3:1
How can this be? How can God be so against Israel? We can all become so convinced of our own self-righteousness. The religious leaders in Jesus’ day could not see that their own sin was the biggest problem they had, not the sin of everyone else. No doubt we can all think of individuals of whom similar things are true. But we need to watch ourselves, that we do not become deceived. David asked God to search his own heart to see if there was anything offensive to God in it. Fi we are wise then we will do the same from time to time.
Note that though Judah and Israel are two separate nations at this time, God considers both of them His, and even Ezekiel’s time calls them sisters.
3:2-6
Israel thought “God has chosen us, therefore He will not punish us”. The truth was “I have chosen you, therefore I will punish you for all your sins”. Belonging to God entails responsibilities, and as Christians we too have responsibilities.
Being with God involves walking with God, but we can only walk with Him if we are in agreement with Him.
They may have thought, God “doesn’t really mean it” when He says He will punish. Yes He does! God is issuing warnings because the matter is serious, and because He intends to execute the judgement. They should take God’s warnings seriously, and they should learn from history.
Things do not happen by chance.
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