WEEK THREE:
GOD COMES WHERE HE IS WANTED
In Ezekiel 22, we read about the prophet delivering a vision he receives concerning the judgment to come upon Jerusalem, a consequence of the sins of God's people. In the face of these sins, God, in His holiness, must enact justice. He had established a covenant relationship with His people, promising blessings for obedience to His laws and curses for disobedience, as stated during Moses's time.
If we are to take the Scriptures seriously, we must also seriously consider this aspect of God. As A.W. Tozer writes, "The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions. It quiets their fears, allowing them to indulge in pleasant forms of iniquity while death draws ever nearer, and the command to repent goes unheeded."
God is indeed to be loved, but He is also to be rightly regarded and feared. Tozer further notes, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." Many modern Christians have simplified Him to a single-attribute deity, overlooking that the angels in God's presence continuously proclaim, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty," not merely "Love, love, love." While we should celebrate God's mercy and love, we must also acknowledge that our Lord is unceasingly holy, perfectly righteous, and eternally just.
Yet, He longs to show mercy. Instead of immediately pronouncing judgment, He sought someone among them to repair the breach in the wall and advocate for the people. However, as Ezekiel prophesies, God finds no one to stand in the gap for the Israelites. This cycle repeats across generations, with God seeking a righteous advocate for a sinful people, finding none until He sends Jesus to bridge the gap. This demonstrates God's faithfulness: when unable to find anyone to mend the breach, He sends His Son to live in perfect harmony with God and others and to intercede for us, even unto death on the cross.
Today, those of us in a new covenant with God, through the blood and intercession of Jesus, are called to emulate the person God seeks — those who will stand in the gap for a sinful city and nation, urging our communities toward repentance. This requires repenting of our sins, living righteously, discipling others, working to rebuild society, and becoming devoted to prayer and service to our city.
Our churches, our religious leaders, and believers in our time are guilty of many of the same criticisms Ezekiel levied: extortion, oppression, mishandling God's Word, injustice, neglecting the poor, conflating what is good and holy with what is not, and whitewashing the deeds of leaders under the guise of “good work,” among others.
If we, the church, cannot lead and stand righteously before God, then, firstly, our society will continue to deteriorate, and the poor will suffer the most. Secondly, without anyone to advocate before God, He will be compelled to unleash His wrath. We must be the people God seeks, those capable of repairing the walls and standing in the gap. We need to repent for any failure to be salt and light in our generation, for any sins committed.
Reflecting on Ezekiel 22 prompts us to ask ourselves the questions posed to his generation:
Have you ever unjustly taken another's money?
Have you contributed to someone's downfall?
Have you used power for unjust gain?
Have you engaged in extortion or robbery?
Have you been part of a system oppressing the needy or denying justice?
If so, Ezekiel's rebuke applies to you. As believers and representatives of Christ, called to be a holy priesthood regardless of payment, we must face these questions:
Have you disobeyed God's laws and minimized this disobedience?
Have you declared what is not good, good? Or sin, not sin?
Have you led others to do the same?
Have you concealed or minimised someone else's sin?
Have you claimed God's support for something He hasn't endorsed, or you are unsure of His will?
Have you ignored the corruption and sin around you?
We must repent for not being the prophetic voices and priests we are called to be. After repenting, we need to become the advocates the Lord seeks, yearning for God's righteousness in our time, for the world's sake.
Discussion Questions:
How do you reconcile the image of a loving God with the concept of divine justice and wrath as described in Ezekiel 22?
Do you see any similarities between Ezekiel’s generation and our world today? How do the criticisms Ezekiel made against the people of his time apply to our churches and religious leaders today?
What does it mean to "stand in the gap" for others today? Can you think of examples where this is needed in our current context?