Ezekiel 33:10-20

10-20. Compare notes Ezekiel 18:23-32. The people have ceased to excuse themselves, and now “pine away” in utter despair because of their sins. Whereupon the prophet reaffirms for their comfort the principles of God’s moral government, which he had previously announced in order to convict them of sin (Ezekiel 18:23-32). They have indeed sinned, but the way of life is still open. God does not punish arbitrarily. He wishes all men to repent and live, and they have power to do this. It is sin that brings death, and each man’s destiny is determined by himself. Here is a splendid announcement of God’s justice and of man’s moral agency. Davidson has said that “this emancipation of the individual soul, whether from a doom inherited from a former generation or from one entailed on it by its own evil past, was perhaps the greatest contribution made by Ezekiel to the religious life and thought of his time.” The chief thought, which is intended to bring relief to the now hopeless people, is that the past is not irrevocable. There need be no doubt that Ezekiel intended these principles to awaken a national as well as an individual hope. The life of the nation, like that of the individual, is dependent upon its attitude toward righteousness. “Life,” according to the prophet, did not mean mere existence; but contained a spiritual element. (See Ezekiel 20:11, etc.) No nation or individual could really live who was not doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. Yet ye say (Ezekiel 33:17; Ezekiel 33:20) Not in the same spirit as Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 18:29. They then said that their heredity and their connection with the nation, not their personal transgressions, were to blame for their captivity and other calamities, but now (Ezekiel 33:10) they acknowledge: “Our transgressions and our sins are upon us” (R.V.). The prophet seeks to show that in their despair they are now making the same evil charge against Jehovah, by denying his power to lift them out of their sin and trouble, which they had previously made by denying that their trouble was the consequence of their sins.