Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
These words come to exiles who had just watched their nation fall under God's judgment. They had decided that God was finished with them. Into that despair God swears an oath about His own heart — and turns the question back on them: why will you die?
The Plea Behind the Verse
The people were not asking an idle question. They had weighed their own guilt and decided that no one could live.
Numerical Bible NotesThe second part of the address begins at verse 10, where the lesson of chapter 18 is pressed again. They were now ready to plead, and were in fact pleading, that no one could live before the unbending righteousness of God. But the Lord replies, as He had already declared again and again, that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that they turn from their wickedness and live.
Nation Judged, Individual Invited
The nation's sentence had already fallen. That did not close the door on any single person inside it.
J. N. DarbyIn view of these judgments, God sets up a completely new principle. Each person's own conduct now becomes the ground on which God deals with him, instead of the consequences of national sin (v. 10, 11). So the door was still wide open to individual repentance, resting on a testimony that spoke to each person, whatever the national judgment might be.
God Under Oath
"As I live" is an oath. God stakes His own life on what He says next.
Numerical Bible NotesGod then has revealed Himself: no lost soul from its far-off place of misery shall ever be able to challenge Him in this respect. He swears it even: "As I live, says the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies."
The Well-Wisher of Every Man
The New Testament says the same thing, and says it about every person alive.
W. W. FeredayThe great truth stamped on the opening verses of 1 Timothy 2 is that God is every man's sincere well-wisher. He desires all men to be saved, and to come to a knowledge of the truth. It is a lie of Satan that some people come into the world marked out beforehand for eternal ruin. If this were true, every gospel offer in Holy Scripture would be only a mockery and a sham.
When judgment does fall, it is not because God enjoys it.
W. TrotterFirst, it is not because judgment is His delight... No; it is not that God has any pleasure in the destruction of any. It is rather that men, sadly, despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and patience.
Whose Will Brings Death
"Why will you die?" puts the responsibility on the sinner. Death is real, and men choose it.
Frederick William GrantChrist dying for the world, the testimony of God's love to men at large, is no vain thing because in fact not all are saved by it. It shows us that infinite goodness which men have to break away from... Men die because of their own will, not of God's will; yet they die. And men crudely ask why God's power cannot convert them all. But that power itself must be limited by His other attributes.
Mercy for the One Who Turns
Turning does not leave the old record standing. God clears it.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinJudgment rested on them as a nation, but the individual could still turn to the Lord in repentance. What a wonderful declaration it is that is recorded in verse 11!... The wicked man who confesses and gives up his sin would find mercy and forgiveness. Those who refused to repent would surely die and not live. "None of his sins that he has committed shall be mentioned to him." This gracious promise was given looking forward to the work of the cross, the redemption by the blood of Christ, by which God's righteousness is declared in passing over the sins of Old Testament believers who turned to God (Rom. 3:25).
Reading Your Own Name Into It
One man's struggle shows what to do with this verse.
Edward DennettAt last he took a piece of paper and wrote, "As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked" (Ezekiel 33:11). Then he added, "I am one of the wicked." And further, "Therefore the Lord GOD has no pleasure in my death." That is how he came to believe that he was within reach of the divine mercy.
Summary
- Despair — The people decided that God's righteousness left them no way to live. Verse 11 is His answer.
- Oath — God does not just state how He feels toward the wicked. He swears it. No lost soul can ever accuse Him of unwillingness.
- Desire — His wish for the sinner is sincere, not a formality. A God who marked men out beforehand for ruin would make every gospel invitation a sham.
- Door — National judgment did not cancel personal mercy. The individual could still turn, and God would never bring up his sins again.
- Decision — "Why will you die?" leaves the choice with man. Men die by their own will, not God's. The cure is to write your own name into the promise.