An analogy... old covenant vs new covenant, law vs grace

Thinking here about the old covenant and the new covenant.

We give kids toy cars to play with. They can look pretty realistic -obviously smaller than the real thing. Ultimately, toy cars are hollow; they have no engine. The best you're going to get is a battery remote control one.

The law of the old covenant is like a toy car. It represents the life God wants His people to live but in miniature. We know from Jesus' ministry that the law was not meant to be used as an excuse for divorce, or for people to be self-congratulatory because they had tithed the correct amount of mint. And when your relationship with God is nothing more than law-keeping, it's not really a relationship. It's legalism.

When you get your license and you start driving a real car, those toy cars soon get put into perspective. They were right for a time, but nothing is like the real thing. The immense feeling of freedom you get behind the wheel - that's like life with God, not under law but grace. Immensely liberating.

The toy car resembles the real thing, but cannot power itself. With the Holy Spirit living in us, we have the power to say no to fleshly dsires and live a life of godliness (see 2 Peter 1). We're not needing all the ritual that came with the law - Jesus fulfilled it. We don't need anymore sacrifice. But in our desire to be godly, our quest for holiness, we should have even more zeal than the Pharisees, and hopefully more evidence of sanctification as we seek to grow by grace.

'For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.' John 1:17

The phrase here 'grace and truth' reflects the language of Exodus 34:6, which speaks of the steadfast love (hesed) and faithfulness ('emet) of God in His covenant faithfulness to His people. John is therefore saying that Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's covenant faithfulness (ESV study notes).

In the new covenant, our relationship with God is brought to life, from the stone tablets of law to the heartbeat of grace.

'For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.' Rom 10:4

'a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ' Gal 2:16

'But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.' Gal 5:18

Ezekiel: God of covenant and regeneration

With all the messages of judgement in Ezekiel, it could be easy to forget the beginning of the story - God's love story with Israel. The allegory told so grippingly in chapter 16 vividly depicts the very essence of the Old Testament: it is a story of covenant of God with a nation (Abraham's descendants). God's sovereign choice and grace in choosing Israel is highlighted as the abandoned child becomes a beautiful woman through the rescuer's love, protection and provision. The infidelity therefore becomes more shocking; the woman who has everything still has an insatiable desire for more (v29). The grotesque imagery sets the reader's teeth on edge because Ezekiel knew his audience needed to be shocked out of apathy and complacency.

But there is a message of hope, and for me it's the most exciting aspect of Ezekiel. It is in this book that the concept of regeneration begins to be sketched out, in perhaps a rather shadowy pencil tone, ready for the New Testament to boldly define it in the wake of Christ and His death on the cross.

At the end of the allegory, Ezekiel gives the pronouncement of the Lord GOD: 'I will establish for you an everlasting covenant' (v60). And there are two key passages, similar in tone and content, which give more detail to this promise. Ezekiel 11:14-21 and 36:22-38 both speak of a removal of the 'heart of stone' and a cleansing from idolatry, and a promise of 'a new heart, and a new spirit'. In ch 36, God says 'I will put my Spirit within you' (v27). The Old Covenant law, given to Moses on stone tablets, was broken again and again by God's unfaithful people. But the New Covenant is characterised by power, the divine power of God's Spirit to change our hearts and regenerate those who believe.

'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.' 2 Corinthians 5:17

This regeneration is depicted very memorably in chapter 37, where Ezekiel is given a stunning vision of the valley of dry bones being brought back to life with flesh and breath once more. The metaphor is explained: 'these bones are the whole house of Israel... I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live' (v11-14). As William Mounce writes,

'In the New Covenant, God’s Spirit is able to breath life into those who are spiritually dead. In the New Covenant, God’s Spirit is able to change and empower those changed lives to live in blissful obedience to Him.'

At the heart of Ezekiel is the message that God is a God of covenant. He is faithful to His promises and to His people. And through the New Covenant, God would do something amazing: even after giving so much already to those He loved, He would actually put His Spirit within them, empowering them to live radically for Him in true faithfulness.

Ezekiel: An intolerant God

Ezekiel speaks prophetically of God's approaching judgement upon His people, at a time where they were dangerously unconcerned about their own spiritual state and the state of their nation (and there seem to have been plenty of false prophets to give them fake reassurance). The repeated phrase 'then they will know that I am the LORD' shows that God's character, in particular His righteousness, purity and total intolerance of sin, will be revealed in the judgement that is about to be poured out upon this disobedient people.

Many baulk at the idea of an intolerant God or a God of judgement. Reading Old Testament books like Ezekiel can be hard because of the seeming harshness of the message, such as the angelic executioners who kill all idolaters young and old in the vision of chapter 9. Ezekiel himself falls to the ground and asks God if He intends to destroy everyone, in despair. God answers: “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’ So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.” (v9-10). There doesn't seem to be any leeway here. But think about it: do you want a God who turns a blind eye to the massive injustices of the world? A God who ignores the plight of abused children, trafficking victims, the poor and exploited? We don't really want a God like that at all. God's consistency in His hatred of sin and His absolute moral purity and perfection are why He is worthy of our worship.

God's judgement is indeed terrifying; I would not make out that it's not. And the stunning depiction of judgement in Ezekiel makes me breathlessly in awe of God and very, very thankful that on Jesus Christ His wrath was poured out completely and I will never have to face it myself.

For all those who look around and say, 'where is God? Why does He let all this bad stuff happen?', Ezekiel's message is still relevant today. He effectively reminds us that God's character remains unchanged. He is totally intolerant of sin in any shape or form. The day is coming when He will act decisively and any doubts you have will be completely removed, but you don't want to be on the receiving end of His retribution. Run to Jesus for refuge and urge everyone around you to do the same, before it's too late.