Ezekiel 22:23-31

God stood in the gap for man. Only by His sacrifice alone, by taking on the sins of the world, could He allow mankind to live and not destroy them. By giving man His righteousness through their acceptance of His salvation in Christ Jesus they were given the gift of eternal life with His life within them. This free gift would be offered to all men that some could be saved. The state of the religious right then seems perilously similar to the religious right of today.

The priests were not examples of separation from worldly ways. Some at least were motivated by monetary gain. These prophets were involved in “whitewashing” the sins of the nation’s leaders. If the proper antecedent for them is “princes” (v. 27), then the priests were also guilty of approving murder. God could not find a spiritual leader to guide the people in godliness.

Ezekiel 22:23-31

²³ And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ²⁴ “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ ²⁵ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. ²⁶ Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. ²⁷ Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. ²⁸ Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. ²⁹ The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. ³⁰ So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. ³¹ Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.