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Daily Devotions

The Pleasure of God

By September 3, 2015No Comments

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? Ezekiel 18:23 KJV

This verse addresses objections to the judgment of God. In the previous verses three points are made: (1) God judge’s people based on their personal sin. (2) It is possible to convert from wickedness to righteousness. (3) Once people are converted their past sins are not held against them. Then verse 23 makes this point concerning the character of God: He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. God is holy, He can not look upon sin with approval and must judge sin, but He does not gain some kind of twisted pleasure out of judging sinners. God gains pleasure in seeing wicked people turn from their sins to righteousness and life. This is the testimony of all Scripture (2 Peter 3:9).

Lord, having been turned from death to life, and from wickedness to righteousness according to the good pleasure of Your will (Ephesians 1:5), I am grateful for the assurances that You do not hold my past sins against me. Because all You have done for me I know You do not take pleasure in the death of the wicked but in the conversion of the wicked to righteousness.