Daily Bread for Sep 4, Eze 18-20

Today's readings are Eze 18-20.

In Eze 18, the Lord addresses the errant prophecy of safety being spread throughout Jerusalem by the false prophets. Jerusalem is not safe due to the sin of its people. "The soul who sins shall die." is the primary theme. Several sinful acts are mentioned. The sins included on the list are not meant to be exhaustive but are types of behavior that expose a wicked heart. They are the evidence of the "soul that sins." There are other iniquities implied but not specified.

This list is important to understand. It would be easy to look on lists such as this in Scripture and think, "I'm OK. I don't do any of those things." These lists are intended to expose wicked hearts and should be a motivation to examine our own hearts for any wickedness that may linger there that goes beyond the lists. The soul that turns from its wickedness will be made righteous and saved.  

In hearing Ezekiel's prophecies, some may accuse the Lord of being unjust or unfair. Accusations such as those are nothing less than an attempt to judge and evaluate God. They are further evidence of a wicked and arrogant heart. Each one will be judged according to their ways and held accountable for their actions. Ezekiel’s message is clear, everyone sins and is directly responsible for their actions. The consequences are eternal death. The only way to avoid the penalty is by a sovereign and supernatural move of God. Because He is holy and just, sin demands payment. This means God will not simply forgive sin; it must be atoned for. In Ezekiel’s time, the sacrificial system was an imperfect symbol of that atonement. Long after Ezekiel is gone, God will send His only Son to pay the payment for the sins of those who believe in Him. His justice will be satisfied, His holiness preserved and His grace put on magnificent display.

Eze 19 is a lament for the Princes (leaders) of Israel and is most likely a mournful song. The prince's mother is either Judah or Jerusalem, it's not entirely clear which. But she is like a lioness who rears her cubs. One cub (King Jehoahaz) grows into a fierce lion who is taken to Egypt. Another (either King Jehoiachin or King Zedekiah), is caged and taken to Babylon. The metaphor then switches into a vine (Jerusalem/Judah) which is destroyed and taken out into the desert (into exile). All these dreadful images point toward suffering and captivity for Judah and her people.

Ezekiel is told to prophesy in Eze 20. He is to detail the rebellious history of Israel, demonstrating God's ongoing judgment of sin and His faithful and repeated preservation of a righteous remnant. "This generation is no different," Ezekiel tells them, "and will be judged as well." 

It seems that every generation throughout history has deemed themselves different, more enlightened, sophisticated and wise. Most believe themselves to be above the type of judgment for the repeated sin we see in Israel's history. That would be a mistake. Our God, the Creator of the universe, is unchanging. His holiness, purity and perfection never change. If our hope is in Him, it lies in His never-changing demand that sin must be atoned for and cleansed to enter into His presence. He's given His only Son to do just that. There is no better way. There is no "old fashioned" way. There is no new way. There is no improved way. There is only one way, it never changes. 

Doom is prophesied for Judah because of their sin. Yet, hope lingers in the prophecy. While the suffering will be great and many will die, there is the promise of a remnant. The history of Israel shows that God always preserves a remnant. This remnant always symbolizes a righteous minority.

But that minority possesses a human form of righteousness that is not perfect in much the same manner that the righteousness of Job, Noah and David was imperfect. The truth is that no one is perfectly righteous (Rom 3:10-11; Ps 14:1-3; Ps 53:1-3). The way God works through the remnant in Israel points toward the day when the ultimate remnant of one, the only perfectly righteous one, Jesus Christ, will arrive to redeem His people.