What does "cities...laid waste" teach about God's judgment and mercy balance? Opening Snapshot “The inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 12:20) Setting the Scene • Ezekiel prophesies to exiles in Babylon. • Judah has persisted in idolatry despite generations of warnings (2 Chronicles 36:15–16). • God now announces that even the seemingly secure “inhabited cities” will soon sit silent and empty. Judgment Displayed • Sin has real, historic consequences—ruined walls, empty streets, burned homes. • God’s actions are never random; they flow from His holiness (Leviticus 19:2) and covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 28:15–68). • The devastation is designed to drive home one truth: “Then you will know that I am the LORD.” Recognition of His lordship is the goal, not mere punishment. Mercy Not Forgotten • Every warning before the fall was an act of mercy (Jeremiah 7:25). • Even in exile, God preserves a remnant (Ezekiel 11:16–20). • The stated purpose—“you will know that I am the LORD”—opens the door for repentance and restoration (Ezekiel 36:24–28). • Psalm 103:9 reminds us, “He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever.” How Judgment and Mercy Interlock 1. Judgment exposes the lie that sin is harmless. 2. Mercy keeps the door open once the lie is exposed. 3. Both together highlight God’s righteousness and love (Psalm 85:10: “Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.”). Echoes Across Scripture • Sodom (Genesis 19) – total ruin, yet God spares Lot. • Nineveh (Jonah 3) – warning, repentance, and reprieve. • Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–44) – Jesus weeps over coming destruction but offers salvation to all who believe. Takeaways for Today • Sin still destroys; God still judges. • His longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9) is not permission to continue in rebellion but space to repent. • Personal and national repentance invite restoration (2 Chronicles 7:14). • At the cross, ultimate judgment and mercy converge: wrath poured out on Christ, mercy offered to the believer (Romans 3:25–26). Key Truths to Remember • God’s judgment is just, measured, and purposeful. • His mercy is genuine, costly, and available. • The devastation of “cities…laid waste” is not the final word; restoration for those who turn to Him always stands in view. |
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