Ezekiel 20:39-44
39 ‘“As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterwards you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols. 40 For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices. 41 I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations. 42 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors. 43 There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done. 44 You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’
Time and time again in this chapter, God looks back at times when he has offered good things to his People, but through their actions, they have thrown them back in his face. How does the story end? Does he run out of patience, and following their example, treat them as they have treated him? Does he lower himself to their standards? No. they do face the consequences of their deeds, but God still acts to bring back into the Promised Land. He remains true to his holy standards of compassion and relationship.
When the going gets tough, do we remain true to his standards as well? Are we true to him, or do we revert to lashing out or giving in?
Father, help me to remain holy through the help of your Spirit, as Christ did when he faced the rejection of his people, and did and do despite your repeatedly being rejected by your People too.
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