Saturday, August 21, 2010
I just don't get Ezekiel. It makes me so sad. These people are committing sins, that in some way, shape or form, I have committed. But they're are being brutally slaughtered and punished by my Lord? I know the old testament was different, but I just can't picture the loving God that I spend time with every day and am slowly getting to know on a more intimate basis would do this to people. I mean, there's punishment and reprimand, but brutal murder? I guess I just hope my Old Testament survey class this semester will help answer some of these questions.....any feedback from y'all would be helpful as well.
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Hey Mandie :) I just finished an Old Testament class, so maybe I can offer a slant, but you're right - it is hard to understand God's judgement in the Old Testament when we are living in His grace here after the cross. First, know that Ezekiel's name means "God Strengthens". God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His heart - the one you and I have fallen in love with - is the same heart. One of encouragement, unfailing love and faithfulness, and most of all, goodness.
ReplyDeleteI guess, in context, Ezekiel was speaking to the kingdom of Judah before and during the Babylonian exile. The thing is, God had set up, over the course of the 1500 years before, a covenant with His nation: He would be their God and they would be His people. They were to be holy (set apart), to obey His commands, and to house His presence here on earth (through the Ark of the Covenant and through the Temple). In turn, God would establish them as a nation, give them their own land, and bless them. This is an extension of God's promise to Abraham and to David. (some argue they were 3 separate covenants, and some argue it was 1)
Well, Manassah, a king in Judah - at the end of a LONG line of terrible kings, made the god Baal the official state religion. (2 Kings 21:1-9) God's covenant with His people was a legally binding contract. They refused to uphold their end, so He was forced (RELUCTANTLY - read in Hosea) to allow the repercussions of judgement to come in the form of a Babylonian invasion and conquest.
If you can tease out which prophets He sent to the northern kingdom of Israel and which prophets He sent to the southern kingdom of Judah (just google it), you'll see this theme where every single prophet was warning against and pleading for change before God's judgment. Each prophet is speaking to the same event (for the most part) - not multiple unending judgements. (Israel's Assyrian invasion, and Judah's Babylonian) It feels like the books of prophecy are all about hell-fire and brimstone, but look closely at the heart of God and the true message of pain and sorrow, but the ultimate promise of deliverance.
The hope here is shown in Jeremiah, where God speaks of a New Covenant (Jeremiah 31) which is to be written on the heart - not in stone (31:33). We know now that it was Jesus Christ who made all of this possible. That's why things are so different in the Old Testament than in the New Testament. (testament = covenant) Enter Christ and the final atonement for our sins, Enter the Holy Spirit who guides us into all Truth, Enter Grace - the power of God INSIDE OF US to do His will. It's a new contract - a new covenant, a New Testament that we live under. But God's heart is still the same - a heart that longs to be in relationship with His people, that longs for our good, that longs to bless us. Now, not just to Israel, but to the gentiles (that's you and me) as well.
Does that help?
My textbook (and consequently most of that info) was "A Survey of the Old Testament, 3rd Ed" by Andrew Hill and John Walton. (published by Zondervan)
Love your face and I'm excited about your heart and your journey.
(if that's the textbook you're using, buy it from me! LOL)
<3
Emily
ITS MY TEXTBOOK! :) I'm loving this! Thanks for the long comment. It really did help me understand. I start Old Testament Survey TOMORROW! And can't wait to hear more stuff like this! Hope you're doing well Em. I love you so so much!
ReplyDeleteMandie