Ezekiel 14:12-16: a reflection

12The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 13“Son of man, when a land sins against me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out my hand on it, and break the staff of its bread and send famine on it, and cut off from it man and animal— 14though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness,” says the Lord GOD. 15“If I cause evil animals to pass through the land, and they ravage it and it is made desolate, so that no man may pass through because of the animals— 16though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters. They only would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.

God declares that even the most righteous, were they present in a guilty land, could deliver only themselves by their own righteousness, not others, a solemn reminder that each answers to God for himself, which points us to our need of a Savior. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, God says of a land under judgment, they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness. God names three of the most righteous men, Noah, Daniel, Job; and says that even they, by their own righteousness, could save only themselves, not even their own sons and daughters. Each person answers to God for himself; one person's righteousness, however great, cannot cover or save another. We cannot lean on another's goodness to stand before God. This shows that each answers to God for himself, and no one's righteousness can save another. Each answers to God for himself; no human righteousness can save another. You cannot lean on another's goodness to stand before God. This points us to our need of Christ, whose righteousness alone can save. No mere human's righteousness can cover you; only Christ's can.

Notice what God declares about even the most righteous. He names three men renowned for their righteousness, Noah, Daniel, and Job; and he says that even they, were they present in a land under judgment, could deliver only their own souls by their righteousness. Their righteousness, however great, could save themselves, but not others, not even their own children. Each person stands before God on his own; one person's righteousness cannot be transferred to cover or save another. This is a solemn and searching truth. We cannot lean on another person's goodness or righteousness to stand before God in our place; each of us answers to God for himself. The righteousness of even the best people, our parents, our godly friends, the saints, cannot save us; we cannot borrow their standing before God. Each stands or falls before God on his own account. But this very truth points us beyond itself, to our deep need. For if no mere human's righteousness can save another, and our own righteousness is insufficient, then we need a righteousness not our own and not any mere human's, one that can truly be given to us and cover us before God. And this is exactly what God provides in Christ, whose righteousness, unlike any mere human's, is given to those who trust him, covering and saving them. The truth that no human righteousness can save another drives us to Christ, whose righteousness alone can. We do well to recognize that we cannot lean on another's righteousness, and to seek the righteousness of Christ, which alone can save us. Recognize that no mere human's righteousness can save you; you answer to God for yourself. Do not lean on another's goodness to stand before God. This drives you to Christ, whose righteousness alone can cover you. Seek the righteousness of Christ, which alone can save.

That is worth taking to heart, for each answers to God for himself and no human righteousness can save another, which points us to our need of Christ, as God declared even Noah, Daniel, and Job could save only themselves. We can imagine we might lean on another's goodness before God; but God said even the most righteous could deliver only their own souls. You answer for yourself. Do not lean on another's righteousness to stand before God; recognize your need of a righteousness not your own, and seek the righteousness of Christ, which alone can cover and save you. Recognize that each answers to God for himself and no mere human's righteousness can save another, and let this drive you to Christ, whose righteousness alone can cover and save you, as God declared that even the most righteous, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were they present in a guilty land, could deliver only their own souls by their righteousness and not others, not even their own sons and daughters; for each person answers to God for himself and one person's righteousness however great cannot cover or save another, so that we cannot lean on another's goodness to stand before God, a solemn and searching truth, since the righteousness of even the best people, our parents, godly friends, and the saints, cannot save us and we cannot borrow their standing before God, each standing or falling on his own account, but this very truth points us beyond itself to our deep need, for if no mere human's righteousness can save another and our own is insufficient then we need a righteousness not our own and not any mere human's that can truly be given to us and cover us before God, which is exactly what God provides in Christ whose righteousness unlike any mere human's is given to those who trust him and covers and saves them, so that the truth that no human righteousness can save another drives us to Christ whose righteousness alone can, and we do well to seek it.

Lord, you declare that even the most righteous, were they present in a guilty land, could deliver only themselves by their own righteousness, not others, a solemn reminder that each answers to you for himself, which points me to my need of a Savior. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, you say of a land under judgment, they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness. You name three of the most righteous men; and say that even they, by their own righteousness, could save only themselves, not even their own sons and daughters. Each person answers to you for himself; one person's righteousness, however great, cannot cover or save another. Show me what you declare about even the most righteous. You name three men renowned for their righteousness, Noah, Daniel, and Job; and you say that even they, in a land under judgment, could deliver only their own souls by their righteousness, not others, not even their own children. Each person stands before you on his own; one person's righteousness cannot be transferred to cover another. This is a solemn and searching truth. I cannot lean on another person's goodness to stand before you in my place; I answer to you for myself. The righteousness of even the best people cannot save me; I cannot borrow their standing before you. But this very truth points me beyond itself, to my deep need. For if no mere human's righteousness can save another, and my own righteousness is insufficient, then I need a righteousness not my own and not any mere human's, one that can truly be given to me and cover me before you. And this is exactly what you provide in Christ, whose righteousness, unlike any mere human's, is given to those who trust him. The truth that no human righteousness can save another drives me to Christ. Take that to my heart. Keep me from leaning on another's goodness to stand before you; help me recognize that I answer to you for myself and need a righteousness not my own, and drive me to Christ, Lord, whose righteousness alone can cover and save me, that I may seek and trust it.