Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 21–24; Psalm 137

“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Again and again you remind me of your sin and your guilt. You don’t even try to hide it! In everything you do, your sins are obvious for all to see. So now the time of your punishment has come!” – Ezekiel 21:24

Now this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, are you ready to judge Jerusalem? Are you ready to judge this city of murderers? Publicly denounce her detestable sins and give her this message from the Sovereign Lord: O city of murderers, doomed and damned — city of idols, filthy and foul — you are guilty because of the blood you have shed…Every leader in Israel who lives within your walls in bent on murder…Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money!” – Ezekiel 22:1-6, 27

As we read chapter after chapter of the bad behavior of the people, it is hard not to recognize the same carnality in our own culture. Our nation has continued to worship the things of this world instead of the God on whom our country was built. Our leaders have continued to destroy lives for their own gain and our people have continued to lust after all things sexual. The desire to feel good and redefine morality has changed the atmosphere in which the next generation is growing up.

A message came to Ezekiel from the Lord describing Samaria and Jerusalem as two sisters who lusted after attractive young men from Assyria. They wanted to be fondled and physically pleasured so they gave themselves as prostitutes to these men. They were abused and mistreated, but chose to become slaves to their sexual desires instead of turning back to the Lord. They gazed upon pictures of handsome men and longed to give themselves away, and so they did. They committed adultery by worshiping idols and murder by sacrificing their children (Ezekiel 23).

“And because you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: You must bear the consequences of all your lewdness and prostitution.” – Ezekiel 23:35

In chapter 24, Ezekiel told of another message from the Lord in which he described Jerusalem as a cooking pot that was so encrusted with sin that it would not come clean. The Lord ordered that wood be heaped on the fire to make the pot boil, but it was hopeless; the corruption could not be cleaned out.

“Your impurity is your lewdness and the corruption of your idolatry. I tried to cleanse you, but you refused. So now remain in your filth until my fury against you has been satisfied.” – Ezekiel 24:15

The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. God took away their source of security and pride. Their sons and daughters left behind in Judea were slaughtered by the sword. God allowed their dearest treasures to be taken away. They had placed their delight in something other than the worship of God. They had found joy and glory in following their heart’s desire, making the things of this world their stronghold instead of trusting in God (Ez. 24:20-25).

So where do we see ourselves in this scripture? Have we fallen prey to the sexual addictions of our society? Do we lust after the things of this world? Have we made our own success the source of our security and pride? Have we found joy in pursuing what makes us feel good? Does our heart chase after the things of this world more than it longs for God? Perhaps God is calling us even now to stand in the gap of the broken wall around our country, praying for the repentance of our nation and the protection of our children. When it seems easier to give up and begin mourning, perhaps God is calling us to rebuild the wall of righteousness that used to guard our land.

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to STAND IN THE GAP in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty of all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 22:30-31

Father God, our nation is a reflection of this passage of scripture. We have sinned against you. Our priorities are self-serving, sexual sin has corrupted our culture, and the unborn are daily sacrificed in the name of women’s sexual rights. Our nation does not deserve your mercy but we pray that you will raise up an army of your people to rebuild the foundation of righteousness on which this nation was formed. May our light shine brighter as this world grows darker, so that the lost may be found and so that hope will be restored. Amen.