"Where Are the Men?"
Ezekiel 22:30-31 And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.
Introduction: Thank you for being here for this Father's Day service at First Church. Father's Day, like it's counterpart in May is a bittersweet time for many of us. If you are like me your father has passed away or your father may be in ill health like Sis. Judy or it may be just as simple as your father being separated from you by geography. I think it is safe to say that fathers are the most reviled and denigrated group in America. We are told we are not essential, that we are not necessary that we are part of a patriarchal system that enslaves women and children. Some of the criticism leveled at fathers is probably well deserved but much of it is a deliberate, systematic effort to emasculate fathers. What I'm about to say is my opinion but I believe I can document everything. Part of this effort is directed at men in general where we see the systematic effort to eliminate all the differences between the genders. Recently I read where there was this fellow who claimed he was neither male nor female but binary and he got a court to agree with him so now the state of Oregon is going to have to list this newly recognized gender in all their public documents! All the things that make a man a man are being degraded and devalued. We see it at every level of society. It's happening in all of our institutions, on every level of government, the military and in education. Even in our churches we are seeing the feminization of worship and music. Those who keep an eye on what is happening in our churches tell us that men have stopped singing and participating in worship. Our culture is now a place where boys are being feminized and girls are being masculinized. Go to a toy store and try to look for toys that would appeal to a boy or a girl and you will find that many have been removed in favor of toys that do not reinforce or stereotype gender roles. You just can't make this stuff up! Men, real men, men shaped and molded by the Word of god are getting harder and harder to find. Let's look at this text and see if there is anything we can learn from what God says: First:
I. The Sovereign's Indictment
a. The priests v. 26
It was the special office of the priests to make a difference between the holy and the unholy and between the clean and the unclean. Listen what the Lord told the very first priest, Aaron:
Leviticus 10:8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, 9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
b. The princes v. 27
Those whom God has entrusted with the care and protection of the people are preying upon the people. One thing they are doing is accusing individuals of treason so that they can confiscate their property and belongings.
Ezekiel 22:27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
c. The prophets v. 28
These prophets use lies and falsehoods to appease the people and conciliate the King and princes. Ezekiel uses the metaphor of a man building a wall with mortar that has no straw or binder in it. It cannot stand and cannot stand
Ezekiel 22:28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
d. The people v. 29
The corruption had spread downward and even the common people were guilty of "...robbery..." and "...oppressing the stranger..." which they were supposed to be a witness to!
Exodus 23:9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Ezekiel 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
The priests, princes, prophets and the people all fall short.
II. The Sovereign's Inquiry
Jeremiah 5:1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
a. The person of the inquiry (a man)
Isn't interesting that whenever God wants to do something He looks for a man to do it? I say this because of the obvious fact that God, because He is God, can do anything He chooses to do without us, that is without any human instrumentality at all. He Creator chooses to use the creature that He has created! That's the amazing part!
b. The purpose of the inquiry (intercessor)
There are two notable examples of
Genesis 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: 28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. 29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake. 30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. 32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. 33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
Psalms 106:23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
c. The problem with the inquiry (none)
None were willing. How many of you are old enough to remember the murder of Kitty Genovese.
New York Times
Martin Gansberg
March 27, 1964
For more than half an hour 38 respectable, law-abiding citizens in Queens, New York watched a killer stalk and stab a woman in three separate attacks in Kew Gardens.
Twice their chatter and the sudden glow of their bedroom lights interrupted him and frightened him off. Each time he returned, sought her out, and stabbed her again. Not one person telephoned the police during the assault; one witness called after the woman was dead. The overwhelming reason given for failing to help this young woman was, "I did want to get involved." That was two weeks ago today.
The above reported events are true and took place on March 14, 1964.
The brutal murder of Kitty Genovese and the disturbing lack of action by her neighbors became emblematic in what many perceived as an evolving culture of violence and apathy in the United States. In fact, social scientists still debate the causes of what is now known as "the Genovese Syndrome."
But even worse none were worthy. Where were the good and godly men who were so desperately needed? Where were the men like Abraham and Moses and Samuel? Israel was in the grips of iniquity and idolatry. The name of Jehovah was being profaned. The princes (political leaders) were like "...wolves..." ravaging the people for "...dishonest gain." The poor were being "vexed" and oppressed. The priests (religious leaders) were guilty of profaning the "holy things" of God. The prophets (preachers) claimed to be speaking for God but "...the Lord hath not spoken," and they had "...taken the treasure and precious things...and have made many widows..."
Jeremiah 5:1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
III. The Sovereign's Indignation
a. The source of judgment (I)
There will be no doubt as to the source of this judgment. God will send destruction that will be "...poured..." over them, that will wash over them like a great flood.
b. The scope of judgment (no one spared)
Fire has always been a sign of judgment. Many of us have witnessed the fires out west that race along so face a man cannot outrun the flames and they leave scorched earth in their wake.
c. The similarity of judgment (their own way)
This judgment will be according to their own way; that is God will give them what they deserve. He will repay them according to their deeds.
Conclusion: What does all this mean and how can we apply this to our world today? God is still God and He has not changed.
SERVICE REQUIRES ACTION
A man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out. A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there." An objective person walked by and said, "It's logical that someone would fall down there." A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into pits." A mathematician calculated how deep the pit was. A news reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit. An IRS agent asked if he was paying taxes on the pit. A self-pitying person said, "You haven't seen anything until you've seen my pit." A fire-and-brimstone preacher said, "You deserve your pit." A Christian Scientist observed, "The pit is just in your mind." A psychologist noted, "Your mother and father are to blame for your being in that pit." A self-esteem therapist said, "Believe in yourself and you can get out of that pit." An optimist said, "Things could be worse." A pessimist claimed, "Things will get worse." "Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit."
(from Internet for Christians newsletter, July 29, 2002) Preaching Now Newsletter, August 6, 2002.
ILL - One of the most moving passages in English literature comes toward the end of Charles Dickens' "Tale of Two Cities", a story of the French revolution. Each day there was a grim procession through the streets of Paris of prisoners on their way to the guillotine. In one of the processions was Sidney Carton, a brave man who had once lost his soul but had now found it again and was now giving his life for his friend. Beside him there was a young girl. They had met before in the prison, and the girl had noticed the gentleness and courage of the man's face. She said to him "If I may ride with you, will you let me hold your hand? I am not afraid, but I am little and weak, and it will give me more courage." So they rode together, her hand in his; and when they reached the place of execution there was no fear in her eyes. She looked up into the quiet composed face of her companion, and said "I think you were sent to me by heaven". In all the dark valleys of life, God our Father, the God of all comfort, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, is at our side.
