Ain't no rest for the wicked

Ezekiel 18

Remember back when Osama Bin Laden was killed? I remember an equal number of my Christian friends quoting a certain verse on Facebook - Ezekiel 18:23. It bothered me then, and it bothers me know. It's not that it isn't true, because after all it is in Scripture. And it's not that it doesn't apply, because it most certainly can. However, this verse is talking about someone who is wicked and repents of his evil ways to become righteous. Shall he live? The Lord says "...for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declare the Lord, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" (verses 22-23). So yeah, it applies, but is it the best choice to convey that point? NO! If all of these people would have just kept reading, I believe they would have found the best choice: verse 32. "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live." Not only does it convey that God hates death, but it encourages others to avoid that fate.

The real problem with quoting verse 23 is that it gives a skewed picture. Yes, God doesn't rejoice in the death of the wicked, but that doesn't mean He doesn't think they deserve to die. He is a God of justice. All of chapter 18 is talking about how God judges people. We are judged by our own sins. "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, not the father shall suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." (verse 20). The wicked can't escape their fate. God doesn't want anybody to die, but justice is justice. "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just'. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?" (verse 25).

I was sad to see this quote so much on that day because I feel like it misrepresent the Lord's perspective. So next time a major terrorist is killed - could we all just quote verse 32?