The God of Grace and Justice
The God of Holiness and Grace
Ezekiel 16-20
“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn away from his ways and live?”
Reading through the prophetic literature is always difficult, for its message seems to pound the drum of judgment over and over again. Page after page, God continues to condemn Israel and the nations for their immorality, idolatry, and refusal to obey God’s law. However, God is not capricious and vindictive in His judgment. He is a just and holy God who cannot leave sin unchecked or unpunished, for to do so would be to give tacit approval to sin. Injustice is not just punishing someone who does not deserve it; it is also to leave unpunished one who commits an act of sin. Because He is a just and holy God, He will not leave sin unchecked or unpunished. This is the message that is repeatedly affirmed throughout the prophets.
In Ezekiel 16, God sets forth the sins of Israel and their political and religious rebellion. They were to be a nation that was devoted to God. As His people, they were not to have any other gods. They were to avoid the idolatry of the people around them and remain faithful in their obedience. However, like an unfaithful wife (ch. 17), they pursued other gods and broke their covenant with God even though God had repeatedly warned them of the consequences of rebellion in the Mosaic Law. In pronouncing judgment, Ezekiel was not informing them of a new stipulation and consequence. Fidelity to God was interwoven in their covenant relationship with him.
However, even as He pronounces judgment, God makes it clear that He does not take pleasure in doing so (18:23). His desire is to give life, not death. The judgment is not because God is vindictive, but because He is righteous and pure. His desire is ultimately to bring salvation. Even when He brings His judgment, there is an element of correction rather than punishment. Even as Ezekiel pronounces the coming judgment, there is also the hope given that if they repent, judgment can be averted and restoration can happen. Furthermore, He makes it clear that He is not arbitrary in His judgment. In the outpouring of His wrath, He never accidentally judges the righteous. There is no collateral damage. He deals with us as individuals so that a person who seeks him will not be accidentally caught up in the punishment of others (18:14-19). God deals with us as individuals so that no matter how distorted and sinful our parents might have been, if we turn to God and have completely forgiveness. We are not punished or condemned for the sins of our parents, so we do not need to feel guilty because of their past. Yet it is also true that we are not saved by the righteousness of our parents. Our parents may have been faithful in their obedience; they may have taken us to church each Sunday, but we are not saved by their faith and obedience. Our relationship with God is personal, so the question is, what are we going to do with God? Are we going to walk in obedience? Just as we are not wrongfully caught up in the dragnet of God’s judgment, so also we are not saved because of the faith and actions of others. Our relationship with God boils down to our individual personal choice. The question we must ask is this: Am I walking in obedience to God or not? Have I surrendered to God and his commands, or am I pursuing my own pleasure? How we answer these questions will determine our eternal destiny.
Ezekiel 16-20
“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn away from his ways and live?”
Reading through the prophetic literature is always difficult, for its message seems to pound the drum of judgment over and over again. Page after page, God continues to condemn Israel and the nations for their immorality, idolatry, and refusal to obey God’s law. However, God is not capricious and vindictive in His judgment. He is a just and holy God who cannot leave sin unchecked or unpunished, for to do so would be to give tacit approval to sin. Injustice is not just punishing someone who does not deserve it; it is also to leave unpunished one who commits an act of sin. Because He is a just and holy God, He will not leave sin unchecked or unpunished. This is the message that is repeatedly affirmed throughout the prophets.
In Ezekiel 16, God sets forth the sins of Israel and their political and religious rebellion. They were to be a nation that was devoted to God. As His people, they were not to have any other gods. They were to avoid the idolatry of the people around them and remain faithful in their obedience. However, like an unfaithful wife (ch. 17), they pursued other gods and broke their covenant with God even though God had repeatedly warned them of the consequences of rebellion in the Mosaic Law. In pronouncing judgment, Ezekiel was not informing them of a new stipulation and consequence. Fidelity to God was interwoven in their covenant relationship with him.
However, even as He pronounces judgment, God makes it clear that He does not take pleasure in doing so (18:23). His desire is to give life, not death. The judgment is not because God is vindictive, but because He is righteous and pure. His desire is ultimately to bring salvation. Even when He brings His judgment, there is an element of correction rather than punishment. Even as Ezekiel pronounces the coming judgment, there is also the hope given that if they repent, judgment can be averted and restoration can happen. Furthermore, He makes it clear that He is not arbitrary in His judgment. In the outpouring of His wrath, He never accidentally judges the righteous. There is no collateral damage. He deals with us as individuals so that a person who seeks him will not be accidentally caught up in the punishment of others (18:14-19). God deals with us as individuals so that no matter how distorted and sinful our parents might have been, if we turn to God and have completely forgiveness. We are not punished or condemned for the sins of our parents, so we do not need to feel guilty because of their past. Yet it is also true that we are not saved by the righteousness of our parents. Our parents may have been faithful in their obedience; they may have taken us to church each Sunday, but we are not saved by their faith and obedience. Our relationship with God is personal, so the question is, what are we going to do with God? Are we going to walk in obedience? Just as we are not wrongfully caught up in the dragnet of God’s judgment, so also we are not saved because of the faith and actions of others. Our relationship with God boils down to our individual personal choice. The question we must ask is this: Am I walking in obedience to God or not? Have I surrendered to God and his commands, or am I pursuing my own pleasure? How we answer these questions will determine our eternal destiny.
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2026
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February
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Who do we listen to?God's Patience and the Certainty of JudgmentThe Present Implications of the FutureAcknoweldgement, Confession, and ForgivenessThe Mark of a Genuine DiscipleThe Unchanging WordThe Lost ARt of DiscernmentA Life that Pleases GodThe Subtle Danger of Spiritual PrideContending for the FaithThe Judgement of False TeachersKeep Our Faith in a Fallen WorldSecurity in a Insecure WorldThe God who Controls HistoryThe Terrifying Majesty of ChristThe Majesty of GodThe Praise of God's JusticeHaving Right Priorities in Life
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