“When the righteous turns from his righteousness
and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns
from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because
of it” . God had sent His prophet Ezekiel, to a rebellious
nation, an impudent, stiff hearted people. (Ezek.2:4, 5) Ezekiel
was warned by God that if he did not warn the people of their sin and the
judgment to follow then they would die in their sin and their blood would
be required at his hand. (Ezek.3:18)
“They quarreled with his threatenings and judgments,
as having no justice or equity in them. They said, the way of the Lord
is not equal, suggesting that God was partial in his proceedings, that
with him there was respect of persons and that he was more severe against
sin and sinners than there was cause.”(Matthew Henry) Dear one who is reading this today;
let us never have these thoughts concerning our God as did the Israelites.
We know assuredly that we deal with a just and righteous God. He loves
us and will keep his promises. When he says, he will forgive, when we repent,
remove our sins as far as the east is from the west when we put off sinning
and wash us whiter than snow. We can trust his word. We who are called
by his name will not want to take up and argument with him but constantly
ask him to search us to see if there be any wickedness in us and lead us
in the way everlasting. It may be that our neighbor
who knows not God or some pitiable sister who is still not able to turn
loose of some sin will need to be reassured of these promises of God. We
ourselves must be put in remembrance of these promises also. It could be
one who was once faithful and now is backslidden and fears that he or she
can never be forgiven. Let us open the precious Bible and turn to these
passages and once again give them hope. Let us be sure that we do not forget
to warn them if they choose not to repent.
God is a merciful God, not
willing that any should perish. His mercy endures forever. (Psa.136)
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is
thy faithfulness. (Lam.3:22, 23)
"The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious
God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love
to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he
does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their
children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."(Ex.34:6-7)
