Ezekiel 22:23-31

This fits in with the proverbs chapters.

God will call down condemnation on his people because the leaders are oppressing the poor. Ezekiel says they are tearing them limb from limb, devouring them. He uses a illustration coming from the wild. This is how a predator eats, a lion for example. They had lions in Israel at this time. Shedding blood and destroying lives (27).

Four groups of oppressors are named: prophets, priests, princes, and people. All these groups take advantage of the poor. The poor specifically include: widows, poor, needy, foreigners. These people are powerless to protect themselves. So some take advantage of this and treat them unjustly.

Ezekiel says there is no one to protect them or even to pray to God for them. In Proverbs God says he will protect from oppressors if they call out to him. He will judge those and punish those who do the oppressing. And as a result of this God pronounces destruction on the land (30).

It is interesting that God pronounces judgment on the land too. Are the floods, drought, and earthquakes recently here in the USA a judgment from God? Has he pronounced destruction on the land?

How are we in this country oppressing the powerless? How can we stand in the gap before God for our country? How can we help? And by we I do not not mean let the government do it. I do not mean throw more money after it. How can we help?

How can we stand in the gap against the people, princes, prophets, and priests who are acting unjustly and oppressing the powerless? I certainly do not think we can expect politicians to do it for us.

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] There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her. [26] Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. [27] Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain. [28] Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken. [29] The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice. [30] I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. [31] Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads," declares the Lord GOD. NASB