jan26 2023

I Will Melt You

Ezekiel 22:20-22 (ESV) – “As one gathers silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into a furnace, to blow the fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you. I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst of it. As silver is melted in a furnace, so you shall be melted in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD; I have poured out my wrath upon you.”

The favorite attribute of God in our culture today is “love.” God is love. This is not a debate. It is right and good that we proclaim this attribute of God to the world. However, the reason why the love of God is preferred amongst people of the world is because we don’t want to think of God as judging our sins. We don’t want a God that judges in righteousness. Our desire is for a God that only pats us on the back for our moments of obedience, but looks the other way in our moments of rebellion. But the God of Scripture is not just love.

Our passage today touches on the judgment of God in terrifying terms. The LORD speaks through the prophet Ezekiel and says, “As one gathers silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into a furnace, to blow the fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you. I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst of it. As silver is melted in a furnace, so you shall be melted in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD; I have poured out my wrath upon you.”

First, notice that God is addressing His people. This is a judgment against Israel. He compares Himself to one who works gathering silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin. They melt these metals by throwing them into the furnace. God says He will do the same. And what is driving God’s actions? His wrath and anger toward their sins. His righteous anger against sin is the cause of His judgment. 

The wrath of God poured out on a people is devastating. His judgment is just and falls swiftly. What is the aim of God’s judgment and anger? First, it can destroy. Often we read of God destroying rebels and sinners from the face of the earth because of their sins. He ends their lives. Sin is accounted for. Second, it can purify. The judgment of God doesn’t always destroy, sometimes the punishment is aimed at purifying the people. God subjects them to the fire so that the impurities can rise and be removed. 

Worship the God who loves us, but also have reverent fear of the God who is righteous and whose wrath can pour out and melt like fire. He is a consuming fire.


Reflection & Journal:
- Why is the love of God most prominent in the culture’s view of God?
- What imagery does God use in this passage to describe His wrath and anger?
- How should a text like this lead us in our daily walk of faith?


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