The God Pause Daily Devotional from The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 25 September 2017 - Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

The God Pause Daily Devotional from The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 25 September 2017 - Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 

Ezekiel 18:

Judged According to the Way You Live

1-2 God’s Message to me: “What do you people mean by going around the country repeating the saying,

The parents ate green apples,

The children got the stomachache?

3-4 “As sure as I’m the living God, you’re not going to repeat this saying in Israel any longer. Every soul—man, woman, child—belongs to me, parent and child alike. You die for your own sin, not another’s.

, 

25-28 “Do I hear you saying, ‘That’s not fair! God’s not fair!’?

“Listen, Israel. I’m not fair? You’re the ones who aren’t fair! If a good person turns away from his good life and takes up sinning, he’ll die for it. He’ll die for his own sin. Likewise, if a bad person turns away from his bad life and starts living a good life, a fair life, he will save his life. Because he faces up to all the wrongs he’s committed and puts them behind him, he will live, really live. He won’t die.

29 “And yet Israel keeps on whining, ‘That’s not fair! God’s not fair.’

“I’m not fair, Israel? You’re the ones who aren’t fair.

30-32 “The upshot is this, Israel: I’ll judge each of you according to the way you live. So turn around! Turn your backs on your rebellious living so that sin won’t drag you down. Clean house. No more rebellions, please. Get a new heart! Get a new spirit! Why would you choose to die, Israel? I take no pleasure in anyone’s death. Decree of God, the Master.

“Make a clean break! Live!”

 (The Message translation)

Ezekiel 18:1

 The word of Adonai came to me: 2 “What does it mean, that you keep quoting this proverb in the land of Isra’el —

‘When parents eat sour grapes,

their children’s teeth are set on edge’?

3 “As I live,” says Adonai Elohim, “I swear that you will never again quote this proverb in Isra’el. 4 Look, all lives belong to me — both the parent’s life and the child’s life are equally mine — so it is the person who sins, himself, who must die.

, 25 “So now you say, ‘Adonai’s way isn’t fair.’ Listen, house of Isra’el! Is it my way that is unfair? or your ways that are unfair? 26 When the righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits wickedness, he will die for it — for the wickedness he commits he will die. 27 And when the wicked person turns away from all the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he will save his life. 28 Because he thinks it over and repents of all the transgressions he committed, he will certainly live, not die. 29 Yet the house of Isra’el says, ‘Adonai’s way isn’t fair.’ House of Isra’el, is it my ways that are unfair, or your ways that are unfair? 30 Therefore, house of Isra’el, I will judge each of you according to his ways,” says Adonai Elohim. “Repent, and turn yourselves away from all your transgressions, so that they will not be a stumblingblock that brings guilt upon you. 31 Throw far away from yourselves all your crimes that you committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit; for why should you die, house of Isra’el? 32 I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” says Adonai Elohim, “so turn yourselves around, and live! (Complete Jewish Bible)

-------Ezekiel calls us to break from our previous patterns to embrace God's ways. The biblical word for that is repentance. Repentance is more than an emotional feeling of being sorry for our sins. It's about changing our lives, turning around and turning towards God, so we can live a new life. The Message translation of this passage puts it this way "So, turn around! Turn your backs on your rebellious living so that sin won't drag you down. Clean house."
That may sound like bad news if your house is immaculate and you have everything just the way you like it. But if your house is a mess and your life is out of control, cleaning up and clearing out can be a gift and a big relief. Some years ago we had to totally rearrange our living room for a small concert. As we were clearing the dust, dirt and clutter we had accumulated, it felt good to have the room emptied so we could start over again.
Repentance offers a promise: we are not stuck in the way our lives have been; a fresh start is possible. Ezekiel's call in our reading is not about beating ourselves up; it's the first step toward living a new life. "No more rebellions, please. Get a new heart! Get a new spirit!" That's an invitation, a word of grace and hope.
Create in us new hearts and spirits, O God. Today and every day, teach us to turn around, to turn toward you and live. Amen.
Sandy Van Zyl, '88
ELCA Pastor serving United Congregational Church (UCC) Butte, Mont.-------
Ezekiel 18:Individual Retribution
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? 3 As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die., 25 Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26 When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27 Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 28 Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin.[Ezekiel 18:30 Or so that they shall not be a stumbling block of iniquity to you ] 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live. (New Revised Standard Version)

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