The conspiracy of her prophets… is like a roaring lion tearing the prey.” The Apostle Peter speaks of the devil as a roaring lion who seeks to devour people. The Apostle Paul speaks of the devil as one who transforms himself into an angel of light. [2]
The prophets in Ezekiel’s day were deceived by the devil to proclaim a message that was not from God, and they formed a conspiracy against anyone who dared to speak differently. The reason being, “They have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows.” They were after people’s money. Perhaps, they worked the husbands of the widows to death with their self-help messages.
“Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” [3]
Those who were to serve the congregation by teaching them to discern between what was pleasing to the Lord, and what was not, failed them. Thus, the people under them did not honor the Lord with their choices.
“Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.” [4]
The politicians fleeced and slaughtered the sheep rather than served them.
“Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, thus says the Lord God, when the Lord had not spoken.” [5]
The false prophets plastered them with words that gave them a sense of being right with God, but their words were distancing the people from a personal relationship with the Lord.
“The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.” [6]
The fruit of the failing prophets, failing priests and failing politicians was a nation of people that was skillful at defrauding people of their money, and great at taking advantage of vulnerable people, such as the newly arrived foreigners.
“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. 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.” [7]
The One stands in the gap for people in such a nation as the one described above is Jesus Christ, God’s Son. He is perfect. He lived in flesh on this planet and never sinned. He gave His life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of all people. Salvation by His grace is the only message that does not fail people. We all fail God and one another due to our sin. We have no idea how far off from God we are. Living in a sin stained world is our normal. We need someone from outside our world who is not tainted by the sin we live in to reveal to us our spiritual failings, and to forgive our sins against and people, and to give us new hearts that want to love God and our neighbor. Jesus Christ is the One who stands in the gap. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all...” [8]
Christ is the answer for our world today! He is the One that true prophets of God testify of. [9]
He is the One of whom the Apostle Peter preached, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized…” [10]
[1] Ezekiel 22:23-25
[2] 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14
[3] Ezekiel 22:26
[4] Ezekiel 22:27
[5] Ezekiel 22:28
[6] Ezekiel 22:29
[7] Ezekiel 22:30-31
[8] 1 Timothy 2:5–6
[9] Revelation 19:10
[10] Acts 2:38-40
The prophets in Ezekiel’s day were deceived by the devil to proclaim a message that was not from God, and they formed a conspiracy against anyone who dared to speak differently. The reason being, “They have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows.” They were after people’s money. Perhaps, they worked the husbands of the widows to death with their self-help messages.
“Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” [3]
Those who were to serve the congregation by teaching them to discern between what was pleasing to the Lord, and what was not, failed them. Thus, the people under them did not honor the Lord with their choices.
“Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.” [4]
The politicians fleeced and slaughtered the sheep rather than served them.
“Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, thus says the Lord God, when the Lord had not spoken.” [5]
The false prophets plastered them with words that gave them a sense of being right with God, but their words were distancing the people from a personal relationship with the Lord.
“The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.” [6]
The fruit of the failing prophets, failing priests and failing politicians was a nation of people that was skillful at defrauding people of their money, and great at taking advantage of vulnerable people, such as the newly arrived foreigners.
“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. 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.” [7]
The One stands in the gap for people in such a nation as the one described above is Jesus Christ, God’s Son. He is perfect. He lived in flesh on this planet and never sinned. He gave His life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of all people. Salvation by His grace is the only message that does not fail people. We all fail God and one another due to our sin. We have no idea how far off from God we are. Living in a sin stained world is our normal. We need someone from outside our world who is not tainted by the sin we live in to reveal to us our spiritual failings, and to forgive our sins against and people, and to give us new hearts that want to love God and our neighbor. Jesus Christ is the One who stands in the gap. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all...” [8]
Christ is the answer for our world today! He is the One that true prophets of God testify of. [9]
He is the One of whom the Apostle Peter preached, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized…” [10]
[1] Ezekiel 22:23-25
[2] 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14
[3] Ezekiel 22:26
[4] Ezekiel 22:27
[5] Ezekiel 22:28
[6] Ezekiel 22:29
[7] Ezekiel 22:30-31
[8] 1 Timothy 2:5–6
[9] Revelation 19:10
[10] Acts 2:38-40
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