June 12: Living by the Lord’s Values

Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.

“Unto thyself be true” has become the cultural ticket for intemperance and rebellion. In his book, The Quest For Character, author Chuck Swindoll wrote about a married couple whom he referred to as “Carl and Clara,” who became the victims of confused values. Their marriage was not perfect, but good, with three grown children who loved them dearly. He told the story of how their 25-year marriage came to an abrupt end and the tragic result that followed.

The couple had been blessed with sufficient financial security to allow them to begin dreaming about a lakeside retirement home. To encourage their dreams, they began looking and located a home being sold by a widower Swindoll called “Ben.” They liked the house and returned home to talk about their plans to purchase it. “Months passed. Last fall, right out of the blue, Clara told Carl she wanted a divorce. He went numb. After all these years, why? And how could she deceive him? How could she have been nursing such a scheme while they were looking at a retirement home?

She said she hadn’t been. Actually, this was a recent decision now that she had found another man. Who? Clara admitted it was Ben, the owner of the lake house, whom she inadvertently ran into several weeks after they had discussed the sale. They’d begun seeing each other. Since they were now ‘in love,’ there was no turning back. Not even the kids, who hated the idea, could dissuade their mother.

On the day she was to leave, Carl walked through the kitchen toward the garage. Realizing she would be gone when he returned, he hesitated, ‘Well, hon, I guess this is the last time…’ His voice dissolved as he broke into sobs. She felt uneasy, hurriedly got her things together, and drove north to join Ben. Less than two weeks after she moved in with Ben, her new lover was seized with a heart attack. He lingered a few hours, and then died. Clara now faced the emptiness of her desires fulfilled.”

Likewise, our lesson focuses on the similar indulgence of the nation of Israel that resulted in the Lord’s certain judgment. Because of its unrepentant sin and persistence in evil, the Lord declared the end of Israel as a nation (7:1-2, 15-16). “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing” (Proverbs 29:1). According to Ezekiel’s prophecy, the nation was beyond repair and destined for destruction.

As a result of its impending doom, everything that seemed so substantive would be revealed for its worthlessness (7:19-22). The nation of Israel had traded its purity for moral pollution and had built for itself cities of dust. While gold may adorn the hand, it will not satisfy the hunger of the belly. For when the hunger returns, the “treasures” will be trash.

Many people who have experienced the same disappointment with their decisions have questioned God’s judgment against them. It seems much easier to ignore our irresponsibility and wonder why we are being “punished” at the hands of a “merciful” and “loving” God. The answer lies in Ezekiel’s response to the rebellious nation, “According to their way I will do to them, and according to their judgments I will judge them, and they shall know that I am the Lord” (v 27).

God’s judgments are not irresponsible as our behaviors are. God is just and acts according to His justice. This is not an affront to His mercy and love. If we will live in obedience, in His justice and mercy will be His blessing. If we rebel, in His justice will be His wrath.