Ezekiel 22:29-31

Ezekiel 22:29-31. The people of the land The common people; have used oppression Have wronged each other by acts of fraud and violence, and have greatly and cruelly oppressed each other. And have vexed the poor and needy By these frauds and oppressions, instead of relieving them, which they ought to have done. Yea, they have oppressed the strangers wrongfully Without any colour of justice or reason. This was contrary to an express prohibition of God’s law, frequently repeated and enforced upon them, from the consideration, that they themselves were strangers in Egypt. And I sought God speaks after the manner of men; for a man among them Any one among the princes, prophets, priests, or people; that should make up the hedge That should repair the breach, and prevent further mischief; and stand in the gap before me That might interpose between a sinful people and their offended God; deprecate God’s wrath, and entreat for mercy, that the land might not be destroyed; but I found none All were corrupted, and went on in sin without repentance. This general complaint must be understood with some restriction, such as is commonly understood in unlimited expressions. For we read, Ezekiel 9:4, that there were some that sighed and cried to God (by way of deprecating his wrath) for the abominations done in Jerusalem; and they undoubtedly exhorted the people to repentance and reformation. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them Have given it full scope, that it might come upon them in a full stream; yet, whatever calamity God brings upon a sinful people, it is their own way that is therein recompensed upon their heads, and God punishes them not more, but much less, than their iniquity deserves.