Ezekiel 33:10-20 No Pleasure
God has been calling Israel to repent. He has NO pleasure in their deaths. If they would just turn and repent, they would live!
God has just reminded Ezekiel that his task is to be the watchman for Israel. The watchman’s job is to warn of approaching danger. It is the people’s job to heed that warning and act accordingly to save their own lives.
God is calling out for the destruction of the wicked. Israel/Judah certainly fits that bill at the time. God does NOT want to kill or destroy the people! He wants to restore them to Himself. He takes NO pleasure in what is happening to them at the time. His heart weeps over their pain. But He MUST stay the course if there is ANY hope for a future with them.
“If you will only listen and obey. Turn from your evil ways. Repent and follow My commands and live.”
God is also warning the righteous that they must continue to walk with Him or all that has come before will be lost. I don’t believe He is referring to one bad moment or even a season of struggling. He is speaking of turning to a lifestyle of continual evil.
Have you noticed that God is focusing on actions committed against others in His examples? He hasn’t specified ‘forgetting to pray’ or ‘offering the wrong sacrifices’ or even ‘chasing after false gods’ here. He has picked “injustice” as His barometer. He is looking, AT THIS MOMENT, at how man treats man. “If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what has been taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die” (verse 15).
The truth is, if one “walks in the statutes of life” he will not do injustice to others. His heart is set on the Lord. His joy is complete when he is in fellowship with God. That is as true now as it was when Ezekiel penned these words. Also as true as when God first said; “Let there be…” A heart in line with God’s words doesn’t hurt his brothers or sisters. It seeks their good. It takes NO pleasure in the pain of others. God is love and those who love God will demonstrate love towards others; externally AND internally.
Father God, thank You for Your love! Thank You for placing Your love in my heart and enabling me to love others; even those that don’t love me in return. Please help me to continue to walk in Your ways for the rest of my life! I NEVER want to be separated from You!!!
