How does Ezekiel 36:3 encourage us to trust God's justice and sovereignty? Setting the Scene - Ezekiel speaks to the mountains of Israel after long years of invasion, exile, and ridicule. - The nations around have “ravaged and crushed” the land and “made you the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s gossip and slander” (Ezekiel 36:3). - God breaks His silence to address the abuse and declare what He will do next. God Sees Every Wrong • “Because you have been ravaged and crushed on every side…” – Nothing escapes the Lord’s notice (Psalm 33:13-15). – He records every act of violence and every word of mockery (Malachi 3:16). – This assures us that when injustice touches our lives, God is already aware and attentive. God Names the Sin • “…you became the object of scorn and slander among the nations.” – The Lord calls out the wrongs specifically—plunder, ridicule, gossip, and slander. – By naming sins, God shows He judges with precision (Psalm 9:4). – We can trust His verdicts because He never overlooks or mislabels evil (Isaiah 5:20). God Claims the Right to Respond • “Therefore prophesy and say that this is what the Lord GOD says…” – The repeated phrase “this is what the Lord GOD says” underscores divine authority. – Justice is not left to chance or human courts; it is anchored in God’s own word (Deuteronomy 32:35). – Knowing God reserves vengeance for Himself frees us from bitterness (Romans 12:19). God’s Sovereignty Over History - The surrounding nations think they own Israel’s land; God says otherwise (Leviticus 25:23). - He alone distributes territories and times (Acts 17:26). - What men boastfully seize, God can restore in an instant (Isaiah 14:24-27). Encouragement for Us Today • When wronged, remember God sees, records, and will answer. • The Lord not only reacts; He orchestrates—all events serve His redemptive plan (Romans 8:28). • While we wait, we echo David’s confession: “My times are in Your hands” (Psalm 31:15). • The same God who promised vindication to Israel guarantees ultimate justice at Christ’s return (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8). Living It Out - Rest your heart: refuse revenge, entrust the outcome to Him. - Pray Scripture back to God—Psalm 37 shows how to wait without fretting. - Celebrate small evidences of His rule today: answered prayers, doors He opens or closes. - Encourage others with Ezekiel 36:3—God still speaks into oppression and promises to set things right. In Ezekiel 36:3 we meet a Lord who notices every injustice, names it accurately, and commits Himself to act. That unwavering justice and absolute sovereignty invite us to lean back in faith, confident that the Judge of all the earth will indeed do right (Genesis 18:25). |
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