Speak Up in the Midst of Injustice

Introduction

God has always called up a leader to speak out against the injustices in our world. Especially when those injustices are at the hands of leaders. It’s an interesting perspective when the leaders of the oppressed give in to the oppressor in effort that their oppression isn’t that bad. Similar to the clergymen who wrote letters trying to get Dr. King to leave town because it was messing with their pockets. Or similar to the men and women inside many mosque who were upset at Brother Malcolm when his rhetoric changed for the greater good of unity. God has raised up leaders that will no longer sit by idly and watch our people placed in the cauldron's of life just to slow cook us to a simmering stock of oppression. Our dear prophet in Ezekiel 11 says no more! Just like Brother Ezekiel said no more it’s time for us to say no more. No more taking advantage of our most vulnerable, no more lack of resources for those who need it the most , it is time for us to say no more. Jesus said no more, as it healed the blind and the paralyzed as he turned over tables int he temple. When we get to a place of no more it will no longer matter how many people or how powerful those people are that stand in the city center. What will matter is that I can stand boldly and call out their unrighteousness because I know the power of God is with me.

The story of Ezekiel in this text takes a very peculiar move. It moves from the illustrative teaching, the destruction of the rebellious to a God-breathed judgement through the mouth of Ezekiel. Do not get too relaxed when your consequence is not instantaneous. The leaders at this time had a false sense of confidence that they were safe. Do not make a fool of yourself because your position is increasing or that you are attaining more stuff because earthly possessions in the eyes of God are meaningless.

They perceived that because those who were sighing and crying were suffering and some had even lost their lives they were winning. Similar to today, those who have benefited from the power of oppression, white supremacy and sexism somehow perceive that earthly possessions is an indicator of success and morality. Nonetheless let me explain to you that Mark 8:36 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” is an indicator that God is working from a place of eternity and injustice will not win forever.

Speak Out and Speak Up

Ezekiel 11:1-2 “Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the East Gate of the Lord’s house, which faces eastward; and there at the door of the gate were twenty-five men, among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. And He said to me: “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city,”

The spirit of the Lord is what lifts us up in fearful situations. Ezekiel is outnumbered, he is going to approach men who have slain their own people for speaking out against the abominations of the rebellious at that time. This is not an enjoyable task but it is one that must be done in effort to reconcile with God.

It is up to the people of God to speak up in the city center and the market square. Pride and false confidence made these immoral leaders arrogant. This is the delusion of sin, when I believe that because I’ve gotten away with something so long I must be alright is a trap. Understand that God is sending a messenger to call you to repentance and if not He will deal with you according to his wrath.

Micah 2:1 “Woe to those who devise iniquity, And work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, Because it is in the power of their hand.”

I know it’s difficult to see legislators, city leaders and the wealthy and powerful continuously devise plans that keep the poor, poor and the vulnerable in a place turmoil but injustice cannot last forever! Even if it is not handled on this time side of life, God will handle it eternally. The powers that be think that if they can destroy it they can rebuild it, but woe unto them, because they might get over today but they will not get over forever!

We need people who will speak up against injustices, we need people who will speak up against the mistreatment of the poor, widows and orphans! The princes and leaders of evil thought they were perfectly safe but injustice will not win forever!

We are never outnumbered when it comes to the power of God. Ezekiel is basically saying you thought you were safe, but God is never going to let iniquity escape. Ezekiel 20:32 “What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, ‘We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.’”

Ezekiel is speaking out against oppression and genocide:

Ezekiel 7:23 “‘Make a chain, For the land is filled with crimes of blood, And the city is full of violence.”

Ezekiel 22:6 ““Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you.”

They thought the people who had been slain were the ones that were guilty of some sort of transgression but truth be told they just did not have the access to resources to stand up against the powers in the land at that time.

You Can Only Get Over So Long

The evildoers may think they are getting over but injustice will not last forever! Even if we look upon the history of our own people, they thought they were winning when they bound my people up in chains and shipped us across the Atlantic like UPS packages, they thought they were winning when hung my ancestors from trees and sprayed us with water-hoses and sicked their dogs on us, they thought they were winning when they instituted mandatory minimums and a three strikes law but injustice does not last forever.

They thought they treating us like property and refusing us the ability to vote, receive a fair education or even live on a certain side of town was going to stop us, but INJUSTICE does not last forever.

The evildoers thought they were winning when they convinced Judas to betray Jesus for a few pieces of silver, they thought they were winning when they hung my savior on the cross, but thank God he defeated death. If that was not enough they thought they were winning when they forced Christians to worship in secret and persecuted Christians by burning them in the city center, or crucifying them upside down, but thank God that injustice cannot last forever.

God is moving in an eternal way, Mark 13:31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” They are building up treasures on earth but one day these injustices will be brought before God for an eternal judgement.

Isaiah 66:1-4 “Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word. “He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood; He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, So will I choose their delusions, And bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, When I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight.””

No One is Safe

New Living Translation Chapter 11

7 “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: This city is an iron pot all right, but the pieces of meat are the victims of your injustice. As for you, I will soon drag you from this pot. 8 I will bring on you the sword of war you so greatly fear, says the Sovereign LORD. 9 I will drive you out of Jerusalem and hand you over to foreigners, who will carry out my judgments against you. 10 You will be slaughtered all the way to the borders of Israel. I will execute judgment on you, and you will know that I am the LORD. 11 No, this city will not be an iron pot for you, and you will not be like meat safe inside it. I will judge you even to the borders of Israel, 12 and you will know that I am the LORD. For you have refused to obey my decrees and regulations; instead, you have copied the standards of the nations around you.”

The leaders were confused, they thought they were the meat of the issue, they thought they were safe. God through Ezekiel is saying the city is an iron pot alright.

Their victims were truly men of worth, they were so fearful of being exiles they thought they were safe because they remained but they remained because God was going to deal with them exclusively so there were would not be an escape.

God has the power to get rid of evil instantly! “No this city will not be an iron pot for you, and you will not be like meat safe inside it. I will judge you even to the borders of Israel”.

These evil men would try to flee the sword but God will be meet you at the border just when you think you will escape God will say, not so fast, because injustice will not live forever! The end of this pericope is a symbolism of the fact that we never know where death is.

Ezekiel 11:13 “Now it happened, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell on my face and cried with a loud voice, and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will You make a complete end of the remnant of Israel?””

It’s interesting that the root word in the name Pelatiah means to escape, yet as Ezekiel is prophesying he falls dead instantly, God has no room for injustice and will handle it accordingly!

Take Heed

Take heed church, do not take advantage it’s peculiar that the name of Jaazaniah the son of Azzur whom Ezekiel saw as he began his speech of accountability to these evil leaders means to listen or to take heed. We better take heed to the power of God.

Luke 17:2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”

God does not take kindly to those who take advantage of the vulnerable in society and He will deal with them accordingly.

Acts 5:5 “Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.”

If nothing else let us be mindful of the grace and mercy of God that if we have the ability to ask for forgiveness we ought to do so! It’s time to take heed to the power of God, it’s time to take heed to the will of God and stand boldly in the city center and proclaim that injustice will not win forever!