Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 22
In this chapter of Ezekiel, we hear explanations as to why Jerusalem’s judgment would be coming, how it would arrive, and who it would affect. Verses 2 – 16 discuss the many foul sins that the citizens of Jerusalem have committed. Verses 17 – 22 show how God will lay his vengeance upon the people like the fires of a furnace. Verses 23 – 31 explains how the leaders of Jerusalem, namely their princes, their priests and their false prophets have led the people astray and thus will succumb to God’s fury.
The leaders of Jerusalem are mostly focused upon in this chapter. Their sins have caused them to stray from God’s instructions for them. These leaders were supposed to be a moral example for how the citizens of Jerusalem were to behave. Unfortunately, the idea of a moral leader falling into the trap of sin still happens in our own society. This ultimately causes God’s fury to reign down upon the people.
Speaking of His fury, God likens his anger and vengeance to that of a furnace. Typically a furnace is used to melt down metal. When doing so, the impurities, or slag, will float to the top to be skimmed off and thrown out. When God uses the furnace metaphor, He intends to purify the people of Jerusalem. But God says that doing so will do no good, since the people are as bad as the slag, thus having nothing pure about them.
Key Verses:
“Just as copper, iron, lead, and tin are melted down in a furnace, I will melt you down in the heat of my fury. I will gather you together and blow the fire of my anger upon you, and you will melt like silver in fierce heat. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured my fury on you.” ~ Ezekiel 22:20-22 NLT
Questions to ponder:
- How can we pray for our leaders so that they don’t fall into the same traps that Jerusalem’s leaders fell?
- If you are the leader in your home, your work, your community, what can you do to avoid the same pitfalls that Jerusalem’s leaders fell?
