Biblical Warning

Thus says the Lord GOD: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?

And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die.

You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. (Ezekiel 18:21-28)

Ezekiel is Hebrew scripture.  Let’s consider that the Israeli war against the Palestinians (not just Hamas) has caused the death of more than 27,000 men, women, and children in Gaza.  And there is no end in sight.  Prime Minister Netanyahu and his far-right supporters appear to be taking advantage of Hamas’ slaughter of about 1,200 Jewish people by advancing their cause of preventing a Palestinian State and getting revenge against Hamas.  This is what it seems to be.  Both sides have done or are doing wicked things.

Jewish leadership and its supporters should pay heed to Ezekiel: “If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.” Moreover: “If the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die.”  Now that is a true and necessary biblical warning.

During Lent we all should pay attention to this warning because many of us have done and are doing wicked things.  Time to repent, believe in the Gospel, and pay attention to Ezekiel who speaks to us from many centuries long ago. 

The whole world seems to be in the power of the Evil One - certainly in America evidenced by anger, hate, division, and hypocrisy.  But in our own individual worlds we must strive to have goodness prevail.  In other words, love to make the Evil One powerless.

Deacon David Pierce