The Appropriate Response to God's Goodness

Ezekiel 36:22-32

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

See in this passage God practicing what he teaches us to do when we have an enemy; we are to do them good, this heaping coals of fire upon their heads. We will best be able to do this when we do it, not because of the enemy or for our own satisfaction but for the name of the Lord.

God tells the Jews that, not for their sakes but for His own name's sake He would pour out good upon them.

·       He would give them a new spirit and new heart

·       He would return them back to the promised land

·       He would sprinkle clean water upon them and cleanse them

·       He would save them from their un cleanness

·       He would multiply the fruit of their trees

·       He would give them cities

·       He would build the ruined places

·       He would till the desolate land

·       He would give them flocks of men

And they would be ashamed.

The appropriate response to God's goodness poured upon us is (along with thanksgiving) shame. There is no room for pride or boasting. There is no place for self-exalting; all these things did the Jews and it cost them. The appropriate response is humility and shame. God is marvelously good to us and we do not deserve it.