Today’s scripture: Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (John Seksay):
“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
The prophet Ezekiel arose during, and was part of, the Babylonian exile. During his time in Babylonia, he prophesied the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and many of the tragic events of a chaotic period filled with wars among the reigning superpowers. Like Isaiah before him, Ezekiel spoke to a nation dispersed, whose faith was being challenged by severe tribulations, a people living in the shadow of temporal forces beyond their control. The people of Israel and Judah felt that they were living out the penalty for past sins, which each generation would have to bear for the acts of their predecessors.
In isolation, the phrase above seemed very uplifting. When I read the entire paragraph in which it occurs, I was not so sure. Israel was to be restored, but not because of who they were. Israel would be restored to reverse what they had become — a disgrace to their God and the beliefs they claimed to serve!
For the proper context, I had to go to the 18th chapter of Ezekiel and read through it. Here, Ezekiel spoke about the powerful theme of personal redemption, which said that a person’s life is not the generational sum of all his/her ancestors, but a personal choice that had to be exercised in her/his own life, day by day, moment by moment. The sins of a parent needn’t be carried by the child, nor the sins of a child be laid upon a parent. A person’s faith grew or failed based upon one’s own personal choices. Righteousness was individual, and restoration was available to any who would seek it.
Israel’s fault lay in its transmission of blame for its current situation onto past generations and outside influences. There was a crying need for personal accountability by those who wished to be blessed by God. A living faith did not flow from the outside in; it came from the inside outward into the world. Israel would be reborn from those who chose to carry God within them as a witness to God’s power to sustain and restore!
Thought for the day: Do I tend to blame others for my spiritual condition? Is the burden which I feel something that I am allowing to be placed upon me by my own lack of faith?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.