Today I read Ezekiel 2:7-5:15 and Hebrews 12:9-29. My favorite verses are:
Ezekiel 5:7-8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you; 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
The prophet Ezekiel spoke much of judgment just as the prophet Jeremiah did. It seems that God’s people would have listened and learned—at least that Judah would have learned a lesson after the ten tribes of Israel were taken into captivity. But they continued to do all the things God warned against—they would not obey God’s laws. God said that because of their disobedience He was against them. The writer of Hebrews takes us a step further. He says that the chastening (punishment) is necessary to teach us not to disobey, but that after it is finished we can have peace if we learn our lesson. Fighting against God brings about trouble and unhappiness. Obeying God brings peace and joy. Which would you choose? It seems like a no-brainer to me!
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