20221005

merely dross to me

Ezekiel 22:17-22 (JDV)

Ezekiel 22:17 The word of Yahveh happened to me. This is what it said:
Ezekiel 22:18 “Son of Adam, the house of Israel has become merely dross to me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are just dross from silver.
Ezekiel 22:19 Therefore, this is what the Lord Yahveh says: Because all of you have become dross, notice I am about to gather you into Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 22:20 Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to blow fire on them and melt them, so I will gather you in my anger and wrath, put you inside, and melt you.
Ezekiel 22:21 Yes, I will gather you together and blow on you with the fire of my fury, and you will be melted within the city.
Ezekiel 22:22 As silver is melted inside a furnace, so you will be melted inside the city. Then you will know that I, Yahveh, have poured out my wrath on you.”

merely dross to me

A coming siege is described by picturing Jerusalem as a melting pot, and all the people will be gathered inside it. Pressure will be applied, and heat. God’s wrath will come, and only the pure metals will survive. Unfortunately, there are no pure metals. The house of Israel had become merely dross to him. May this never happen among us. May each of us reflect the gold of our Savior’s love, and come out of the present suffering intact.

LORD, give us lives worthy of your grace.