November 8- God Judges Individuals

November 8, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Ezekiel 18:1-19:14; Hebrews 9:1-10;
Psalm 106:32-48; Proverbs 27:10

The soul that sins, it shall die.  
~Ezekiel 18:20

Ezekiel 18:1-19:14

In the whole cosmic scenario of our lives on earth one of the key concepts that God wants us to understand is that our behavior and the choices made during our brief lives on earth matter. Today's passage in Ezekiel explains that God judges everyone's lives individually.  God is a God of relationships.  He is a God who creates individuals and is concerned with each individual's life. Sin, as we saw from the story of the Garden of Eden, is the cause of physical death in this world.

In this passage, God explains that He has no choice but to bring our physical death as a result of sin because of our unrighteousness.  One other concept introduced is quite controversial.  Ezekiel 18:20 says, "The soul that sins, it shall die."  This can be taken to mean that because every person on earth has sinned, none of us escape physical death.  This is true.  There is some teaching that just as Jesus stated that we should fear the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matt. 10:28), this passage confirms that the second death and permanent death of a person's soul is a result of unforgiven sin that is judged at the end of time.  We are to fear being in a state of unrepentance at the judgment.  This will result in the permanent destruction of one's soul.

God calls the Israelites to get a new heart and a new spirit in order to prevent this type of death.  He calls out to you and to me today.  God cries out that He does not want anyone to perish.  Turn back and live!

Chapter 19 of Ezekiel is actually a funeral song for the princes of Israel. These are the lion cubs of the tribe of Judah.  They are lost and destroyed by fire.  This is a picture of what God was warning them about in Chapter 18.  Who cares for the princes of Israel?  Who is sad for their lost souls?  God, their Creator, is sad. God mourns for the lost. God is mourning about the punishment and judgment that is about to come upon Israel and Jerusalem.

Do you know that God is concerned about you?  God is a personal God.  Will your soul live forever because of your faith in Christ?

Hebrews 9:1-10

Here is further explanation about the structure and meaning of the Tabernacle.  Paul points out that the people were free to dwell in the front part of the Tabernacle called the Holy Place.  But the other room in the tent was the Most Holy Place.  In this portion, only the High Priest could enter once a year and only if he was sprinkled with blood that represented the sacrifice for his own sins and the sin of the people.  God's presence was in the Most Holy Place, which housed the Ark of the Covenant (a wooden box overlaid with gold representing Christ's humanity and deity) containing the gold jar of manna, Aaron's rod that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.  Remember that the Ark of the Covenant had the mercy seat on top and the wings of the cherubim covered the place of atonement.  The Ark of the Covenant was a picture of Christ.

This old system was designed to point people to the present time of Christ.  It was an illustration of what Christ would do for mankind.  This is what Paul is trying to explain to the Hebrews.

Psalm 106:32-48

God is faithful, even when we are not.

Proverbs 27:10

Friends are important, especially in times of need. Neighbors are closer than far away relatives.  Therefore, nurture your relationships with neighbors.

What did you see today?  Please share.

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton