The prophet is sitting in his house when the leading men of the community enter. They reverently take their seats at his feet in hopes that he will shed some light on some difficulty that they present. They want an oracle. When inspired the prophet speaks. He exposes them for their mass of reservations and false loyalties. They profess allegiance with their lips but have no intention of accepting the oracle unless it agrees with what they have already made up their minds to do. Jeremiah faced a similar crowd when the Jewish leaders consult the prophet. Are they to remain or take refuge in Egypt? All the while they had made up their minds what they would do and only wanted an oracle to confirm their decision. Does this remind us of our prayer life? Is it poisoned by our mental reservations? Ezekiel refers to Israel as the wild vine. It is a nation that has lost its spirituality. It has ambitions but no vision, statistics but no soul. It is insistent on its rights but unaware that it has duties. With military might it wants to stamp itself upon history, but only by the fear it inspires. The wild vine must be cultivated to bear fruit. After two allegories, one of the abandoned child and that of the three sisters, the scene closes with Jerusalem standing before God, haunted still by shame for her unworthy past. Never again will she dare to open her mouth. Ezekiel could not imagine forgiveness that could restore freedom and joy.
The prophet is sitting in his house when the leading men of the community enter. They reverently take their seats at his feet in hopes that he will shed some light on some difficulty that they present. They want an oracle. When inspired the prophet speaks. He exposes them for their mass of reservations and false loyalties. They profess allegiance with their lips but have no intention of accepting the oracle unless it agrees with what they have already made up their minds to do. Jeremiah faced a similar crowd when the Jewish leaders consult the prophet. Are they to remain or take refuge in Egypt? All the while they had made up their minds what they would do and only wanted an oracle to confirm their decision. Does this remind us of our prayer life? Is it poisoned by our mental reservations? Ezekiel refers to Israel as the wild vine. It is a nation that has lost its spirituality. It has ambitions but no vision, statistics but no soul. It is insistent on its rights but unaware that it has duties. With military might it wants to stamp itself upon history, but only by the fear it inspires. The wild vine must be cultivated to bear fruit. After two allegories, one of the abandoned child and that of the three sisters, the scene closes with Jerusalem standing before God, haunted still by shame for her unworthy past. Never again will she dare to open her mouth. Ezekiel could not imagine forgiveness that could restore freedom and joy.
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