In the days when the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, the prophet of the exiles in Babylon, the people of Israel were murmuring a proverb that stirred the heart of God. They said, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” This proverb was their way of blaming their suffering on the sins of their ancestors, claiming that they were being punished for the wrongs of those who came before them. But the Lord, in His righteousness, would not let this falsehood stand. He spoke to Ezekiel, saying, “Son of man, what do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.”
The Lord’s voice was like thunder, shaking the heavens and the earth, and His words carried the weight of eternal truth. He continued, “Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins shall die.” The Lord made it clear that each person is accountable for their own actions, and no one would bear the guilt of another. He painted a vivid picture of justice, where every individual would stand before Him and give an account for their deeds.
The Lord then began to describe the righteous man, the one who walks in His statutes and keeps His rules. “If a man is righteous and does what is just and right—if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man, walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.”
The image of this righteous man was like a towering cedar, planted by streams of water, flourishing and bearing fruit in every season. His life was a testament to the goodness of God, and his deeds were a fragrant offering to the Lord. The Lord declared that such a man would live, for his righteousness would be his shield and his reward.
But then the Lord turned His gaze to the wicked man, the one who turns away from righteousness and embraces iniquity. “If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things (though the father himself did none of them), who eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor’s wife, oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.”
The wicked man was like a withered tree, uprooted and cast into the fire, his life consumed by the flames of his own sin. His deeds were a stench in the nostrils of the Lord, and his end was destruction. The Lord made it clear that the soul who sins shall die, and the wickedness of the wicked would be upon his own head.
Yet the Lord did not leave His people without hope. He spoke of the possibility of repentance and transformation. “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.”
The Lord’s mercy was like a river, flowing freely to all who would turn to Him. He declared, “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” The Lord’s heart was not for judgment but for redemption. He longed for His people to forsake their wickedness and embrace His righteousness, so that they might live and not die.
But the Lord also warned of the danger of turning away from righteousness. “But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.”
The Lord’s justice was unyielding, like a mighty fortress that could not be shaken. He would not overlook the sins of the righteous who turned to wickedness, nor would He forget the repentance of the wicked who turned to righteousness. Each person would be judged according to their own deeds, and the Lord’s scales would weigh every action with perfect accuracy.
The Lord concluded His message with a call to repentance and a promise of restoration. “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
The Lord’s words were like a trumpet blast, calling His people to awaken from their slumber and return to Him. His heart was full of compassion, and His arms were open wide to receive all who would come to Him in repentance. The choice was clear: turn from sin and live, or continue in wickedness and die. The Lord’s desire was for His people to choose life, to walk in His ways, and to experience the fullness of His blessing.
And so, the word of the Lord through Ezekiel echoed through the ages, a timeless reminder of God’s justice, mercy, and love. Each soul would stand before Him, and each would give an account. But for those who turned to Him in faith and repentance, there was the promise of life, abundant and eternal, in the presence of the Lord forevermore.
