Today’s passage: Ezekiel 18
Helpful thoughts:
- The three generations listed in this chapter look like they may be referring to three individual people, but these three could represent three generations of the people.
- The judgment God has been referring to in these prophecies has always been toward the whole communities of Jerusalem and Judah, and specifically the judgment of being defeated by the Babylonians.
- The lists of right and wrong actions are given to depict characteristically righteous and wicked lifestyles. We know from Romans 3, that “no one is righteous, no not one.” No individual person could stand before the judgment seat of Christ without any sin on their own. We can only stand before God and be declared “Not guilty” through the atoning sacrifice of Christ.
- We can see in the books of the history of Israel (Like Judges, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles) God would bring acts of judgment on the people in times of rebellion and withhold judgment at times of repentance. These types of instances appear to be what God is referring to in this chapter.
- With judgment looming, with Babylon seemingly ready to attack and God clearly informing the Jews that this is happening because of their sin and lack of repentance, the people question God’s justice.
- If the Jews believed God was able to be unjust, they had a very low and inaccurate view of God. They did not know God. (1 John 4:7-8)
Questions to consider:
- After all was said in this chapter concerning these people’s lives and their opinions of God’s justice (Or the lack thereof) what was God’s concluding command (Verse 30)? At the end, to whom will all people answer? Does God answer to us…or will we answer to Him? (2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27)
- How might our modern individualistic mindset distract us from the importance of community? How do individuals affect the community? How does community affect individuals? How is this important when we think of the local church?
- As Christians and citizens of the Kingdom of God, how should we think about our roles in the different aspects of community within which we live (The church, our cities, our country, etc.)? What has Christ told us we are? (Matthew 5:13-16)