Sour or sweet?
Jock Stein
October 04, 2017
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Ezekiel 18: 1-4
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3 As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.
Be warned: Sauron is the name of the Evil One in Tolkien’s fantasy, ‘The Lord of the Rings’. It is a sour name indeed. Evil turns ordinary goodness sour. You can use sour milk to make great scones, but soured goodness is rotten to the core. But hobbit goodness has a habit of getting under the skin of evil and finding hope even in the teeth of the storm. Real goodness has the feel of God, and an appeal which in the end will chase Sauron out of his stolen kingdoms.
Be encouraged: Children are not bound by their parents’ folly. Jesus is calling the next generation to follow, and they are hearing his voice. And they will discover that the life of their parents belongs to God to, as the prophet said. God is around for us all, young and old, and found by all who seek him.
Be changed: God wants to clean up our language, help us stop repeating gloomy proverbs and dead sayings. Sour grapes are not on God’s table.
Be prayerful: God, stop me at the sight of every person I meet today. This life, whoever it is, belongs to you. Speak that into my left ear, speak it back into my right ear, write it on my heart so that I behave with respect, with hope, with faith.
God, start me thinking better, and doing better. And keep me going in the way of your commands, through Jesus Christ who walked and talked in your wisdom and your joy, Amen.
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