A Holy Intolerance

This is no mere opinion written by a discerning journalist. It is “the word of the Lord” (1), given to a man brave enough to speak the unspeakable. Ezekiel the priest, deeply knowledgeable in the law, may well have grieved over the appalling misbehavior of his colleagues (26), but it was Ezekiel the prophet who had to speak these words. It was God’s grief he was compelled to articulate. This required courage, because these were not words of false comfort and hope, but of condemnation and judgment upon God’s people.

God condemned the predatory behavior of Jerusalem’s kings, and the graphic language of Ezekiel’s description of their cannibalistic behavior echoes the words of Micah (3:1-3). Their disregard of the lives and rights of ordinary people is mimicked by their underlings, who likewise are driven by greed and exploit their power and influence to their own advantage (27). The prophets, instead of speaking God’s word into the situation, prostituted their vocation and curried favor with those in power (28). Not surprisingly, the corrupt behavior of kings, priests, bureaucrats and prophets is copied by ordinary people (29). Corruption at the top permeates the whole of society.

Another inevitability is that it is the weak and powerless who suffer, those who have no influence in high places, including migrants and refugees (29). Folk at the bottom of the socio-economic heap are denied justice, however, and it is impossible to exaggerate the significance of this. Ezekiel, like other prophets before him, reminds us that the “poor and needy” (29) have influence in the highest place of all. It is, after all, God who is speaking through Ezekiel, and God who is acting as their advocate. Jesus later appropriated this advocacy role (Luke 4:18-19), something with immense implications for his Church.

Ponder this prayer: “Lord, in how many ways does my foolish heart make false distinctions among Your people? Reveal them to me… Rebuke me in Your love” (Max Lucado).