Ezekiel 30:1-5: a reflection

1The LORD’s word came again to me, saying, 2“Son of man, prophesy, and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’ 3For the day is near, even the LORD’s day is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of the nations. 4A sword will come on Egypt, and anguish will be in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt. They take away her multitude, and her foundations are broken down. 5“‘“Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all the mixed people, Cub, and the children of the land that is allied with them, will fall with them by the sword.”

The prophet Ezekiel announces a coming day of reckoning: The day is near, even the LORD's day is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of the nations. A day of God's judgment on Egypt and the nations was drawing near, no longer distant but at hand. The nearness of the day is stressed: it is near, close, coming soon. The people were not to presume they had unlimited time before the reckoning; the day of the LORD was near, and they were to be ready. The reckoning was not far off but approaching; the nearness of the day called for a sober readiness, not a presumption on time that would not last.

Notice what is stressed: the nearness of the day of reckoning. The day is near, the LORD's day is near; it is not a distant possibility but an approaching reality. The people could not presume they had unlimited time before the reckoning came; it was near, close, drawing on. The nearness of the day called for readiness, for a sober awareness that the reckoning was not far off. To presume on unlimited time, to live as though the day of reckoning would never come or was far away, was folly; the day was near. The reckoning was approaching, and the nearness of it called the people to be ready rather than presuming on a time that would not last. The day was near; readiness was called for.

That is worth taking to heart, for the day of God's reckoning is near, and we are called to sober readiness rather than presuming on time. We can live as though the day of reckoning before God were far off, or would never come, presuming on unlimited time; but the prophet stressed that the day was near, calling for readiness. We do not have unlimited time before we stand before God; the day of reckoning is nearer than we may think. Do not presume on unlimited time, living as though the day of reckoning were far off; the day is near, and calls for sober readiness. Live in sober readiness for the day of God's reckoning, which is nearer than we may think, rather than presuming on unlimited time, as the prophet stressed that the day of the LORD is near; for we do not have unlimited time before we stand before God, and the nearness of the reckoning calls us to be ready rather than presuming on a time that will not last.

Lord, the prophet Ezekiel announces a coming day of reckoning: the day is near, even the LORD's day is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of the nations. A day of your judgment on Egypt and the nations was drawing near, no longer distant but at hand. The nearness of the day is stressed: it is near, close, coming soon. The people were not to presume they had unlimited time before the reckoning; the day of the LORD was near, and they were to be ready. Show me what is stressed: the nearness of the day of reckoning. The day is near, your day is near; it is not a distant possibility but an approaching reality. The people could not presume they had unlimited time before the reckoning came. The nearness of the day called for readiness, for a sober awareness that the reckoning was not far off. To presume on unlimited time, to live as though the day of reckoning would never come, was folly; the day was near. Take that to my heart, for your day of reckoning is near, and I am called to sober readiness rather than presuming on time. I can live as though the day of reckoning before you were far off, or would never come, presuming on unlimited time; but the prophet stressed that the day was near. I do not have unlimited time before I stand before you; the day of reckoning is nearer than I may think. Keep me from presuming on unlimited time, living as though the day of reckoning were far off; the day is near, Lord, and calls for sober readiness. Help me live in sober readiness for your day of reckoning, which is nearer than I may think, rather than presuming on a time that will not last.