November 3

In Ezekiel 25–27, God turns His message toward the nations surrounding Israel—Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, and Tyre. These nations had rejoiced at Israel’s downfall, but God reminds them that He alone is sovereign. Their pride and mockery would not go unpunished. Tyre, in particular, is condemned for its arrogance and misplaced trust in wealth and beauty. Yet even in judgment, God’s justice points to a greater truth: He rules over all, and His purposes are always right.

Psalm 85 shifts the focus from judgment to mercy. The psalmist recalls God’s past restoration and prays for revival once again: Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? The psalm acknowledges sin but clings to hope. It declares that steadfast love and faithfulness meet, righteousness and peace kiss each other—a beautiful image of divine mercy embracing human need. God’s justice and compassion are not opposites; they work together for redemption.

In John 9, Jesus brings both judgment and mercy into focus as He heals a man born blind. The miracle sparks debate among the religious leaders, revealing spiritual blindness in those who claimed to see. Jesus declares, I am the light of the world. Through His light, physical and spiritual sight are restored. Like the nations in Ezekiel and the psalmist in his plea, humanity cannot find healing or understanding apart from God’s revelation. But when His light shines, the blind see and hearts are revived.

Together, these passages remind us that God’s justice exposes sin, but His mercy restores what is broken. He humbles the proud and lifts up the humble. In Jesus, the Light of the World, judgment and grace meet perfectly, offering both truth and transformation.

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