Today's lessons are not easy to read.

The LORD would use the Babylonians to bring horrible destruction and death. 

A passage from Psalm 90 comes to mind: “If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due” (Psalm 90:11).

THE JUDGE SEES WHAT IS DONE IN SECRET

Our Old Testament lesson (read Ezekiel 6-8 here) reveals the power of the LORD’s anger. Chapters 6 & 7 announce the coming judgment on Jerusalem. How frightening it must have been to live through the outpouring of the LORD’s wrath! The LORD used the Babylonians to kill and destroy. There was no stopping them. So it will be when the LORD comes in judgment at the end of the world. 
 
Why the judgment? In Ezekiel 8 the Judge sees what is done in the temple. He sees the idolatry that wells up within us—note especially in these chapters the references to wealth, silver and gold. What does the Judge see in the secret places of our hearts?
 
“If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due” (Psalm 90:11).
 
THE JUDGE SEES WHAT IS DONE IN OUR HEARTS 

Jesus is teaching in the temple courts in our New Testament lesson (read John 8:37-59 here). He also revealed the secret sins of the Jewish leaders. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires” (John 8:44). When the Son of God stepped into their lives to call them to repentance, they rejected him and wanted to stone him to death. Their Judgment was coming soon!
 
It is when we understand the power of the LORD’s anger that we appreciate the power of his love. Jesus promised: “Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death” (John 8:51).
 
Let us search our own hearts that we might see the secret sins—secret to others but known to the LORD. Let us search our hearts and confess that we deserve the horrible judgment that came upon the people of Ezekiel’s day... the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC by the Babylonians.
 
When we know the power of the LORD’s anger toward our sins, we can celebrate the power of the LORD’s love. Like Abraham we rejoice that we have seen Jesus’ day (John 8:58). We have seen Jesus as the great I AM who revealed himself to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 3). "I AM" has come in powerful love to be our Savior. “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).

Prayer: Lord, we open our hearts to you. We confess our own idolatry. Come and cleanse us of these sins. Forgive us. Change us. Make us yours forever. Amen. 

"The Judge Sees" - A Song

The song "Known" by Tauren Wells captures the warning and comfort of today's readings. 

It's not one or the other
It's hard truth and ridiculous grace
To be known fully known and loved by You
I'm fully known and loved by You.

Listen to it here.