Daily Devotions
Ezekiel
"Show her all her abominations"
Text: Ezekiel 22:2
CRYING OUT AGAINST JERUSALEM
Once again, the Lord sent a word to Ezekiel. The prophet was reminded of the many sins that Jerusalem had committed! These sins could not be condoned. Jerusalem has to account for its sinful deeds!
“Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
‘Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city?
Yes, show her all her abominations!
Then say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
‘The city sheds blood in her own midst, that her time may come;
and she makes idols within herself to defile herself.”'”
Ezekiel 22:1-3
1. Moreover the word of the Lord came to me.
a) This was not the first time God spoke to Ezekiel concerning the sins of Judah.
b) He had spoken on this subject on many other occasions.
c) But Judah had not repented.
d) The focus this time round was on the city of Jerusalem, the political and spiritual capital of Judah.
2. Judging the city of Jerusalem.
a) Ezekiel was still hesitant about judgment against Jerusalem.
b) Many Jews, including the prophet Ezekiel nursed a deep affection for Jerusalem.
c) It was the city that the Lord had chosen to put His name there.
d) It was the city where the Temple was situated.
e) It was hard to make a judgment against Jerusalem.
3. God’s appraisal of Jerusalem.
a) It was a city that had shed much blood.
b) It was a city where abominations were evidently abounding.
c) The whole city was full of shrines dedicated to many foreign deities.
4. The time for God’s judgment.
a) God had been most tolerant and patient.
b) He had given much time for Jerusalem to repent.
c) He had sent many prophets to Jerusalem.
d) But Jerusalem had failed to return to God in repentance.
e) The time for God’s judgment had come.
i) Jerusalem would be held accountable for its wickedness.
ii) It would be judged for its idolatrous practices.
iii) It would be judged for having shed so much innocent blood.