How does Ezekiel 22:9 address the consequences of slander and false accusations? Scripture Focus Ezekiel 22:9 – “There are men in you who slander in order to shed blood; people in you who eat at the mountain shrines; they commit lewd acts in your midst.” Setting the Scene • Jerusalem is on trial before God in Ezekiel 22. • Murder, idolatry, sexual immorality, corruption, and slander are named side by side. • The chapter culminates with God vowing to pour out His wrath and scatter the people (vv. 30-31). • Slander is presented not as a lesser social flaw but as a blood-soaked crime that helps trigger national judgment. Defining Slander & False Accusations • Speaking untruths or half-truths that damage a person’s reputation. • Twisting facts to manipulate outcomes. • Bearing false witness in court, leading to wrongful punishment or death (cf. Deuteronomy 19:16-19). Immediate Consequences in Ezekiel 22:9 • Bloodshed—false testimony becomes a tool for killing the innocent. • Collapsed justice—law courts become places of violence, not protection. • Divine judgment—slander joins murder and idolatry as grounds for God’s wrath against the city. • Communal decay—trust evaporates, relationships fracture, society unravels. Wider Biblical Witness • Exodus 20:16 – “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” • Proverbs 6:16-19 – God hates “a lying tongue” and “a false witness who pours out lies.” • Psalm 101:5 – “Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him I will destroy.” • James 4:11-12 – Believers commanded not to speak evil against one another. • Revelation 21:8 – All liars face the second death, showing eternal stakes. Takeaways for Today • God views slander as violence in word form; it invites His discipline. • Truth-telling preserves life, justice, and community stability. • Churches and families strengthen their witness by refusing gossip, rumor, and character assassination (Ephesians 4:25, 29). • Choosing integrity in speech aligns believers with God’s holy character and safeguards against collective judgment. Living It Out • Guard the tongue, letting every word be “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). • Verify facts before speaking; silence is better than an unconfirmed report. • Restore anyone harmed by past false statements, mirroring Zacchaeus’ restitution (Luke 19:8). • Promote a culture of truth where slander cannot take root, reflecting the purity God requires (Psalm 15:1-3). |
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