Some of us may be shocked or even offended by the things God said to Israel in Ezekiel, chapters twenty-two through twenty-four. As the Lord turned away from mercy and gave vent to his wrath in these passages he called his people the dross left over after silver was refined, the junk that was cast into a blazing furnace to be consumed. He said he was going to melt them in Jerusalem with a fiery blast.

He also gave nicknames to Samaria and Jerusalem, saying they were sisters named Oholah, which means “her tent”, and Oholibah, “my tent is in her,” names that probably referred to the places of worship set up in each nation.

• Samaria set up her own place of worship under King Jeroboam and God called it “her tent.’

• But God chose to dwell in the temple in Jerusalem, so he said about that city, “my tent is in her.”

God also called these sisters prostitutes and in these passages he rages against their unfaithfulness with pagan nations and foreign gods.

God’s Righteous Anger

Only God could get away with saying the things he said in these chapters – because only God is perfectly right, just, and pure in all he does. Only God is capable of truly righteous anger and only he can be angry and not sin.

Both Paul and James warned people not to give in to anger in the New Testament.

“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Ephesian 4:26

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires.” James 1:19-20

God, however, is capable of being angry, and acting in anger, while remaining completely holy and righteous.

He is also the only one who knows when anger is called for – at what point patience has to end and vengeance must be enacted. And only God understands the proper limits to acting in anger. Israel pushed God to the place with her many sins and relentless rebellion over hundreds of years. He was ready to act, but even at this point he looked for ways to curb his anger — perhaps in answer to the prayers of intercessors.

No One Stood in the Gap

“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30

God longed for people in Israel who would stand with him against sin. He needed prayer warriors – like Moses and Samuel – who would plead for the salvation of the people, falling on their faces before the throne of God.

But none were found.

The lack of righteous, praying people made the nation slide further and further into destruction. There was no one telling them how to recognize and repent of sin. Even the priests failed to help them.

“Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” Ezekiel 22:26

With nothing standing between Jerusalem and God’s wrath, the cascade of devastating events was set in motion.

The Siege of Jerusalem

Zedekiah finally rebelled against Babylon, refusing to pay them tribute anymore, and the siege of Jerusalem began.

“So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.” 2 Kings 25:1-2

For two years Jerusalem suffered increasing deprivation until starvation finally set in. By the time the city was crippled enough to conquer, the Babylonians were furious with revenge and they burned the entire city down. God’s wrath was poured out on his people through the Babylonians.

“Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided. I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 24:13-14

God finally punished Jerusalem. However, hidden inside the expression of his righteous anger lay a promise. Someday his anger was going to subside. Someday God would reveal the plans he had for his people, plans that would give them a future and a hope.