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September 1st

The bible reading today is in Ezekiel 18,19.

“What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18:2-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

An ancient proverb, not from God, but from another outside of Him, had been adopted by the Israelites for generations. The proverb was a complaint against God. The proverb was also an accusation that God’s judgments were unjust.

By saying the proverb, the speaker was proclaiming something about God that was not true. He was saying that God held the sons and daughters responsible for the sins of their fathers and mothers. The speaker of the proverb was saying that God is unfair in the judgment of His people.

“The father eats the unripe, forbidden, sour grapes...and “should” have been punished with a sour taste...but instead it is the son whose teeth are set on edge by the acidic juices.”

So how did that happen exactly? The truth?,,, The sons ate the same unripe, forbidden fruit. The sour taste came from their own sinning...not their dad’s.

Therefore, God’s judgment “is just”...“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18:20‬ ‭

So don't speak that proverb any more, anywhere my children.

The people spouting the ancient proverb were trying to justify their own attempts at “escaping responsibility” for their actions.It happens everwhere to this day. Blame someone else for the consequences of our own sinning...not good...not God.

Next in the text today...“Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God was reminding his embittered, unrepentant people that their lives, their very souls belonged to Him.

In fact, He told them that “all souls” were His...those apart of His Kingdom and those who were not.

That would remind His people that He was sovereignly over all that were on the earth. That all souls everywhere, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, were responsible to Him

And thus...“If a man is righteous, doing what is just and right—he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18:5, 9‬ ‭

But...“The soul that sins, is under the curse of death...”

Wow, this sermon leaves a question to be pondered by many of the Judean exiles...“ Am I one of the righteous?”

I sin a lot. And according to the words of the prophet, souls that sin they shall surely die. I don't want to die...separated from God and the promised land. “I want to live”. So how can I be righteous?

So many had forgotten what made them right with God. They knew that Abraham was their father. But they forgot what made their father right with God. Righteousness was a gift from God that Abraham received by a faith also given by God.

This reminds me of the crown jewel verse of Christianity, from which our eternal life springs, 2 Cor. 5:21

“For our sake God the Father made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Jesus the spotless was made sin...he had no sin...where did sin come from? It came from sinners doomed to die. Sin on Jesus came from me.

So the Father took the spotless, pure righteousness of Christ and put it on me. Jesus was made sin. So that you and I who believe him may become the righteous who live.

Think on it...adore it...love it...be totally satisfied with it...be certainly humbled by it. The beautiful justice of God that saved sinners like us...Grace? Yes, Mercy? Yes....but first, Love took our sin and satisfied God’s holy justice...

O how grand a salvation, our hope in the Lord...our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness...Praise His Name...Thank You Jesus!

Have a great day