week of 10-27-10 3rd recorded Bible study

The passage I read was Ezekiel 39:21-29
You can find that passage here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2039:21-29&version=NIV

My summary of the passage is this:
God will be brought glory not only in his punishment of his children when they turn away from him, but also in his compassion to bring them back from captivity. (very summarized) ;-)
As I reflect:
I have read about the Israelites in several books for several years and I am always surprised that no matter how often the Lord blesses them or builds them up, they always seem to turn away from Him once they are living life to the max and all. They always turn away and end up serving other Gods and having sex with neighboring nations and making a mockery of the nation of God. Then God sends a prophet to warn them to get straight or He’s going to have to punish them for His name’s sake. Then the people refuse to repent and God punishes them (often to the brink of total annihilation). Then the few remaining people of Israel eventually repent and God restores them and quickly rebuilds the population of His children and lifts them back up to a status that glorifies Him. Then the cycle starts all over again. I gotta admit, it can be pretty frustrating to read this sometimes. I think to myself, “how can a nation that has been so close to God and seen His works first hand among them, continually walk away and commit adultery with the rest of the world?!” It’s insane to me. But, I find myself doing the same thing in a shorter time frame and on a smaller scale. If I am the product of God’s saving grace and I make a choice to sin (whether conscious or sub), then haven’t I done the same thing the nation of Israel did? Haven’t I also disobeyed my Lord even though I walk with Him daily and His presence and power are made very clearly known to me? The grace that can be taken from this passage is encouraging to me. That my God is sovereign even to have compassion on those that have turned completely away from Him, gives me a continuous hope that He will not fail to bring me back when I falter in my steps. He won’t give me over to my mistakes and keep his head turned away forever. He is faithful and He will complete the work He begun in me. There will be times when I mess up and He allows accountability. But, I will grow through those times and He will pick me back up and continue to teach and lead me. If He can have compassion on a nation such as Israel after all that they did, and if He can restore them, then how could I ever think for even a second that He wouldn’t also have compassion on me and restore me for His glory’s sake.

My response to the Lord:
Lord, I cannot enough thank you for my salvation. That you have the ability to turn someone over to their sins and allow their enemies to destroy them is obvious to me. That you are so compassionate as to forgive them and restore them afterwards is beyond my ability to fully grasp. I long to be so compassionate Lord. I thank you for not allowing your wrath to come upon me and I hope I never give you cause to allow it. May I live a life that gives you glory. May I do this from a desire to serve my King. In Jesus name.