When we harbour a grudge…

Because you harboured an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax, therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you.  Ezekiel 35:5-6

Because you harboured an ancient hostility…

harbour

keep (a thought or feeling, typically a negative one) in one’s mind, especially secretly.
“she started to harbour doubts about the wisdom of their journey”
synonyms: bear, nurse, nurture, cherish, entertain, foster, feel secretly, hold on to, cling to, possess, maintain, retain
“he had never harboured any hostile feelings against them”

Because you held a grudge…a hostility that started years and years ago…because you could not let it go…because you held on to this negativity…

Because of this, you too will be destroyed. Because this destroys you as much as the other.

In this chapter, this was addressed in particular to Mount Seir in Edom – a people who witnessed the bloodshed of God’s people and did nothing to stop it. A people who acted (or did not act) out of anger and jealousy. A people who said contemptible things about God’s people. Who revelled in their suffering. Who rejoiced at the desolation.

Now their land will made desolate too.

Then they will know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 35:15

And yet there is hope for the mountains of Israel. The surrounding nations will be made to pay for the glee and malice in their hearts at the suffering of God’s people. There will be new life in Israel. The ruins will be rebuilt. The people will become fruitful and numerous. God will make them prosper.

Then you will know that I am the Lord.  Ezekiel 36:11

However it looks now, all will change.

It will not stay like this forever. Nothing ever stays the same.

God’s holy name and reputation were damaged by the behaviour of His people. Then when He made them face the consequences of their actions, His name and reputation were further damaged by the reaction of the surrounding nations to the suffering of God’s people. And so that all people will know that God is God, He will bring His people back and restore them – not because they deserve it but for the sake of His name and reputation.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.  Ezekiel 36:26-28

Then they will know that I am the Lord.  Ezekiel 36:38