Ezekiel 22:3-9 - You have become guilty

22:3-5

All the promised doom that was coming Jerusalem’s way was brought upon her by her own actions. Shedding blood and making idols are singled out. Indeed, the two can be closely linked, for much idol worship involved child sacrifice. “You have become guilty because of the blood you have shed and have become defiled by the idols you have made” (NIV). The shedding of blood were the actions that made her guilty, that she would be charged with (and found guilty). Worshipping idols defiled her, made her corrupt. It led to her committing heinous acts. So Jerusalem would become an object of scorn, and a laughing stock. Much of the church is in the same position! We never do ourselves, nor anyone else, any favours when we abandon the Lord’s ways. It is only when we walk in step with the Spirit that we will be exalted (we may well also have to endure much suffering). So Jerusalem was heading for mockery because of her disobedience.

22:6-9

The “princes”, the rulers of Judah, were meant to use their power to serve the people, to lead the nation in God’s ways. Instead they used their power to shed blood. They have treated “father and mother with contempt”. The same charge could be made against our own governments, with their diminution of the family. They had oppressed foreigners and ill-treated the widows and fatherless. Rulers are meant to look after the poor and oppressed. They had also despised God’s “holy things”. This probably refers to the sending of temple stuff to other nations in their diplomatic efforts. And they had “desecrated mt Sabbaths”. The Sabbath was a sign that the nation was dependent upon God, and was depending upon Him. A nation that denies God is heading for trouble.