he word of the LORD came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 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.
BEHOLD ALL SOULS ARE MINE.
God says it as plain as day.
Then see this part... the soul who sins shall die.
But God has his people covered.
“If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man, walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord GOD.
Do you see it?
God ALWAYS provides a way. ALWAYS.
In the Old and New Testaments...the truth is right there. Live a life the fits with the best plan God has for us.. obedience to his will and his ways ... a life of righteousness...and you will live! Old or new covenant the standard is the same. We can't do it perfectly...but Jesus paid the debt you know? For all time, past and present and future. Jesus covers our sin...if we confess him as Lord and live that out in our actions.
I have to admit... I don't get verses 10-18. So I needed to ask my pastor hubby for some help. It all goes back to that proverb where the children are suffering for the sins of their fathers. God makes it really clear...the one who does evil is the one who shall suffer regardless of what their parent does.
[14] “Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise: [15] he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife, [16] does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, [17] withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live. [18] As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.
Yet there will be those who ask...why shouldn't the child suffer for the things their parent does?
And God again is clear: The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
Verses 21-28 help us to understand... if a wicked person turns from their ways and becomes righteous.. he shall not die. BUT if a righteous person becomes wicked he SHALL die.
BUT here's a sad part....because God lets the righteous live and the unrighteous perish by their own merit, the "house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ God's response is this :"O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?"
Which leads to God's judgement : “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”
God does not let the considerations of the Israelites change his course of action. He will judge people by their own deeds. He calls for the people to turn from their wickedness...turn their pattern of living and LIVE.
God's call is always for his people to live in his safety net. Held, growing, loving, living, being safe from judgement. Righteous living you know... that's his safety net for us.