Imagine the wrath of God approaching; a consuming fire that destroys everyone and everything not shielded from it. Sin, which is rejecting, rebelling against and/or falling short of God’s standards and requirements, kindles and calls the flames of God’s righteous judgment. In Ezekiel Chapter 22, using the coming destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonian army as a canvas, God paints a picture of His coming judgment against His chosen people.
Throughout its heinous history and repeated rebellions against God, His Law and His Covenant, He had warned the Nation of Israel about the severe judgment that would come if they continued in their wicked ways. But now the eternal Judge of every living soul presents the overwhelming evidence of Israel’s guilt and pronounces the sentence.
The Inventory of Jerusalem’s Sin
In Ezekiel 22:6-12, God details the violations of His Law
- Murder; parents not respected; foreigners, widows and orphans being oppressed; holy things are despised; Sabbaths are profaned; people are put to death based on false testimony; offerings made to idols are consumed at mountain shrines; open lewdness/wickedness; sexual perversion; murder for hire, collecting interest and fees from loans; plundering neighbors; and forgetting about the LORD.
The Image of God’s Judgment
In Ezekiel 22:17-22, God describes the method of His Judgment
- God tells Ezekiel that the people of Israel have become useless to Him; like the impurities in precious metals that are removed in a furnace. Therefore, as precious metals are melted in a furnace, God will gather the people of Judah together in Jerusalem and execute His judgment by fire. Both the precious metals and worthless contaminants will be melted by the fire of His wrath. The city will be burned and destroyed; the people will be killed and exiled.
The Indictment of the Guilty
In Ezekiel 22:25-29, God denunciates the breakers of His Law
- The Potentates – Conspiring like roaring lions: tearing apart their prey; devouring souls; taking riches and other valuable things; making many widows. Acting like wolves: tearing apart their prey; shedding blood; destroying souls; getting dishonest gain.
- The Priests – Violating God’s Law and profaning His holy things; not distinguishing between the holy and unholy; not teaching the difference between clean and unclean; ignoring Sabbath violations; profaning God.
- The Prophets – Whitewashing blatant sin; giving false prophecy; lying; falsely claiming ‘Thus says the LORD.’ when the LORD has not said.
- The People – Deceiving for unjust gain; plundering; mistreating the poor and needy; unjustly violating foreigners.
But before the wrath, we see the love and mercy of God layered in with His perfect justice – He takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked (see Ezekiel 18:32, 33:11). Despite centuries of sin, God was still looking for a way to pardon His people.
- Ezekiel 22:30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
God had made a way for the temporary covering of sin through the Levitical Law. If done in humility, with repentance and in reverence for God, animal sacrifices (which foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to pay the debt for sin) could have reconciled sinful Israel to God.
However, without an atoning sacrifice for their sin, without confession and repentance, without a wall of righteousness around them and someone to stand in the gap between Israel and God’s wrath, God makes clear that His perfect justice would be served. Israel would indeed reap what they had sown.
- Ezekiel 22:31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.
So, what is standing between you and God’s wrath?
By what means will the penalty for your sin be paid?
How will you be reconciled to God?
Jesus Christ, the human incarnation of Jehovah God, is the only means by which sinful people can be reconciled to a Holy God.
- Isaiah 53:5-6 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
- 1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
Jesus shed His sinless blood
to build an impenetrable wall
of righteousness around you!
When you surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior,
He stands in the gap between you and God,
and your sin debt is paid in full!
Through faith in Christ,
in His righteousness,
you are eternally reconciled to God!
Prayer
Savior, LORD and King, thank You for making a way for sinful man to be reconciled to You. Thank You for Your love, grace and mercy. Thank You for the unchanging truth of Your Holy Word and the indwelling presence of Your Holy Spirit. Please Father, through Your Word and the Work of Your Spirit, draw those who are not followers of Jesus Christ to repentance and salvation. Save them from the judgment Jerusalem experienced. I ask these things in the powerful name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
