Ezekiel 17-19
It might sound strange, but people used to want God to deal with them based on group identity, not individual relationship. They preferred to just think, "I'm safe because I'm an Israelite, and our God loves all of us - it doesn't matter what I do as an individual." The idea that God reckons righteousness on an individual basis is fair, but not everyone used to think so! True Justice says that each person shall live or die based on his or her own choices; we can't ride anyone's coattails. God's mercy is for evey individual, as well - He invites us to repent and live!
