“………use their political power to murder…….mistreat their elders, disrespect their parents, take advantage of foreigners passing through, and treat orphans and widows with contempt……citizens lie and give false testimonies at capital trials…… murder is for hire, exorbitant interests and profits are taken from the poor, neighbors are oppressed for personal gain…..officials are like a pack of wolves tearing apart their prey. They kill innocent people and ruin lives just to get what they want! ……..people are full of wickedness: they are bullies and thieves; they have abused the poor and helpless; they have taken advantage of foreigners and perverted justice.
What society might the above paragraph be addressing? It certainly sounds like probably a third world country with rampant poverty and a despotic government. It could be any one of a number of dictatorial powers in our world today, could it not? In many ways those words describe what is happening in America. Here is the final sentence of this reading:
I will give them what they deserve. So said the Eternal Lord. Ezekiel 22
What appears to be a contemporary commentary of our society today is actually attributed to the words of the prophet Ezekiel in the Judaic writings dating to a time period 2600 years ago. Whatever credibility we assign to these writings, one point is clear. Mankind has not truly evolved much since 600 BCE during the times of Ezekiel. Technologically, our progress has been astounding; however, spiritually we seem to be at a standstill or possibly in a regressive mode.
Social justice, historically, has been a matter of arbitrary convenience for the controlling powers. Great advocates of justice for the world’s poor and oppressed have been ostracized, assassinated and murdered. Jesus the Christ was crucified. It’s what we have been as a species. Peace and enlightenment will grace our souls when we all strive to achieve social justice and equality for the totality of mankind.
lpb quest - the twilight dance 