To Judge Or Not To Judge

Date: Thursday, August 04, 2014
Today's Chapters: Ezekiel 20-21
Message Title: To Judge Or Not To Judge
Hello My Friend,
There is probably not a day that goes by where saved people quote some form of passage from the Bible about not judging them. That brings to question whether or not we are to judge a person, after all, Jesus does say Himself, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” - Matthew 7:1. Okay, there are several meanings to the word judge, one being; to try or severely sentence, another; to discern or consider accurately for the purpose of forming a conclusion. With that being said, obviously, they forget the passage where Jesus says, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” - John 7:24. While we are not to severely sentence a person for their sin, God does that Himself, we are to consider accurately their sin, and approach them in a godly manner.

When the elders of Israel saw no sight in things changing for them (remember they were to spend seventy years in Babylon), and especially after Ezekiel told them what was to come of them, perhaps they thought it might be wise to seek help from God. They went to Ezekiel and asked him to speak to God, but did not get the answers they were looking for. “And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me. Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you. Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:” - Ezekiel 20:1-4.
God was had it with their constant ingratitude and unfaithfulness to Him, not to mention all the abominable acts they had been doing, and every generation got worse. He refused to answer their questions, in fact, tells Ezekiel to judge them accordingly. It's inevitable that judgment will come to those who deliberately go against God, and all of it can be avoided if they just acknowledge Him. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” - Proverbs 3:5-7,11,12.
On two other occasions the elders went to Ezekiel to seek answers from God (8:1; 14:1; 20:1). The first, He reminded them of their sins and foretold Jerusalem's destruction because of their idolatry. The second, He reminded them that they were not sincere and had no desire to do His will. Now, He reminds them of why He will not answer them anymore. “Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.” - Ezekiel 20:24-26,31.
God is done answering questions of people that disregard His Word to continue living their wicked lives, He will not hear the plea of anyone questioning His judgment or anyone else's. If they want to live the life they want to live, than He will let them, but do not expect His help unless they are willing to repent and turn away from their abominations. Once His judgments are fulfilled, He will call of His people to join Him in Israel. “For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” - Ezekiel 20:40,41-44.

Whatever instruments God uses in executing His judgments, He uses to get the lost to repent and the saved to return to Him. God's sword will be none other than His Word, in fact, all He will do is speak His Word and justice will be done. “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” - Revelation 2:16,17.
Today's Prayer: God, We are reminded that Your Word does not return void, but accomplishes that which You desire. I want Your Word to be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I am grateful for the guidance I receive daily through faithfully reading and applying Scripture to my life. Lead me and guide me, keep me looking to You and not the circumstances I face, and help me to remain obedient to Your commands so I do not have to suffer in my own judgments. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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