Ezekiel 18:5-9

The Righteous Father.

“But if a man is just and does what is lawful and right, and has not eaten on the mountains, nor has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor has defiled his neighbour's wife, nor has come near to a woman in her separation, and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has spoiled none by violence, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with clothing, he who has not lent at interest to the needy, nor has taken any increase, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true judgment between man and man, has walked in my statutes, and has kept my judgments to deal truly. He is just. He will surely live, says the Lord Yahweh.”

The righteous man is now described, the one who is acceptable to God and thus free from judgment. He may suffer from the normal pressures of life, but he will not suffer for his sin. Each example is take from the law of the covenant.

‘If a man is just and does what is lawful and right.' The test of a man is his obedience to the word of God as it is revealed in the Scriptures.

‘And has not eaten on the mountains, nor has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel.' To ‘eat on the mountains' referred to participating in festivals connected with idols in the high places (see Deuteronomy 12:2). These festivals in Canaan were orgies of sexual perversion (Ezekiel 22:9) and involved mystical association with the gods in all their lax ways. Combined with this was the submission to, and worship of, these idols, bowing down to wood and stone in direct contravention of God's demands (Exodus 20:5). As Paul would demonstrate, this would lead to corrupt living (Romans 1:18).

‘Nor has defiled his neighbour's wife, nor has come near to a woman in her separation.' The next test is in attitudes towards women. A man's attitude and behaviour towards women is a good measure of his whole behaviour. The first refers to adultery (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 20:10; Leviticus 20:18; Deuteronomy 22:22), the stealing of what was most precious to a man. It declares strict bounds beyond which a man may not go. He may not touch another's wife. The second refers to intercourse during the menstruation period (Leviticus 15:19; Leviticus 18:19). The latter had health dangers in the circumstances of the time, but it was also intended to stress the sacredness of the blood as representative of life and death. At a time when life was cheap it was a constant reminder that God saw life as sacred.

“And has not wronged any.” This refers to behaving rightly towards his neighbours. The righteous man behaves as he would wish others to behave towards him. He always avoids doing what is harmful to others. Then specific examples follow, taken from the Law.

“But has restored to the debtor his pledge.” The basic idea is that he has treated his debtors, those who have borrowed from him in time of need, correctly and compassionately, not with exacting demands but with kindness and consideration. Exodus 22:25 puts it ‘you shall not be to him as a creditor', that is, treat him harshly. When a cloak was take in pledge it had to be restored at night so that the debtor had necessary protection against the cold (Exodus 22:26; Amos 2:8; Deuteronomy 24:12). Compare also Deuteronomy 24:6 where a millstone was not to be accepted as a pledge because a man's life depended on being his able to mill grain, and Ezekiel 24:17 where a widow's clothing was not to be taken in pledge. Consideration was to be shown at all times. Thus a debtor was not to be humiliated (Deteronomy Ezekiel 24:10). And of course pledges had to be returned once the debt was paid off (Ezekiel 33:15), something that was not always done, on one pretext or another. So God watches carefully how we treat those who owe us a debt of any kind.

This is a reminder that God is concerned about how we run our businesses. Our excuse may be, ‘but this is business'. God says, ‘remember it is My business, and I will call you to account for how you run it.'

‘Has spoiled none by violence.' This was especially spoken to the strong and influential, but included all who considered using violence on order to enrich themselves. The use of violence to obtain one's will is repudiated whether in commercial activities or any other. It includes robbery with violence and banditry, but also has in mind all extortion.

‘Has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with clothing.' The words are reminiscent of Matthew 25:35. Compare also Luke 16:19. The righteous man is revealed by his constant concern for the poor and needy, feeding the hungry and clothing those in rags. He is epitomised by consideration and thoughtfulness.

‘He who has not lent at interest to the needy, nor has taken any increase.' This does not have in mind commercial lending, except where the borrower is in personal financial need. It has in mind lending to those in need and poverty and who found themselves in severe straits. To such the well-to-do man should be willing to offer help and assistance. And it was stated clearly in the Law that such people, when fellow-Israelites, must not be charged interest, nor must any ‘increase' (percentage of produce) be accepted as reward (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 23:19. See also Psalms 15:5; Proverbs 28:8). Loans should be made to needy people of God out of generosity of heart, not to make a profit or obtain a benefit.

‘Who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true judgment between man and man, has walked in my statutes, and has kept my judgments to deal truly.' This finally summarises the righteous man. He avoids wrong, is totally fair and upright in his dealings, is completely trustworthy as a witness, lives in accordance with the word of God as revealed through the Law and the Prophets and deals truly in all things.

‘He is just. He will surely live, says the Lord Yahweh.' On such a man God declares His verdict. These are the ways of a man accepted as right with God. He behaves rightly towards both God and man. Thus he will enjoy a prosperous life and will not die prematurely under judgment.