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the most evil of nations

Ezekiel 7:23-27 (JDV)

Ezekiel 7:23 Forge the chain, because the land is filled with crimes of bloodshed, and the city is filled with violence.
Ezekiel 7:24 So I will bring the most evil of nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their sacred places will be polluted.
Ezekiel 7:25 Anguish is coming! They will look for peace, but there will be none.
Ezekiel 7:26 Disaster after disaster will come, and there will be rumor after rumor. Then they will look for a vision from a prophet, but instruction will perish from the priests and counsel from the elders.
Ezekiel 7:27 The king will mourn; the prince will be clothed in grief; and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their own conduct, and I will judge them by their own standards. Then they will know that I am Yahveh.

the most evil of nations

Judah was not the most evil of nations. But God was going to send the most evil of nations to punish them. Does that seem unfair? It is. Fairness would seem to be that God would a less evil nation — like Judah to conquer Babylon. But behind God’s words through Ezekiel here is a heart of a father, breaking because he must do something to punish the rebellion of the children he loves. This love is tough love. If it takes an exile and the domination of the most evil of nations to get his people to turn back to him — that is what he is going to do.

LORD, thank you for your love — even your tough love.