Ezekiel 13:1 – 14:23 (Continued)

January 02, 2012

I have two things written beside this chapter.

1. The battle belongs to the LORD; and 
2. Vengeance is mine saith the LORD.

We see outward appearances but God knows the heart. A group of leaders came and sat down in front of Ezekiel. God says to Ezekiel, "These men want to worship idols. They put up evil things that cause people to sin. Should I allow them to ask me for help?" Tell them this: I know what is in their hearts. Tell them, "Change your hearts and lives, and stop worshiping idols. Stop doing all the things I hate... (you) can separate (your)self from me by wanting to worship idols or by putting up the things that cause people to sin. Then if they come to the prophet to ask me questions, I, the LORD will answer them myself. I will reject them. I will make them a sign, an example, and I will separate them from my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 14:3–8)

The battle belongs to the LORD. He knows the hearts and thoughts and He will answer each one according to their own actions. We are responsible for our hearts, thoughts, and actions. We have to be faithful in doing whatever God asks us to do. We are responsible for the condition of our own heart. But, as much as we would like to be able to make the heart-changing decision for our loved ones—total surrender to Christ—we cannot do that. Four different times God said even Noah, Daniel, or Job could not save the people who chose to willingly disobey God's commands from the destruction and power of God's hand. "They could only save themselves."

Four times God tells him—you can't save them, you can only save yourself. "You will see..." Ezekiel 15:22b - "You will see what happens to people who live as they did." God says what I have planned for Jerusalem (the place God chose for the people He called his own) is much worse, because they rejected me and because they refused to change their hearts and lives. Because! "I will send" four terrible punishments against them for its destruction. 

Then God says something that I would not have been able to understand unless this much time (since we have been caught up in "the storm") had passed. God says twice, "You will be comforted." Ezekiel 14:23 - "You will be comforted when you see what happens to them for living as they did..." How can that be? When you have no anger or revenge in your heart, how can someone's destruction bring you "comfort"? How can it not bring overwhelming grief?

Time (God) has shown me several things. 

• Everyone is responsible for their own life choices
• Accountability is directly linked to each person's own choices
• It is not my responsibility to "fix" someone
• God in His Sovereignty offers forgiveness

And the most important one:

• God is a fair, kind, and just God—and I trust Him.  

Ezekiel 14:23 - "You will be comforted when you see what happens to them for living as they did, because you will know there was a good reason for what I did to Jerusalem, says the LORD God." Glad or happy about their destruction? No. There is no happiness found in the destruction of others. What God gives is comfort.

Comfort definition: 1) To give strength, and hope to; 2) Console.
Console definition: 1) Consolation; 2) Freedom from pain, trouble, or anxiety.

That is what God gives. Comfort. The vengeance is His, and His alone. Because the vengeance is His and because He is a fair and just God, we can have comfort—no matter what—"because you will know there was a good reason for what I did to Jerusalem, says the LORD God."

It's a New Year—2012. I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us in 2012. I think it is fitting that my notations for Ezekiel 14 is the first thing to write about on this new day of a New Year.

1) The battle belongs to the LORD. Period. Our lives are in His hands and we trust Him.
2) Vengeance is mine saith the LORD. Period. I'm so grateful everything is out of our hands and in HIS. He is a kind, fair, and just God, and we trust Him.

Those were already written in the margins of my Bible. God's battle and vengeance. Now comes Judgment. There is going to be a Judgment Day.  

Matthew 11:20–24 - The people did not change their lives and stop sinning, so Jesus says, "How terrible for you... how terrible for you... you will be thrown down... on the Judgment Day it will be better for Sodom than you."

Acts 17:3–31 - "God tells all the people in the world to change their hearts and lives. God has set a day that he will judge all the world with fairness..."

II Peter 2:2 - "Many will follow their evil ways and say evil things about the way of truth."

Addendum:  Today is 8/24/15 ~ The song, "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman continues to run through my mind day and night. Every time I realize it is running in the background of my consciousness it just makes me smile. The Comforter brings comfort. Thank you, Holy Spirit.


Next Entry: Ezekiel 15:1 – 20:44