Ez 20 and Moral Implications

U uvodnom dijelu priloga daje se kratka biografija proroka Ezekiela. Podatci su vrlo oskudni, tako da se teško može govoriti o pravoj biografiji, više zapravo o obrisima i minimalnim podatcima. Prorok Ezekiel pozvan je od Gospodina u vrijeme babilonskog sužanjstva. Govoreći o samom spisu, donose se prijedlozi podjele teksta Ezekielove knjige s tim što treba reći da glede toga ne postoji konsenzus među autorima. Tekst Ez 20, koji se u daljnjem dijelu rada analizira, ima simptomatičan naslov – Izraelove opačine. Starješine dolaze proroku i žele od njega konkretan odgovor glede sužanjstva, odnosno trajanja i kraja sužanjstva, a prorok u ime Božje odgovara nabrajajući grijehe naroda počevši od Egipta pa sve do momenta kada starješine dolaze proroku. Izraelci su prakticirali štovanje božanstava, a to se direktno protivi prvoj Božjoj zapovijedi koja je izričita i zahtijeva isključivo štovanje samo Jahve i nikoga drugoga. Prorok ne daje nikakav konkretan odgovor kada će naime biti kraj sužanjstva, ali isto tako ostavlja mogućnost da će se Bog smilovati svome narodu. Konačna odluka nije još donesena, jer Gospodin ne želi propast, nego spasenje svoga naroda. Na Izraelcima je odbaciti kumire, druge bogove i štovati samo Jahvu i to ne na uzvišicama (bamot), nego u Jeruzalemu, koji će postati duhovni centar svijeta. Ljudima koji su klonuli prorok ipak naviješta nadu da Jahve ostaje kralj svoga naroda, da će ga ponovno moći štovati u svojoj zemlji. Uvjet je odbaciti idolatriju i prihvatiti pravoga Boga. Bog, koji je vjerni Bog, pruža narodu mogućnost ostaviti kumire i obratiti se Jahvi. Na narodu je prihvatiti ili ne prihvatiti tu ponudu.The introduction to this article gives a brief biography of the prophet Ezekiel. The information is quite discreet so that we cannot really refer to it as a biography but rather a brief outline with minimal information. The prophet Ezekiel is called by the Lord during the time of Babylonian captivity. Referring to the actual writings, the article offers some suggestions how to divide the texts in the books of Ezekiel. However, it needs to be pointed out that no consensus exists amongst authors regarding these divisions. The text in Ez 20, which is analysed in the article, has a symptomatic title – Israel’s infidelities. The elders come to the prophet and demand a concrete response regarding their captivity, how long will it last. The prophet however speaking in God’s name begins to list the sins the Israelites had committed since departing Egypt to the very moment the elders approach the prophet. The Israelis practised worshipping other gods which was in direct opposition to God’s commandment which is explicit and demands that they worship only Yahweh and no other gods. The prophet doesn’t offer any concrete answer regarding the end of their captivity but he leaves room for hope that God will have mercy on his people. The final decision has not been made yet because Yahweh does not wish to destroy the people but to save it. It is up to the Israelites to reject idols and other gods and to worship only Yahweh and not in high places (bamot) but in Jerusalem which will become the spiritual centre of the world. The prophet nevertheless prophesises hope for those who have despaired and that Yahweh remains with his people so that they may worship him once again in their own land. The pre-condition is to reject idolatry and to accept the true God. The God who is a loyal God. The God who offers his people the opportunity to reject idols and to turn to Yahweh. It is up to the people to accept or not accept God’s offer