Compare Ezekiel 7:9 with Romans 2:6. How do both address divine retribution? Opening Both Texts Side by Side • Ezekiel 7:9: “I will show you no pity, nor will I spare you; I will repay you according to your ways and your abominations. Then you will know that it is I, the LORD, who strikes the blow.” • Romans 2:6: “God ‘will repay each one according to his deeds.’” Context in Ezekiel • Judah is on the brink of Babylonian judgment; the “end” (7:2) has arrived. • The people’s “abominations” (idolatry, violence, injustice) have piled up, demanding God’s righteous response. • Divine retribution is described as immediate, personal, and unmistakable—“Then you will know that it is I, the LORD.” • Key thought: covenant people are not exempt from judgment when they persist in sin (cf. Amos 3:2). Context in Romans • Paul is dismantling any sense of moral superiority, whether Jewish or Gentile. • Romans 2:6–11 lays out an impartial principle: God judges each person by works, “first for the Jew, then for the Greek.” • Paul is building toward the universal need for the gospel (3:9–26), showing that everyone falls under the same standard of divine justice. • Key thought: no one can hide behind heritage, knowledge, or external religion. Shared Truth: Divine Retribution Is Just and Individualized • Both passages use the same core idea: “repay…according to…” (cf. Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12). • Retribution is neither random nor capricious; it precisely mirrors one’s actual deeds (Jeremiah 17:10; Revelation 20:12–13). • The Lord Himself executes judgment; it is not outsourced or delegated. Nuances Between the Two Texts • Scope – Ezekiel: national/covenantal, addressing Jerusalem specifically. – Romans: universal, addressing every human being. • Timing – Ezekiel: near-term historical catastrophe (Babylonian siege). – Romans: ultimate eschatological judgment, though with present “wrath being revealed” (Romans 1:18). • Revelation of God – Ezekiel: judgment awakens Israel to God’s reality (“Then you will know…”). – Romans: judgment upholds God’s impartiality and glory (Romans 2:11). Complementary Perspectives on God’s Character • Justice and Wrath: He cannot overlook sin (Nahum 1:2–3). • Impartiality: He shows “no favoritism” (Romans 2:11; 1 Peter 1:17). • Covenant Faithfulness: Even judgment is consistent with His covenant promises (Leviticus 26:14–33). • Mercy’s Opportunity: Awareness of retribution drives us toward repentance (Romans 2:4; Ezekiel 18:23). Takeaway for Today • God’s payback principle has never changed—Old Testament to New Testament, covenant people to Gentile world. • External labels or traditions provide no shelter if deeds contradict God’s standards. • Honest self-examination before Scripture’s mirror (James 1:22–25) is essential, knowing that Christ alone satisfies divine justice for those who trust Him (Romans 3:24–26). |
    |