Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 25

16 therefore thus says the Lord God: I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines, cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the rest of the seacoast.
Ezekiel 25:16

God creates justice. 

Today’s focus verse comes from what’s called an oracle against the nations; in particular, against the Philistines. Most biblical prophets contain such oracles, declarations of how God will exact judgment and thereby justice against Israel’s neighbors. 

This is pretty unique among Israel’s neighbors. Most of them did not consider their gods to have much or any authority over their neighbors. It was bold for Israel to say that their God, our God, had that authority and, indeed, was superior to the other gods. For us today, this is common thought, but for them, it bordered on radical.

Considering God’s authority over neighbors in their cultural context may sound jingoistic. Consider today: we debate whether one nation should impose its cultural standards on those of another nation. That includes religion. Such would be the case for Israel’s neighbors. But this is not jingoistic: God reserved the harshest judgment for the Israelites themselves. God has standards, standards applied to all of creation, for God rules over all of creation. But the Israelites were special; they were called as God’s people, a reality that came with certain expectations. In oracles against the nations, God declares that those nations are found wanting, but throughout the prophets, the Israelites are found even more wanting. They must look at their own actions first and leave God to be judge.

The point is clear: as we might say, pull the plank out of your own eye first. And the second point is like it: judgment is reserved for God. No one else can truly judge, and the creation of justice through such judgment is left to God. For us today, it may be tempting to judge others, or even to judge other nations, but the oracles against the nations say to us, pull the plank from our own eye first, and let God be judge.

Think
Where do you tend to judge others? Then, consider whether that reveals a plank that needs pulling from your own eye. 

Pray
Pray for the wisdom to see that plank and the courage to address it, pulling it out. 

Do
Pray for the nations, asking for their peace and prosperity.

Think, Pray, Do. As we respond in faith to scripture, God moves in power through our minds, hearts, and bodies. We are the people of God. Thanks for reading today. Go in peace. Amen.

Think, Pray, Do devotionals by Ted Goshorn follow the suggested bible reading plan from his website and book, Prayer Changes Us. Find this Bible reading plan at tedgoshorn.org/biblereading. If you have found today’s devotion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for daily emails at tedgoshorn.org and share with others that we may think, pray, and do faithfully.