Ezekiel 22

CHAPTERS 2224THEME: Review of Jerusalem’s abominations; the parable of two sisters; the parable of the boiling potWe continue in this section which contains the last prophecies concerning the judgment that was coming upon the nation Israel (chs. 20-24). In the beginning, Ezekiel’s messages were directed to the first two delegations which had gone into captivity. They were holding on to the belief that God would never destroy the temple; it was His sanctuary, and His glory had been there. They believed that God would not allow Nebuchadnezzar to touch it. The false prophets encouraged the captives in their unbelief, making them think it was not necessary for them to come back to God, or to give up their idolatry and other evil ways. There is something very subtle that happens often in our day which I think we need to be very careful about. A great many men are eulogized today even before they die, but particularly at their funerals; though they were godless blasphemers, some preacher tries to push them right into heaven with his words of praise. Unless we have God’s mind on the matter, we need to be very careful what we say about folk. Otherwise, an unbeliever may measure his goodness by the life of someone who is praised (he knows how great a sinner that man was!), and may be led to believe that he does not need the Savior. It is tragic today that gospel messages are frequently given to a crowd of saints, but not given at a time and place the worldly and unsaved man is present. Too often, the preacher trims his message to please the crowdthat is what the false prophets of Ezekiel’s day did. Ezekiel has really been laying it on the line in these final prophecies. In chapter 20 he gave a prophecy concerning the Negeb, the southern part of Israel around Beersheba. In that prophecy God said, “I’ll kindle a fire in thee.” I have been through that area, and it is as baldheaded as a doorknob; there is no vegetation of any size whatsoever. I never saw a tree any larger than my arm in the entire place. There used to be a forest there, but God judged it, and He did a pretty good job of it. Then in chapter 21, there was the remarkable prophecy that there would be no one to sit on David’s throne until the Lord Jesus came.

That is what the angel was talking about when he said to Mary, “I am going to give to Him the throne of His father David.” You see, even at Christmastime it’s nice to have Ezekiel around to add to our understanding. The background the prophets give us is so needful today.

Ezekiel 22:1

REVIEW OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF JERUSALEMChapter 22 lists the abominations of the city of Jerusalem. “The bloody city"this is what Ezekiel calls Jerusalem. Isaiah said the same thing in Isa_1:21, “How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.” The Lord Jesus wept over the city and said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee …” (Luk_13:34). After all, didn’t they slay Him also? They turned Him over to the Romans who did the killing job. It was Stephen who said to the Jews, “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers” (Act_7:52). At the death of Christ, the crowd cried out to Pilate, “…His blood be on us, and on our children” (Mat_27:25). The leaders of Israel were involved in apostasy and gross sins:

Ezekiel 22:25

Her false prophets were saying, “Everything is fine. We’re getting along nicely.”

Ezekiel 22:26

Her priests blatantly violated the law of God.

Ezekiel 22:27

Her princes were “like wolves ravening the prey.” Paul has warned the church about wolves in sheep’s clothing (see Act_20:29), and we do have them in the church today. Why was Jerusalem called a bloody city? Because of the prophets, the priests, and the princes.

Ezekiel 22:30

There was not a man to be found in the land who could stand in the gap. I thank God He did find a Man to stand between my sin and a holy God. That Man is the Lord Jesus Christ, and God sees those who belong to Him in Christ. I am thankful for the Man who stands in the gap today!