August 10, 2011
A RIGHT RESPONSE
Ezekiel 35
Matthew Armstrong
Central Truth
No matter the situation, there is a right response. That response is based on the love of God rather than our whims and fickle opinions.
Key Verse | Ezekiel 35:5–6
"Because you have had everlasting enmity and have delivered the sons of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of the punishment of the end, therefore as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "I will give you over to bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you; since you have not hated bloodshed, therefore bloodshed will pursue you." (Ezekiel 35:5-6)
Ezekiel 35
Prophecy Against Mount Seir
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, 3 and say to it, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste. 4 I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the LORD. 5 Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment, 6 therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you. 7 I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation, and I will cut off from it all who come and go. 8 And I will fill its mountains with the slain. On your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those slain with the sword shall fall. 9 I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
10 Because you said, ‘These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them’—although the LORD was there— 11 therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you. 12 And you shall know that I am the LORD.
I have heard all the revilings that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are laid desolate; they are given us to devour.’ 13 And you magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and multiplied your words against me; I heard it. 14 Thus says the Lord God: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. 15 As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
Dive Deeper | Ezekiel 35
Early in the fall semester of 2001, I was pulling into college, and the line was longer than usual. When I was turned away at the gate, I learned why. The Twin Towers had just been hit. It was September 11. A myriad of emotions hit me, but two responses were not mine alone: how can we help, and how do we bring those responsible to justice? Regardless of how you feel about our nation's actions, few would argue that the 3,000 dead did not deserve some action to bring to justice those responsible for their deaths. In Ezekiel 35, Mount Seir (Edom) faces the decision the world faced on September 11.
Edom has a longstanding grudge against Israel, and when God allows Babylon to attack, Edom does nothing to aid Judah. And why should it? There is enmity between Edom and Israel. Nevertheless, God's ways are not our ways.
Over and over, God commands us to love our enemy. In fact, He's pretty big on us loving everyone. Consequently, He warns us about the repercussions of gloating over another's pain. "Do not enter the gate of My people in the day of their disaster. Yes, you, do not gloat over their calamity in the day of their disaster. And do not loot their wealth in the day of their disaster." (Obadiah 1:13) "He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished." (Proverbs 17:5) "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles." (Proverbs 24:17)
Most of us have probably not faced the choice of helping someone, whether friend or foe, or watching them die, but we all have committed the sin of inaction. We have chosen to do nothing when a right choice stood before us. In case the point was fuzzy, God gave us James 4:17: "[T]o one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." If there is a right way, then there is a wrong way, not a neutral way. God's love compels us to act.
Discussion Questions
1. Have I by inaction caused deep hurt or pain?
2. What joys have I missed out on by not doing what God has called me to do?
3. Is there some action I am currently avoiding that I know God wants me to take?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
EZEKIEL 33-37 (AUGUST 8-12)
Read Ezekiel 34:11-16.
What does God say He will be like? How does God say He will care for His flock?
Read John 10:11.
Who is the Good Shepherd? What will the shepherd do for His sheep?
Read Psalm 23.
If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are one of His sheep. What promises does this Psalm give to you?
ACTIVITY: Memorize Psalm 23.
Some ideas for learning it together:
1. Put the different verses on index cards and quiz each other.
2. Write out all the words on different pieces of paper and race to put the words in the right order.
3. Go around the circle, each person saying the next word in the verse until you reach the end.
4. Make up hand motions to go with the words to help you remember them.