The Bible passages we have considered for the past few days highlight several foundational theological principles:
(1) No nation exists beyond the reach of divine sovereignty.
God’s judgment on His own people and the surrounding nations demonstrates that He alone is God—there is no other.
Unlike the false gods of the nations, the one true God exercises His sovereign authority to correct and guide human behavior according to His righteousness.
(2) When the Lord acts within human history, His purpose is to reveal His glory and holiness.
How tragic it would be—and how unkind of God—if He chose not to reveal Himself to humanity. Thankfully, we have good news: God has consistently chosen to make Himself known to us.
From walking in the garden with Adam and Eve to Jesus coming into the world and living among us, to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives, God reveals Himself.
On 70 different occasions in the book of Ezekiel, God concluded one of His actions in history with the declaration, “And you will know that I am the Lord.” This underscores His deep desire to make Himself known to us.
(3) God faithfully keeps His covenant.
One of God’s promises to His people was to reveal His character—His holiness—to them in full view of the nations. Another key promise was to fulfill the covenant He made with Abraham.
And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring” (Genesis 28:13).
Ezekiel had the privilege of proclaiming to the exiles in Babylon, who were enduring intense suffering, God’s purpose: to reveal His holiness and to bring them back to the land He had promised.
Thus says the Lord God: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered and manifest my holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall settle on their own soil that I gave to my servant Jacob.
They shall live in safety in it and shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall live in safety when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God (Ezekiel 28.25-26).
What Worries You?
With this promise to the exiles in mind, let’s ask ourselves some questions.
- What concerns weigh heaviest on our hearts?
- What worries occupy our thoughts?
- What keeps us awake at night?
Now, consider:
- What promises of God speak to these concerns?
- Has God made a promise to us that is as sure and steadfast as the one He made through Ezekiel to the exiles in Babylon?
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 