Ezekiel chapter 7

vs 19

God's people have screwed up over their treatment of wealth. No doubt this has made them rich but unjust, as is the common complaint in the prophets. So now God has put them in a situation they can't buy their way out of, to show them just how important their money is. Why did they turn their back on God again? Oh, for that useless gold and silver they're now throwing out of their houses, that can't even buy them food?

vs 20

This is of course a reference to coming out of Egypt, and the golden calf (Mooby, as we know him, thanks Kevin Smith). But no doubt it is referring to the situation since then as well - whereby people have gotten rich, and their minds and hearts have wandered, and they have sought to build themselves new detestable idols to worship in the way they like, not in the way God demands. Idolatry can so often start this way - it is something that humans need to fill their worship-gap. I know athiests and psychologists say this sort of thing all the time - and the thing is, they are 99.9% right! All the gods out there are a bunch of crap - except one. Lots of them are made up by people so they can make up their own way of worshipping (I will admit that I think some religions are orchestrated by the devil more directly - if you've ever read how the "angel Gabriel" appeared to Mohammad... well). But God isn't like that.

Of course when you see a million people worshipping a billion false gods, all gods start to look false. And believe me, there are plenty of people who call themselves 'Christian' but really worship an idol of their own making. No wonder people get confused. Just like these people living in Jerusalem would have called themselves "Israelites" but were really just idol-worshipping scum that God is going to kill now.

vs 21

...defile it as much as the people who own it currently are. No difference to God in that respect.

vs 22

God will hand over Jerusalem, including his temple, to the looters of the foreign armies. He doesn't care, he lives in heaven and the whole earth is his. The temple (and tabernacle before it) was a symbol to God's people that he dwelt with them. Now he doesn't, so tear the thing down for all he cares.

vs 23

Not sure what the chains are for. Putting people into slavery again? Tearing down walls? Not sure. But the rest of the message is pretty clear.

vs 24

Even the strongest of families in Israel will not be safe. No matter how rich, no matter how politically powerful or influential, they are all going down, and all their idol worshipping spaces will be smashed too. Will their idols save them? Nu-uh. And now it's too late to turn back to God.

vs 25

There is no peace to be had when God is at war with you.

vs 26

All of the original religious and leadership structures that God put in place are gone. The only prophet is Ezekiel, who will give you one message: "You're screwed." And with no temple the priests are pretty much useless. And the elders, well, I'm not sure. Perhaps they are all idol worshippers now, so their counsel is worthless.

vs 27

The king and prince are also useless, so the whole leadership structure is torn to bits, unable to protect the land from the foreign forces.

Now God judges them according to their conduct, which makes perfect sense. But he also says he will judge them according to their own standards. I'm guessing he means he will say, "Aren't wicked people who do injustice and treat people unfairly and turn their backs on relationships and family and agreements and who don't keep their promises deserving of punishment? Guess what Israel, that's you!"