Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Likevel sier dere: ‘Herren dømmer ikke rett.’ Hør nå, Israels folk, er ikke Min bedømmelse rett og deres feil? Når en som lever rett, begynner å leve et liv i synd og lever slik til han dør, skal han ikke straffes for det? Men om en som har levd et dårlig liv, slutter med det og begynner å leve rett etter Herrens vilje, da skal sjelen hans leve. Fordi han fikk se at han levde galt og begynte å leve rett, skal han leve. Han skal ikke dø. Likevel sier Israels folk: ‘Herren dømmer ikke rett!’ Israels folk, hør! Er ikke Min bedømmelse rett og deres feil?
What Does This Mean?
In this verse from Ezekiel, God is speaking to the people of Israel, correcting their claim that God's ways are unfair. God challenges them to recognize that His ways are indeed just and that it is their own ways that are unequal.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing a game with your friends, and you think the rules are unfair. But your mom, who made the rules, says, 'Wait a minute, are you sure I didn't make the rules fair? Maybe you're the one not following them fairly.' That's what God is saying here to the people of Israel.
Historical Background
Ezekiel 18:25 was written by the prophet Ezekiel around 593-571 BCE. He wrote to the Israelites who were exiled in Babylon, addressing their complaints about God's justice. The context was a time of great upheaval and questioning of God's fairness.
Living It Out Today
Consider a scenario where a community blames the city council for unfair policies. However, the council points out that the policies are designed to be fair, and it's the community's misunderstanding and unequal actions that make them seem unfair. This reflects the verse's message about perceiving and accepting God's justice.
People often question God's fairness when they face hardships or when outcomes seem unjust. This verse encourages us to reassess our own perceptions and actions.
How can we ensure we follow God's equal ways?
By understanding and adhering to God's commandments and seeking His guidance, we can strive to align our ways with His justice.
What does it mean to have unequal ways?
Having unequal ways means that our actions or judgments are not consistent with God's standards of justice and fairness.
Why is this verse important in understanding divine justice?
This verse highlights the contrast between God's perfect justice and human perceptions of injustice, emphasizing the need to trust and understand God's ways.