Ezekiel 18:1-32
Q.1. What accusation did God’s people level against God? What guiding principles does God use in dealing with mankind? – (Ezk.18:1-20)
Judah had lost much of its former glory. They believed that they were suffering for the sins and failures of their parents, as expressed in this proverb – …The fathers eat the sour grapes, but the children’s teeth are set on edge. (Ezk.18:2). Through His prophet, God spelled out His basis for judging every person – 3 ‘As I live’, declares the Lord God, ‘you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. 4 Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die’ (Ezk.18:3-4). God then explained a number of scenarios, showing that He will only punish the wicked, and will not disadvantage the righteous – 7 if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 8 if he does not lend money on interest or take increase, if he keeps his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between man and man, 9 if he walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully–he is righteous and will surely live … (Ezk.18:7-9). God summed it up – … The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself (Ezk.18:20).
Q.2. What did God reveal about His heart and purpose for dealing with the righteous and the wicked? – (Ezk.18:21-32)
The appeal of the Lord to His people was for them to repent and turn from their treacherous treatment of God, and of the defenceless – ‘Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct’, declares the Lord God. ‘Repent and turn away from all your offences, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you’ (Ezk.18:30). Through Ezekiel, God revealed His true heart. He made an impassioned plea – 31 ‘Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies’, declares the Lord God. ‘Therefore, repent and live.’ (Ezk.18:31-32).