In Today's Email:
Ezekiel 22 Notes
In this chapter the sins of Judah are revealed that need purging in judgment.
vs. 1-16 – The crimes of Judah are again brought to light. The primary two are idolatry and murder, but a litany of the vilest of sins is included. For these, judgment would come and they would be scattered among the Gentiles.
vs. 17-22 – God compares the coming judgment to the process of purifying metals in a smelting furnace. The metals are heated until they melt. When in this liquid state the impurities separate and are removed. The fires of judgment allowed God to purge sin from His people.
vs. 23-31 – The thoroughness of corruption in Judah is seen in these indictments against the people, prophets, priests, and princes. An astounding, alliterated accusation against all.
Ezekiel 23 Notes
In this chapter the kingdoms of Israel are compared to harlots. It is a similar comparison to what was made in Ezekiel 16.
vs. 1-10 – The Divided Kingdoms, represented by their capitals of Samaria and Jerusalem, are exposed in their sin. Samaria is called Aholah (“she has her own tent”), signifying that they had gone their own way in government and religion. Jerusalem is called Aholibah (“my tent is in her”), signifying that God’s Temple was found in her. It is a dark description, showing the origins of their idolatry in Egypt. Because of her unfaithfulness, Samaria fell to Assyria.
vs. 11-21 – The sins of Jerusalem are taken up. Her case was worse than Samaria in that she chased after more lovers than the Northern Kingdom.
vs. 22-35 – The terrible turn of events that those powers that Jerusalem had sought favor from turn on her. Her downfall and humiliation are strikingly described.
vs. 36-49 – Further description of the sins of Israel and the judgment that was coming.
Closing Thoughts
As God was surveying the sad state of Judah, He said in Ezekiel 22:30 that He, “…sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” He searches still for such today. Our world is in terrible shape. If God is righteous and holds men accountable, surely a day of reckoning cannot be far off. Who will stand between God and man? Who will intercede on behalf of a sinful nation? Who will rally the lost and dying to find peace with God at the cross?
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is “God of Infinite Compassion”, which is attributed to Charles Wesley. God sought for a man to stand in the gap in Ezekiel 22:30 but found no one. This hymn calls for Christ to stand in the gap between God and us.
God of infinite compassion,
God of unexhausted love,
From a sinful, sinking nation
Once again Thy plagues remove;
Snatch us from the jaws of ruin,
See Thy helpless people, see!
Death and hell are close pursuing,
Save, O save us unto Thee.
Have we not filled up the measure
Of our daring wickedness,
Challenged all Thy just displeasure,
Quenched the spirit of Thy grace?
Yes, our heinous provocations
For Thy heaviest judgments cry:
We have wearied out Thy patience,
Forced Thy love to let us die.
Why should not the dreadful sentence
Now on all our souls take place?
Why should not Thine instant vengeance
Swallow up our faithless race?
How can we expect Thy favor?
Good and gracious as Thou art,
Sinners’ advocate and Savior,
Find the answer in Thy heart!
Jesus, mighty mediator,
Plead the cause of guilty man:
Pity is Thy gentle nature,
Canst Thou let us cry in vain?
From Thy Father’s anger screen us,
Suffer not His wrath to move;
Stand Thou in the gap between us,
Change His purpose into love.