Love is God's brand. If we are to live in our society as image-bearers of God, all things, including our politics, must be done on brand. We learn in 1 John that our acts of love to people act as the very materialization of God's invisible love in the here and now (1 John 4:7-12).

Ezekiels ministry of performance art prophecy continues as he crawls through the wall of Jerusalem blindfolded and trembles as he eats. Through this, God means to show the people of Israel how their exile correlates with their blindness in idolatry. God also promises swift judgement upon the false prophets and names Jerusalem a fruitless vine.

We look to Job who is upheld in his community as an elder and public servant. In seeing his standard for justice, we learn how the people of God can't turn blind eyes from the needy (Job 29:11-17; 31:13-23).

God shows Ezekiel that there are idols and abominations in His temple and that His people had put them there. God promises judgment upon His workers who are given to idolatry. God's glory leaves the temple not to return. God also promises judgement upon the wicked counsellors in Israel who advise falsely.

Even though our exile is temporary, God calls us to care about our countries and be exemplary citizens. Our callings in this world are to be worshippers, watchdogs, witnesses, and waiters (Jeremiah 29:4-7).

Ezekiel is restrained as a prophet, he may only speak what God has commanded him to speak. What he has been told to prophesy is the coming judgment and seizure of Israel. In so doing, Ezekiel has spoken contrarily against the other prophets who claim that no such seizure should come. Through Ezekiel, God tells His people that His judgment is coming swiftly.

Governments are a limited good, but what about when government goes bad? Jesus disarmed the powers on His Cross so we need not fear government even at its worst and most demonic; when it claims to be divine (Colossians 2:15).

Ezekiel has a vision of God's throne roaming over the world and God calls him to be a prophet to the people of Judah who remain in the land after the destruction of the city.

When Jesus' enemies turn Him over to the leader of the Gentiles, we see that it is actually Pontius Pilate on trial; not Jesus. Jesus' kingdom is not from this world and His kingdom turns this one on its head. As representatives of Jesus' kingdom, we must operate in accordance to it (John 18:18-19:16).

At the landing of the Ark, God institutes the first letter of human government -the death penalty. We see in our study today that all human law, beginning with this first instance originates with the protective heart and nature of God (Genesis 9:1-17; Romans 13:1-7).