NOTES for Eze 7:1-27

The Lord addresses the prophet not only to tell him what the people are about to endure. He also addresses Ezekiel as one who belongs to that people, and in his person He rebukes all the people's sinners. The prophet himself did not commit the sins being discussed, yet he listens to the Lord and does not object, because he does not separate himself from other people and is prepared to share in another's guilt. In the same way, conscientious people who are innocent often do not object to accusations directed at a group from which they do not separate themselves, because they are ashamed even of the deeds of others. Meanwhile, this trait helps us glimpse, however faintly, the mystery of the sinless Christ taking our sins upon Himself. We are accustomed to seeing an innocent person suffer for the sins of others, but too often we understand innocent suffering only as payment for another's sins. Yet very often the innocent person suffers from the very fact that someone else has sinned, and is tormented by what the sinners themselves do not feel for the time being.