Ezekiel 18:25-32
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’
Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die.
27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
30 “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. 31 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?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
Acts 10:34
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality"
30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour,d and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)
Why does the Text read
" So..... Peter opened his mouth." This is awkward and is vastly translated out to flow well.
We know this: A. Peter was not listening to Cornelius with his mouth open. B. God wants us to know this. C. Peter is not entirely astonished. D. God is have Peter acknowledge the 'goy', the Gentile, the hated Centurion. The soldier daily holding instruments of "peace making" who will not end his career without witnessing life and death. This is a man who does not raise vegetables. E. God is deliberately working with redemption and renewal. F. Peter was known for opening his mouth unwisely. G. Gee, the Lord is going to give Peter ability to answer, probably, beyond his ability.
Why isn't Peter astonished?
Peter was one of the 500 the Risen, Victorious Jesus taught beyond the Resurrection. Peter knew Jesus lived in Egypt. Peter knew Jesus healed the Syrophonetician woman's daughter. Jesus was probably known to have traveled to Tyre by way of Phoenicia along the beaches. Peter probably heard of the Magi (probably from Jesus or Mary during the wedding in Cana.)
The Scriptures repeat and repeat telling us the paths of mankind have tendencies. The generations repeat like rows in the vineyard.
The ways of the Lord are not Just. The Serpent told Eve. Eve wanted to be God's equal. "Why does God get the last say and have judgment?"
God is answering mankind. God is not the Grumpy Old Mean Guy in the Old Testament. A father seeing a toddler want to touch the campfire is Yelled at. God didn't want the Children of Israel to play with Baal and blood worship. Abraham is a refuge to the Promised land and is from what is today beautiful Turkey. So are some of the wives of Jacob. God is offering a mix of nationalities.
God tells us in the New Testament,
He will put the Holy Spirit in us. God will not be so surprising.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant is breathing God's ideas into our soul directing our mind, heart and soul. Peter is experiencing this growth of the Holy Spirit to gentiles from being a very Kosher Jew, living deliberately next door to the Capernaum Synagogue.
Van Gogh
God fed the Multitudes and the Millenniums.
We can take Ezekiel rising up in Exile of the 2nd Exodus during the Babylonian Captivity, destruction of the First Temple (Solomon's building work). 600 B.C. Genesis 1 4000 B.C.. Acts - First Century A.D. Now, we need Gospel.
Matthew 20:1-16
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard."
Jesus deliberately puts the people on the Vine and working for the Vine Dresser of God's Plan. Some will arrive early. Some will arrive late. Heaven does not have a line for the arrived late to sit on the side lines. A great reminder for me to be polite and for us all.
Ezekiel 18:1-4
18 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “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’?
3 As I live,
declares the Lord God,
this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.
4 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.
What about the New Testament?
God tells us about Grief. John records Revelation. The Judgement. Surely given the incredible Acts of God we are witnessing - Grief. If someone has not experienced the incredible torrent of Grief from loss of a very loved one. If incredible millstone grief has not been experienced - we could use an analogy. The Highs and lows are echoed in the music of Opera. Usually, you'd have to be a millstone bearer of death and grief to fully understand how low - low can be.
Grief is a millstone. How the one in grief would love to rest the sorrow. This will roll forth until peace has been worked out with, usually, a two year time frame. Tears will rise. We will know the comfort of God's Promise, but the loss has to be worked out with Love. Jesus wept.
Abba, our Father,
Thank You for Your Blessings. We ask for Your willing Blessings.
Thank You for being Father God who has wept. Father God who believes in us to keep going forth. To journey to Him.
Thank You for seeing our Loved ones through spins, curves and turns. And will continue to be the Light of the Path and the Light of the world.
Thank You for seeing our Nation through many storms. Thank You for telling us our Nation prays with such Faith and Love. Be the Light filling mankind of this Nation.
Thank You for being the Light to the Nations. Bring us to Love, Peace and Joy.
Thank You, You are the light in mankind and the children of God cover Your good creation, day and night with prayers pleasing to You. More Heaven on earth. Your good will be done.
Nothing is too difficult for You, You are our God and our Father.
Thank You for Jesus Christ Lord and Savior. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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