A God of Judgment and Mercy

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 28:20-26

 

Ezekiel 28:25

 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob.

(NKJV)

 

There are attributes of God that our minds cannot totally understand. One of these attributes is how a God of judgment can also be a God of mercy and grace. What Jesus did on the cross is a demonstration of a God of judgment but also a God of mercy. God came to us in the person of Jesus and while on the earth did not sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) yet he became sin for us fulfilling God’s death penalty for sin (Romans 5:8). Because of the cross we have a visual image of both a God of judgment and a God of mercy.

 

Ezekiel is told by the Lord to proclaim judgment against Sidon (Ezekiel 28:20-21). While this passage does not tell us why God pronounces this judgment, it could be due to their worship of the goddess Ashtoreth whom Israel worshipped along with Baal (Judges 2:13; 1 Kings 11:33). This would explain why God is bringing judgment on the Sidonians so they will come to know that the God of Israel is the one true God (Ezekiel 28:22-23). This oracle against Sidon also means that there will no longer be a prickling brier or painful thorn for the house of Israel from among the nations around them.

 

However, this God of judgment against Sidon who introduced Israel to the worship of Ashtoreth is extending mercy and going to bless Israel when they turn to God (Ezekiel 28:25). This is according to the promise of God in 2 Chronicles 7:14 to forgive their sins and heal their land when Israel seeks God. In fact, life for the Israelites will return to normal when they turn to God (Ezekiel 28:26)

 

Ezekiel’s oracles continue with a proclamation of judgment against Sidon followed by a pronouncement of blessing or mercy for Israel. Judgment comes upon Sidon for Ashtoreth was the goddess of the Sidonians and one of the gods Israel and Judah worshipped instead of the one true God (1 Kings 11:33). The purpose of this judgment is to bring the Sidonians to the knowledge that the God of Israel and Judah is the one true God (Ezekiel 28:22-23). However, for Israel, God extends mercy and blessing, promising to bring them back to their land once they hallow God in the sight of the Gentiles or repent (Ezekiel 28:25). Not only will Israel return to their land, but they will resume life as usual (Ezekiel 28:26). The difference between the Sidonians and Israelites is repentance, with no account of the Sidonians repenting of their worship of Ashtoreth.

 

God is both a God of judgment and a God of mercy at the same time. This is a concept our carnal minds have difficulty understanding and why believers and the Church can go to the extremes of moralism or judgment or cheap grace forgetting God achieved a balance of both on the cross. On the cross, Jesus took God’s judgment of sin upon Himself even though He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8). However, while our salvation is not by our works but the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9), one must believe in their heart and make a profession of faith to receive Gods merciful gift of salvation (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10).

 

The belief one must be moral to receive God’s gift of Salvation or that one receives it and can continue living in sin are beliefs that are out of balance with the Gospel which brings balance through the cross. When one accepts Jesus as his or her savior, they should begin studying the Bible to experience a renewing of their mind and loss of conformity to the world (Romans 12:2). Our salvation is a process of justification, occurring when we accept Jesus as our savior (Romans 10:9-10), sanctification or the ongoing process of transformation and renewal (Romans 12:2), and glorification when we spend eternity with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Thank you, Lord, for being both a just and merciful God.

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.