Journal Through the Bible: Week 82 Saturday

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Ezekiel chapter 22

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. (verse 30)

Does God issue any commands?

• God told Ezekiel to judge the city of Jerusalem. Ezekiel was to tell them that she would be judged because of the blood she shed as sacrifices to idols.
• God told Ezekiel to tell the inhabitants of Jerusalem that they had broken all of His commands to them. They did not honor Him. They did not honor their parents. They did not care for widows and orphans. They oppressed strangers and foreigners. They committed adultery. They profaned the sabbaths. They shed innocent blood. They coveted. They lied. They stole by force or extortion.
• God told Ezekiel to tell the city that it was the land that was not cleansed. Even her prophets, priests, and princes were roaring lions seeking prey.

Does God make any promises?

• Because of her rejection of God and adherence to the worship of idols, God would make the city of Jerusalem a mockery to other nations.
• God promised to scatter the people among the nations. This was the sentence for breaking the covenant. (The people had been warned of this provision back when the covenant was first established and accepted.)
• The heathen would take possession of the peoples' inheritance.
• God promised that as metals are purified in fire so that the dross is removed, so would His people go through the fire of purification.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jerusalem's prophets, priests, and princes were the direct opposite of Jesus, the true Prophet, Priest, and Prince. They were more like Satan. In this passage God describes them as roaring lions seeking prey. I Peter 5:8 tells us that Satan is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
• Jesus is the Man to stand in the gap, to make up the hedge, so that we would not be destroyed even though we deserve to be.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• This chapter and its list of sins against God reads like a current news account. Its description of the punishment to follow - after all, the wages of sins is death - is a sober reminder of what is to come. God judges sin!