Scripture
Ezekiel 33:21, 23-33 (ESV)
“In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has been struck down.” The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’ Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: You eat flesh with the blood and lift up your eyes to your idols and shed blood; shall you then possess the land? You rely on the sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife; shall you then possess the land? Say this to them, Thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely those who are in the waste places shall fall by the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence. And I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and her proud might shall come to an end, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that none will pass through. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed. As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
AI Prompt
A realistic wide-angle image showing a small group of people of mixed gender and age wearing ancient Near Eastern garb, having a joyful conversation around a fire. The environment is more realistic, with the group sitting in a natural setting that's warmly lit by the fire. The people are dressed in authentic ancient Near Eastern clothing, engaged in lively conversation. In the distance, a young man is realistically running toward the group. The background includes barely visible rising smoke from a ruined city, creating a stark contrast with the cheerful and realistic gathering in the foreground.
Process/Reflection
Ezekiel's call began when the city of Jerusalem and the temple were still standing. His message of woe and warning fell on deaf ears because the first wave of exiles who had been taken to Jerusalem just didn't want to hear it. They had a false understanding of the covenant--and presumed that the Lord was obligated to preserve both the city and his temple. It wasn't until the message came that both the city and the temple had been destroyed that the truth of Ezekiel's message and signs was made clear. This image represents the moment just before news of the disaster reaches the exiles. Obviously the smoke in the background represents a bit of geographic telescoping--but I like how it and the urgent runner stand in contrast to the happy, carefree group in the foreground.