God's Purposes in Judgment

God’s Purposes in Judgment


The Condition of Sinful Man

They may be religious in their actions. Vs1
This does not impress God.
He sees past their religious facade into their very hearts and will answer them accordingly and on an individual basis.

They have set up idols in their hearts. Vs3a
These are those objects or ideas of which the person is proud that stands between them and God.
An idol, in the traditional sense, is an image that is adored and to which is attributed special value and/or power (instead of the One True God).
So is anything that we adore too much to place it on the altar. If you are unwilling to sacrifice it to God you have placed it between you and God.

They have put stumbling blocks of iniquity before their faces. Vs3b
These are besetting sins that are too precious to relinquish.
The prophet Ezekiel is inspired by God to remind us that in our journey toward a closer relationship with God and on the path we are all trying to take to glorifying God with our lives, these sins are obstacles and trip hazards that will keep us from our goal.
Let us determine that we will remove any obstacle release any idol and worship with integrity so that we do not fit the model of the sinful men portrayed in this chapter.

The Character of Godly Men

They were all faithful in the face of societal pressure.
Noah stood alone as a righteous man in a world gone evil. Genesis 6:5,8,9
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Daniel led his friends to stand firm when surrounded by others who had decided to compromise.
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Daniel stood firm when praying became illegal.
Daniel 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
Job was a man of integrity and a leader in the early world.
Job 27:5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

They were all faithful in the face of personal trials.
Noah lost all the stability of a home in an established economic system.
Ge 7:7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
Daniel stayed true even when thrown into the den of lions in his old age.
Da 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Job never once sinned against God although everything was taken from him.
Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

They were all renown for personal holiness.

The Comfort that God Offers

God always has a Reason
Verse 23 - God is determined to judge the sinner but not without cause.
His reason is His own glory Verse 8b
His reason is to purify for himself a people Verse 11

God provides for a Remnant Verse 22
As in almost every situation of judgment in the Bible, God has here provided for some who will be a witness of God's mercy and whose lives will serve as an example of God's grace.
In this sense, we are all trophies of God's grace - won't you allow God to work in your life and become a trophy of His grace?

God allows for Repentance
Verse 6 - God encourages the wicked to repent and turn.
It is only in repentance you and I will find freedom from our sin.
It is only in repentance we will find fullness of life.
It is only in repentance we can come to Him for salvation.
This opportunity to repent is a great comfort, do not despise it, it is a measure of God's goodness.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
It is this repentance that Jesus came preaching to the world.
Do you think perhaps your sin has reached a level that cannot be overcome by God's goodness:
Lu 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
You are just the remnant He is looking for.