Today’s Reading, Ezekiel 25-27
Focal Scripture: Ezekiel 25:6-7 “For this is what the Lord God says: Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced over the land of Israel with wholehearted contempt, therefore I am about to stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and eliminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the Lord.”
Those who do evil we want to see punished. I know I do in my personal life. Especially when that evil is done against someone I care about or even myself. However, our personal reasons for vengeance are often motivated from sinful and selfish desires.
Not so with the Lord. His vengeance comes from his divine character and attributes. He is just when he delivers vengeance. In our reading today we have three chapters on how the Lord is going to give his vengeance on numerous people groups and cities that celebrated the destruction of Israel and its temple. The ones who were excited to see the temple destroyed, will themselves be scattered and plundered. They will face destruction and eliminated. Then they will know he is the Lord.
You may be asking what the point of all this is about. The answer is that sin will always be punished. The Lord takes sin seriously. He will take out vengeance and deal harshly with all those who sin. This not only applies to the Old Testament that we are reading now. It also applies today. Sin is a major problem in our lives. It demonstrates a choice to do wrong. A thought process of going against God.
This will be unpopular but God will judge all sinners. His character demands it and requires because of his holiness. The fact that this is true forces us as humans to acknowledge the fact we need a savior from our sins and his vengeance against sin.
If you struggle with this concept know that the Lord offers a way out. He wants others to know they never have to experience these consequences. All you have to do is submit to him and follow him. His mercies are great and his judgement is fierce.
Tomorrow I plan on reading Ezekiel 28-30
