Listen Here: “The Judge“
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Ephesians 1:15-23
- Ezekiel said that God will “judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep” (v. 20), by which he means the rich and the poor.
- Why? Because the rich “push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with (their) horns” (v. 21). The rich are naturally favor the rich, and disrespect the poor. The rich serve their own advantage.
- This was a criticism against the judges and courts of Ezekiel’s time. Apparently, justice was not being done, and injustice was causing problems in Ezekiel’s society. Imagine that!
- God will provide the definition of justice, which He defines as righteousness. God will show people how to live in righteousness. Later, God sent Jesus to do this.
- This means that if the rich are not righteous, if they don’t live righteously and hold the values of righteousness, God will bring the consequences of their unrighteousness upon them.
- To do this God needs to bring judgment on the whole society because the rich will be the last to feel God’s judgment because they have a money cushion. Judgment comes to rich and poor.
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