Monday, February 24 – Ezekiel 18, 19

1. What proverb did the captives repeat to blame God and their parents for their captivity? (Ezekiel 18:2)

2. What was God’s response to the captives’ accusation? (Ezekiel 18:4, 20)

In response to the prophetic warnings, the Jewish captives in Babylon did what sinners have always done since the time of Adam and Eve: they blamed their parents for deserving captivity. They accused God of being unjust for punishing them for their fathers’ sins. They quoted the popular proverb to support their argument: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” (Ezekiel 18:2).

In chapter 18, God corrects their misconception and places responsibility where it belongs—each person is accountable for their own sin. “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.” (Ezekiel 18:4, 20).

In addition to emphasizing individual responsibility, this passage confirms what God had declared from the beginning to Adam and Eve: “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sin has devastating consequences in this life, in addition to eternal death.

To illustrate the principle of personal responsibility, God presents three examples: a righteous father, his wicked son, and his righteous grandson.

As the examples unfold, God exposes the sins of those using the proverb, making it clear that they were guilty of the things they accused their ancestors of.

Here is the conclusion: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” (Ezekiel 18:20).

The LORD refutes the mistaken proverb and declares: “Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?” (Ezekiel 18:29).

In His mercy, God concludes His message with a call to repentance:
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord GOD. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore, turn and live!” (Ezekiel 18:30-32).

We should take note of the natural human tendency to avoid personal responsibility for sin. This attitude leads to death. The convicting work of the Holy Spirit is needed for sinners to acknowledge their guilt and take responsibility. For those who do, there is hope.

God is not interested in merely winning the argument or proving His people wrong—His purpose is salvation. That is why He pleads, “Turn and live!”

Chapter 19 is a lament from God and the prophet, expressed in two parables.

In the first parable, the mother represents Jerusalem: “She lay down among the lions, that is, among the other kingdoms of the world, the Gentile nations.”

The Andrews Study Bible explains:

“Her two sons, who became kings of Judah (2 Kings 23:31; 24:18), are used as examples of the principle of moral responsibility. The first young lion, identified as Jehoahaz, was overthrown by Pharaoh Necho II (2 Kings 23:29-33). The second young lion was the disobedient and rebellious King Zedekiah, whom Nebuchadnezzar deported to Babylon (2 Kings 25:1-7). Sometimes, Hebrew uses past tense verbs to refer to future events to emphasize the certainty of their fulfillment (prophetic perfect tense). That is the case in this verse.” (Andrews Study Bible, Ezekiel 19).

In the second parable, Israel is compared to a vine that was once strong and fruitful but was then uprooted and taken to the wilderness—symbolizing exile in Babylon. In Jerusalem, King Zedekiah, appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, became like a fire that consumed what remained of the vine. His rebellion led to the final destruction of the nation and the end of David’s royal lineage.

God’s messages are repeated and clear. Those who refuse to listen cannot understand them. God is calling His people to repentance. Let us pay attention to His message and remain sensitive to His call.
May you have a very blessed day with your loved ones.