Ezekiel 37:11
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’
It is bitter when one suffers unjustly. However, is it really any easier to suffer justly when we have done something wrong? Perhaps suffering is just suffering. Suffering justly for what we have done wrong has its own bitterness indeed.
The people of Israel had broken faith with God and because of that they fell under severe judgement. Enemies over powered them and they lost their land. They were taken into exile as slaves. This situation was terrible! Yet, the people were stubborn and wicked. So Ezekiel was called to tell them again and again that they deserved their miserable situation! That must have a been a most bitter message both to speak and to hear.
Why would God send such a message to suffering sinners? God gives bitter rebuke to help sinners who are numb to the truth and refuse to see their sins. God preaches His Law to show us our true selves, and urge us to repent and turn to Him in heartfelt faith. Therefore, though bitter rebuke is present in Ezekiel’s preaching, we find in Ezekiel some of the more wonderful promises of hope. And, in God’s good time the people did return from exile. The Gospel words of the prophet were fulfilled.
We would be very dull if we didn’t see that this was all played out in the life of Jesus. Jesus was cast outside of Jerusalem and cut off from the living when He was crucified. And though Jesus didn’t deserve the death sentence because of His own sin, He willingly accepted our guilt. He took our sins to the cross and suffered our death. Jesus then broke the bonds of the grave and rose from the dead, the first of all who will rise from the dead to eternal life. God calls all people to repent of their sins, believe in Jesus, and have eternal life.
This is the gospel that we need to hear when we are suffering, and especially when we realize that our suffering is due to our own sin. God loves the world, and He cares for us. God loves you. Though the consequences of our sins may sting, they do not overrule the love of our Heavenly Father, the reality of Jesus’ forgiveness, or the power of the Holy Spirit to grant us faith and renewal.
Let us pray
I thank you Almighty God for extending hope to me in the midst of my troubles. I confess to you my sins, and recognize that, like people of old, my suffering is due to my own actions. As you have forgiven me through Jesus, help me to rest in your Love. Grant me increased faith and renewal in my life, O Holy Spirit, that I may be released from my sin and live according to God’s purpose for me. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.