The nomadic origins of the nation provide the prophet with his symbolism for the use and abuse of power. The good shepherd is concerned with the welfare of his flock. The bad shepherd thinks only of opportunities for his own gain. How many in power and leadership roles take seriously a sense of responsibility? Or is it always self-interest at the expense of the common good? Is one motivated by what is right or what is expedient? Ezekiel speaks in terms of class conflict about the exploiters and exploited. God himself will champion the cause of the afflicted. They are under his special protection. How? Ezekiel looks forward to a time when God will intervene by raising up a human to restore peace and justice in the land. Through this ideal ruler God will work. The sphere of political action doe not lie outside the kingdom of God! The messianic hope is not that of royal descent from David. Rather, the good shepherd will heal the sick, bind up the injured, and lead home the wanderers. This God will give us what we need, not what we expect. Edom is still the target of an oracle where it represents the arrogance of might while Judah has only justice on her side. Eventually Edom will learn that the “tribal” god of Israel is in fact the Lord of the whole earth. Ezekiel looks now upon the Judah of his predictions, a desolate land with uninhabited cities and untilled land. In the face of such devastation he does not despair. He advocates a love of the land for what she may yet become. Even unbeautiful, poverty-stricken country can command devotion. From the point of view of the Babylonians the defeat of Judah and the exile of its people were ample demonstration of the bankruptcy of its God. Clearly this discredited God is unable to protect his own people. Do we ever feel disappointment with our God? Or is it that we, not God, are responsible for most of our disappointments? And, if we wait but a day, does our disappointment turn to be joy, even the best thing that ever happened? Is the lesson here to withhold judgment? What is the old saying? Fool and children should not see work half done. And how much of our trying to help actually slows down the progress of God’s work?
The nomadic origins of the nation provide the prophet with his symbolism for the use and abuse of power. The good shepherd is concerned with the welfare of his flock. The bad shepherd thinks only of opportunities for his own gain. How many in power and leadership roles take seriously a sense of responsibility? Or is it always self-interest at the expense of the common good? Is one motivated by what is right or what is expedient? Ezekiel speaks in terms of class conflict about the exploiters and exploited. God himself will champion the cause of the afflicted. They are under his special protection. How? Ezekiel looks forward to a time when God will intervene by raising up a human to restore peace and justice in the land. Through this ideal ruler God will work. The sphere of political action doe not lie outside the kingdom of God! The messianic hope is not that of royal descent from David. Rather, the good shepherd will heal the sick, bind up the injured, and lead home the wanderers. This God will give us what we need, not what we expect. Edom is still the target of an oracle where it represents the arrogance of might while Judah has only justice on her side. Eventually Edom will learn that the “tribal” god of Israel is in fact the Lord of the whole earth. Ezekiel looks now upon the Judah of his predictions, a desolate land with uninhabited cities and untilled land. In the face of such devastation he does not despair. He advocates a love of the land for what she may yet become. Even unbeautiful, poverty-stricken country can command devotion. From the point of view of the Babylonians the defeat of Judah and the exile of its people were ample demonstration of the bankruptcy of its God. Clearly this discredited God is unable to protect his own people. Do we ever feel disappointment with our God? Or is it that we, not God, are responsible for most of our disappointments? And, if we wait but a day, does our disappointment turn to be joy, even the best thing that ever happened? Is the lesson here to withhold judgment? What is the old saying? Fool and children should not see work half done. And how much of our trying to help actually slows down the progress of God’s work?
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