God Gives Second Chances (Ezekiel 18:1-32) Series

But people who end up arguing that, based on this passage, misunderstand the examples God gives, to clarify how things work. What God is doing in this chapter isn't removing all corporate responsibility, and saying each man is an island. What God is doing in this chapter, is saying this: With each generation of his people, God stands before his people and offers them two choices: (1) You can obey me, and I will be with you, and richly bless you, and give you all of the covenant blessings I promised your fathers; or (2) You can reject me, disobey me, do what I hate, and I will bring all of the covenant curses and punishments that I promised your fathers.

(3) Key #3: "Life and death" as covenant language

This leads me to the third key. In this chapter, we will hear a lot about "life" and "death." And if we are more NT people than OT people, we might find this confusing. Is God talking about eternal life? About heaven, and hell? Is God talking about getting to live a longer or shorter life? Let's turn to Deut. 30:15-20 (NRSV updated):

15 “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God[b] that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall certainly perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him, for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

When God talks about life and death in Ezekiel, it works the same way there as it does in Deuteronomy. "Life" isn't just about having a pulse. Life is a shorthand way of describing the abundant life that God promises his people, with blessings that include having a long life, big animal herds, successful harvests, many kids, victory over enemies, and freedom from sickness and disease. The life God offers, is a good life.

And when God threatens "death," He doesn't necessarily mean that you will drop dead in about 20 seconds. "Death," is the opposite of life. To receive death from God, is a shorthand way of saying that you will fall under God's curses, and judgments. You will have bad harvests, and miscarriages, and sickness, and defeat. You will be stuck in exile, living under the thumb of Babylonians. To be receiving death, is to live a life filled with lack, and hardship. And sometimes, once in a while, it does mean you'll drop dead in about 20 seconds.