Passage Read: Ezekiel 24-27
Meditation Verses: 25:15-17
Thought
All of Judah's neighbors rejoiced at their destruction. They took vengeance or made plans to plunder what remained. So the Lord promised to send enemies against them to destroy them. Though the Lord punishes Israel and Judah, He has not abandoned them. He has promised to restore them to their land. So for any nation or people to think that they can then have the land or pile on the punishment, that is a huge mistake and the Lord will turn and take vengeance on them on behalf of His people. He is not loyal to those people and has no intent of leaving them a remnant! It is not good to gloat over God's people when they suffer His discipline. It does not mean He is done with them, and we are free to do whatever we want with them and their land.
Application
The Lord disciplines His people in order to bring them back to Himself. He does not abandon them or give them up and choose another. Though individuals within that nation may not belong to Him and will perish forever, yet His devotion to the people as a whole, as a nation, remains. He will redeem some of Jacob's descendants, though not all. So the nation will endure, be restored and prosper. So also the Church. Though many cling to her as if belonging to her, yet not all will be saved. The Church will endure and come to rule the nations as part of Israel. But today it must suffer much discipline in order to be purified, and it is easily attacked and overcome, yet God will not abandon it. Those who belong to it in truth will be saved and granted the earth as an inheritance. Those who think they rule it now will surrender their lands to God's people. The Lord is jealous for His Church and will repay everyone with vengeance who abuse or attack His people. That goes for me too. Though some near to me may have to suffer discipline, it is for their cleansing, purification and eventual restoration. It is not necessarily a sign of God's rejection of them. I cannot gloat over them, but would do better to plead with God for them, that they might quickly repent and be restored.