you, you with your bad reputation, full of turmoil.
6 “‘See how each of the princes of Israel living within you has used his authority to shed blood. 7 They have treated father and mother with contempt within you; they have oppressed the resident foreigner among you; they have wronged the orphan and the widow within you. 8 You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths! 9 Slanderous men shed blood within you. Those who live within you eat pagan sacrifices on the mountains; they commit obscene acts among you. 10 They have sexual relations with their father’s wife within you; they violate women during their menstrual period within you. 11 One commits an abominable act with his neighbor’s wife; another obscenely defiles his daughter-in-law; another violates his sister—his father’s daughter —within you. 12 They take bribes within you to shed blood. You engage in usury and charge interest; you extort money from your neighbors. You have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign Lord.
13 “‘See, I strike my hands together at the dishonest profit you have made, and at the bloodshed they have done among you. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong when I deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it! 15 I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you among various countries; I will remove your impurity from you. 16 You will be profaned within yourself in the sight of the nations; then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Illustration: Your Right to be Tried Without a Jury or Judge
Judge George Stewart of the Provincial court in British Columbia, Canada, was giving the man arraigned at the bar various options he could choose for his trial: “You have the right to be tried by a magistrate without a jury, or a judge without a jury, or a judge and jury. How do you wish to be tried?” The man, who had no counsel representing him thought for a moment, chose a fourth option: “Trial without a judge.” As the laughter subsided in the courtroom, Judge Stewart remarked: “Young man, you’re probably in the right place.” (Peter Hay – Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, #6506).