Eze.7:1-27, The Gospel of the remnant

Eze.7:1-27, The Gospel of the remnant

  God has many names. Jehovah Jireh (the God who prepares), Jehovah Rapha (the God who heals), Jehovah Shalom (the God who gives peace), Jehovah Nissi (the God who gives victory), Jehovah Roi (the God who is the shepherd), etc. are good names of God who bestows mercy and grace.
 However, God’s another name appears in today’s text. Verse 9, “Jehovah Makke,” “The Lord is striker with blow.” “The Lord is the one who strikes his people, Judah and Israel.” It must have been shocking when they first heard Ezekiel’s words. Today, while talking about the God who strikes, he also shows us the God who loves the remnant who will live blessedly as God’s workers. What is the lesson that today’s text gives us?

1. It is finished (1-13)

 Judah’s destruction and judgment are imminent. The text emphasizes several times that the time of judgment is imminent. “The end of the kingdom has come,” “The day has come.” However, at that time, the people of Judah thought that the city of God, Jerusalem, or the kingdom of God, Judah, would not be destroyed. This was a complete misunderstanding. God is merciful, loving, and slow to anger, but He judges and disciplines sins with justice. Therefore, we must always reflect on ourselves. We must quickly repent of our sins and come closer to God, who is patient but not eternal.
 *Application question : Are you holding on to the promise Jesus made to all Christians living in the last days and persevering to the end? (1-9) Mt.24:13, “But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

2. The tragedy of destruction (14-22)

 The destruction and tragedy of Jerusalem(Judah) are serious. Rather than relying on the world, wealth, or foreign powers, relying on the Almighty God and seeking mercy is the only way to survive. Those who rely on or cling to worldly things can never live a successful life. We must keep in mind that if humans, who were created in the image of God, the Creator and Provider of the entire world, abandon their original attitude of relying solely on God and place their hopes on worldly things such as wealth, the result will only be miserable destruction (Josh.7:1, Acts5:1,2, Lk.12:20-21). God does not accept the request of those who want to hear His voice after a set time has passed. He gives them enough time to repent and come to the path of salvation. However, if humans do not use that opportunity, they will inevitably be punished eternally. Therefore, we must seek grace while it is available. 2 Cor.6:1-2, “1.As workers together with God, we urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2.For he says, ‘In a time of my favor I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is the time of my favor; behold, now is the day of salvation.” You must raise your hand before the bus arrives to board the bus. Raising your hand after it has passed is of no use. Before God’s eternal judgment comes, you must raise your hands in repentance to enter the eternal kingdom of heaven. It is useless to try to repent after the eternal judgment comes. When I was a child, a bus came once a day in the countryside. But when you wait for the bus and it approaches the bus stop, you have to raise your hand for the bus to stop We too must believe in Jesus while we still have breath and live well by faith. It is useless to ask Jesus to look after us after we die.
*Application question : The invasion of Babylon was also due to the sins of the people of Judah, but they still do not realize it. Rather than repenting their sins and relying on God, the Israelites relied on human-centered methods. Compared to them, how much of a God-centered life do I lead? (14, Rom.8:6, Phil.2:5)

3. Results of the judgment (23-27)

 We must realize the work of Jehovah through all the judgments. 1) To make them pay price of their sins, 2) To make them realize their sins, 3) To make them repent knowing that God exists (Dan.2, 3, 4). Judah forgot Jehovah, became arrogant and proud, fell into the trap of wealth, and was judged without discerning the time. Martin Luther said, “There are three essential conversions: conversion of the heart, conversion of the mind, and conversion of the purse. Isn’t conversion of the purse difficult? Only what is given to God is eternal in heaven. Amen.  Let us realize what God is doing in the age, be humble, truly worship before the Lord, live only with God as the first priority, and live in prayer and wakefulness.

What is the lesson given to us today?
1) We can please God or hurt His heart. Rather than hurting or angering God, let us strive to please and glorify His heart by being filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word like a waterfall.
2) Let us offer our sincere devotion to God with our eyes and ears. Let us not fall into idolatry by pretending to believe in God but falling into superficial faith that loves other things more or syncretism that loves worldly things more.
3) I bless you to remember God and His wounded heart as the remnant even in the midst of Jehovah’s judgment, to lament and repent, to know Jehovah, and to work for God’s kingdom.

 Dear saints,
 the remnant of God. God is judging Judah for her sins. He uses Babylon as a club, a tool of judgment. Before the judgment comes, I bless you not to be arrogant or proud, not to be caught in the trap of wealth, to have spiritual discernment, to be thankful as the main characters of the redemptive history of the kingdom of God, and to keep your faith well until the end and give glory to God. Amen.