Year 9, Day 148: Ezekiel 22

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Ezekiel 22 speaks once more about the plight of the people in Jerusalem.  Look at the list of crimes of which they ae accused.  They defile themselves with false gods, worshipping them in so-called holy places.  The people disrespect their parents.  They extort the sojourner in their midst.  They take advantage of the orphan and the widow.  They no longer care about the Sabbath.  They are slanderers.  They commit a whole host of sexual crimes.  They take bribes.  They take advantage of their neighbors.

The list is long, is it not?

There is a deeper question at play here.  How did the people get this way?  How does a nation once in love with God become like this?

The rest of the chapter hints to us about the answer.  The answer is simple.  The Hebrew people suffer from a lack of leadership.

The princes look to devour their subjects.  Remember that the point of the kings was to watch over the people.  They were to judge among the people.  They were to set the example of how godliness and righteousness appears. Instead, they use their power for their own gain.  They use their position for their own benefit.  They are selfish, and the people follow suit.

The priests are no better.  The priest prophesy falsely.  They give the people what they want to hear.  They give pleasant messages so that they have the favor of the people.  The priests are no longer teaching the people – especially the hard lessons like clean and unclean.  The priests are abdicating their authority because it is too hard.  The priests are looking for the easy and the popular.  The people are following suit here, too.

How do you corrupt a nation the fastest?  Put poor leadership in place.  Under bad leadership, selfishness reigns.  Under bad leadership, community falters.  Under bad leadership, individualism reigns supreme and the world is full of wanton sinfulness.

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