Old Testament: Eze 25.15–17

To read the Bible in a year, read Ezekiel 24–26 on November 21, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

The Philistines were the perpetual enemy of Israel, and they sought to keep that hatred alive for centuries, but the Lord would punish them for it: 

“Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred,” therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. I will execute great vengeance on them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I lay My vengeance upon them.”

– Ezekiel 25.15–17 

The Philistines were not the only ones who did this. Even today, there are people who hate a group of people because of what they their ancestors did to their ancestors hundreds of years ago. One generation has hatred for a generation of people, both of whom were not present centuries ago when one side persecuted the other. 

The Lord says that these old hatreds must stop, lest a people face extermination just like the Philistines did. 

Questions: 

• Do you have hatred for a group of people who have not done anything against you personally? 
• Why not accept them and heal old wounds? 

To subscribe go to EmailDevotionals.com and click “Follow” 

Don preaches with the Savage Street Church of Christ in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Listen to his sermons here: GrantsPassChurchOfChrist.com