Ezekiel's Say

Monday - Ezekiel 16:49-50 “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me.”

In today’s passage, Ezekiel is confronting Jerusalem with her sin. In later verses, he compares Jerusalem to Sodom and Samaria, claiming that Jerusalem’s sin is so grave that they make Sodom look good!

This might come as a surprise to many who grew up in the church, hearing a tradition that holds Sodom and Gomorrah up as the worst sinners of all time. But Ezekiel is saying, “Hey! Jerusalem made these guys look good.” In particular, Ezekiel points to Sodom’s failure of compassion as the primary source of their sin.

Rebuking Israel for their own failed compassion and justice is a common refrain for the Old Testament prophets. It’s one of the most common reasons that the prophets give for Israel’s exile. It seems that God is deeply concerned that his people should concern themselves with the plight of the poor and needy. Consider your own life this morning. Where are the areas in which you exhibit concern, and where are the areas where you are “arrogant and overfed”?