Ezekiel 25:6-7 - For this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet,
rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel, therefore I will stretch
out my hand against you and give you as plunder
to the nations. I will cut you off from the nations and exterminate you from
the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am
the LORD.' "
God gave Ezekiel a word for the 7 nations that surrounded the
nation of Israel. They too would suffer punishment because of the many things
that they had done to scoff and berate God’s chosen people. The Ammonites….the
Moabites…the Edomites…and the Phististines had all angered God to the point
that he was going to put an end to the issue.
The list of sins against God included laughing at or
taunting…scoffing or making fun of…finding pleasure in the wickedness around
them…racial hatred and feeling joy when the Jews found hard times…or putting
them down in any way. God’s punishment ranged from letting the Bedouins take
over and capture some of the land…to complete destruction of some of the
nations that had never believed in the one true God of the Israelites.
It is a vivid reminder to me of how important it is to never
let these practices become a part of my own routines of dealing with others
around me. Laughing at…taunting….finding joy when anyone is allowed to be
brought low in any way…or putting someone down in anyway is not appropriate for
someone who has embedded God’s love in their heart. My life should overflow
with compassion and mercy…just like Jesus modeled for us during his 33 years on
Earth.
Father…thank you for the reminder to keep my heart free of
behaviors that berate others…whether they are believers or nonbelievers. Forgive me for the times that I am guilty of
some of the behaviors in Ezekiel’s list.
Help me to always search my heart for the compassion and mercy you would
want me to use the next time I am tempted to be so callous and cold again. Help
me find a way to love through the issues I find with those around me…and model
for them your love. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment