Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her detestable practices … - Ezekiel 22:2

Today's Scripture Reading (May 17, 2020): Ezekiel 22

There is a difference between committing sin in ignorance and committing sin knowing that the action is wrong. We are not all equal, and different things are expected from each of us. I have to admit that I am often frustrated by conspiracy theories on my social media account. But what frustrates me the most are conspiracy theories, that appear to be based on hate, that are being perpetrated by Christians. And the reason for this frustration is that we should know better. Our task, given to us by God, is to strengthen and build-up, and not to tear down, especially during a time of crisis needlessly. What is needed is our support to get through the crisis. We are here to love, and not to perpetuate hate against people. But sometimes we refuse to do what we know we should do. And because of that, our guilt is more significant.

Jerusalem was the Holy City. Within its city walls was Solomon's Temple, a symbol of God's presence here on earth. Within its walls, the prophets had spoken God's declarations directly to the residents of the city. This custom of speaking God's truth to the people was a process that now continued with the ministry of Jeremiah, working among the men. It was a process that continued with the presence of Huldah, one of the "seven prophetesses," according to Jewish tradition, working among the women of the city. There was no reason for them to miss God's message to Israel. And yet they did.

And so, Ezekiel does not call Jerusalem the Holy City; he labels it the city of bloodshed. It appears that Ezekiel borrowed the name from the prophecies of Nahum a century earlier. Nahum had written;

Woe to the city of blood,
    full of lies,
full of plunder,
    never without victims (Nahum 3:1)!

What is significant is that Nahum was speaking of Nineveh. By using the phrase "city of bloodshed" to describe Jerusalem, Ezekiel seemed to be saying that Jerusalem was as bad and as evil as the Assyrian capital city.

So was that true. From an objective point of view, probably not. A comparison of the cities would probably still hold the violence and sins of Nineveh were more grievous than those of Jerusalem. But Ezekiel makes the comparison because Jerusalem should have known better, and yet she still fell into needless violence and sin. Nineveh did not have a Jeremiah walking around inside its walls. It did not have the benefit of a Huldah teaching among the woman. Jerusalem is judged to be as bad as Nineveh because Jerusalem was given advantages that Nineveh had been denied.

In a similar way, Jesus condemns the cities and towns who refused to welcome him and his disciples. "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town" (Matthew 10:14-15). It is not that the acts of inhospitality committed by the towns of Jesus day were worse than those of Sodom and Gomorrah, but rather that the cities of Jesus day had been given a benefit which had been denied to Sodom and Gomorrah. They should have known better.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 23