Ezekiel 19:1-14
Israel Degraded
Ezekiel 20:1-16
The Rebellions of Israel
Ezekiel 20:17-32
Ezekiel Reinforces the Law
Ezekiel 20:33-49
God Will Restore Israel
Ezekiel 21:1-7
God’s Judgment Sword Drawn
Ezekiel 21:8-17
The Sword Sharpened
Ezekiel 21:18-32
The Instrument of God’s Judgment
Ezekiel 22:1-16
Sins of Jerusalem
Ezekiel 22:17-22
Israel in the Furnace
Ezekiel 22:23-31
Israel’s Wicked Leaders
Ezekiel 23:1-21
Two Harlot Sisters
Ezekiel 23:22-35
Judgment on Jerusalem
Ezekiel 23:36-49
Both Sisters Judged
Ezekiel 24:1-14
Symbol of the Cooking Pot
Ezekiel 24:15-27
The Prophet’s Wife Dies
Israel’s Wicked Leaders
Ezekiel 22:23–31
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Jim Cymbala began at the Brooklyn Tabernacle as an ill-equipped, under-educated, time-strapped preacher who led a second congregation in New Jersey. The Brooklyn church had no money to pay him, a ramshackle building, and barely enough attendance to bother with weekly meet … More
In this passage we see who is being judged (vv. 23-31). The priests were supposed to keep God’s worship pure and teach the people right living. But the worship of God had become commonplace to them, they ignored the Sabbath, and they refused to teach the people (v. 26). They no longer carried out their God-given duties (Lev. 10:10,11). When doing God’s work becomes no more important than any mundane task, we are no longer giving God the reverence He deserves. Instead of bringing God down to our level, we should live up to His level.
The wall spoken of here is not made of stones (v. 30). Instead it is made of faithful people united in their efforts to resist evil. This wall was in disrepair because there was no one who could lead the people back to God. The feeble attempts to repair the gap through religious rituals or messages based on opinion rather than on God’s will were as worthless as whitewash, only covering over the real problems. What the people needed was total spiritual reconstruction! When we give the appearance of loving God without living His way, we are covering up sins that could eventually damage us beyond repair.
All segments of the social structure are seen as being in utter decay. It is noteworthy that the prophet, who should get his message directly from God, tops the list. His influence is the greatest, either for good or bad. The priests are next. When worship, innate in man, is directed to Satan, rather than the Lord of Creation, the end is very near.Application
I must guard against using religion as a whitewash in my life but always apply the principles of God’s Word in each of life’s situations that I may face.
Ezekiel 22:23-31 (English Standard Version)
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