Accountability for the Sins of God’s People

Ezekiel 22:1-16 

1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations! 3 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. 4 You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. 5 Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult.

6 "Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you. 7 In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow. 8 You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths. 9 In you are men who slander to cause bloodshed; in you are those who eat on the mountains; in your midst they commit lewdness. 10 In you men uncover their fathers' nakedness; in you they violate women who are set apart during their impurity. 11 One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; and another in you violates his sister, his father's daughter. 12 In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me," says the Lord GOD.

13 "Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. 16 You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the LORD."'"

The sins of God’s people were paraded before them through Ezekiel as the messenger of His judgment of divine justice for their idolatry and immortality.  The city of Jerusalem meant to be kept holy where God met with man and allowed temporary atonement for sins through acceptable sacrifices was now brought before the divine Judge who is sovereign over all creation and His chosen nation especially.  He therefore called them out to be held accountable for all their abominations of false worship and murderous bloodshed (2 Kings 21:16, Ezekiel 24:7-8) as He did with Cain long before (Genesis 4:10-11).  They brought on themselves a shorter time to live and less time to continue to get away with these things because the LORD was calling them to account before the throne of divine justice.  They were also exposed for their hypocrisy to the nations around them that they would see and fear the wrath of God on unfaithfulness to those following Him.  These would then carefully count the cost if they decided to follow the one true God as well instead of their lifeless idols.  The leaders of the people of God were exposed also for how they oppressed others instead of leading them to know and follow the LORD and mistreated orphans as if they were worthless, ironic since they also mocked and disobeyed their own parents (Ephesians 6:2-3).  They looked down on the commandments and word of God and the dedicated objects of the temple meant to instill a reverent fear of God in His own holiness.  They acted lewdly in immortality and sexual sins against women and adultery with sisters and neighbors.  All sense of holiness was ignored and cast aside for their passing pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:25)!  Bribery, extortion, and monetary gain replaced the intended integrity of honesty and accountability with God and man.  This is why God judged them after giving them chance after chance to repent from their sins.  He would certainly deal with them according to His word and nature.  He spoke and would do what He said with the divine integrity of His holy nature which His people were supposed to imitate.  They would be scattered as at Babel (Genesis 11:9) until He removed their filthiest of body and soul, and left their example for others to learn to fear God and follow in righteous holiness.  This is still a warning and example people of God in Christ today.  There is accountability for the sins of God’s people.  May we there learn holiness and willingly obey out of love for the merciful One who first loved us (1 John 4:10, 19).  Let it be so!