Ezekiel 21-22

“See how each of the princes of Israel ... uses his power to shed blood” (22:6). Israel’s God-given power was, tragically, being used for evil. They had “treated father and mother with contempt; in you they have oppressed the foreigner and mistreated the fatherless and the widow” (22:7). Rather than creating a righteous, life-affirming community, Israel had “brought doom” on themselves through idolatry, sexual sin, and profiting from the poor (22:3). God looked for someone to mediate on behalf of his rebellious people, but there was no one (22:30).

The Messiah, Israel’s rightful ruler, came to use His power for blessing, not destruction (21:27). He “stands in the gap” for all humanity, giving us a chance to become the people God intended (22:30).