Ezekiel 45:6-12: a reflection

6“‘“You shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand cubits wide and twenty-five thousand long, side by side with the offering of the holy portion. It shall be for the whole house of Israel. 7“‘“What is for the prince shall be on the one side and on the other side of the holy allotment and of the possession of the city, in front of the holy allotment and in front of the possession of the city, on the west side westward, and on the east side eastward, and in length corresponding to one of the portions, from the west border to the east border. 8In the land it shall be to him for a possession in Israel. My princes shall no more oppress my people, but they shall give the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.” 9“‘The Lord GOD says: “Enough, you princes of Israel! Remove violence and plunder, and execute justice and righteousness! Stop dispossessing my people!” says the Lord GOD. 10“You shall have just balances, a just ephah, and a just bath. 11The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain one tenth of a homer, and the ephah one tenth of a homer. Its measure shall be the same as the homer. 12The shekel shall be twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels shall be your mina.

In this vision of a renewed order for God's people, God addresses those who hold power, and his demand is pointed: Enough, you princes of Israel! Remove violence and plunder, and execute justice and righteousness; stop dispossessing my people. And he adds a specific requirement: You shall have just balances, a just ephah, and a just bath, honest weights and measures in their dealings. God demands of those in power that they cease oppression and deal justly, and of all his people that they deal honestly, with just weights, not cheating others.

Notice God's demand: justice and honest dealing, especially from those with power. To those who held power, God said, enough of violence and plunder; execute justice, stop dispossessing my people. He would not have his people oppressed by those with power over them. And he required honest dealing generally: just balances, just measures, no cheating in trade. God cares that his people be dealt with justly, and that they deal honestly with one another; injustice and dishonest dealing are grave to him, especially from those with power.

That demand for justice and honesty is worth taking to heart, for we are all called to deal justly and honestly, and those with any power especially. In our dealings with others, God requires justice and honesty: not to oppress those under our power, not to cheat or use false measures, but to deal justly and honestly with all. Deal justly with those over whom you have any power or advantage, rather than oppressing or exploiting them; and deal honestly in all your dealings, with just measures, not cheating others. God cares deeply that his people deal justly and honestly, and demands it especially of those with power; let your dealings be marked by justice and honesty, just balances and no oppression, as God demanded of the princes to remove violence and execute justice, and of all his people to keep just weights and measures.

Lord, in this vision of a renewed order for your people, you address those who hold power, and your demand is pointed: enough, you princes of Israel! Remove violence and plunder, and execute justice and righteousness; stop dispossessing my people. And you add a specific requirement: you shall have just balances, a just ephah, and a just bath, honest weights and measures. You demand of those in power that they cease oppression and deal justly, and of all your people that they deal honestly, not cheating others. Show me your demand: justice and honest dealing, especially from those with power. To those who held power, you said, enough of violence and plunder; execute justice. You would not have your people oppressed by those with power over them. And you required honest dealing generally: just measures, no cheating. You care that your people be dealt with justly, and that they deal honestly; injustice and dishonest dealing are grave to you. Take that demand to my heart, for I am called to deal justly and honestly, and with any power especially. In my dealings with others, you require justice and honesty: not to oppress those under my power, not to cheat or use false measures. Help me deal justly with those over whom I have any power or advantage, rather than oppressing or exploiting them; and help me deal honestly in all my dealings, Lord, with just measures, not cheating others. Let my dealings be marked by justice and honesty.