Lesson Scripture: Ezekiel 36:22-32
Bible Truth: God’s plan includes your holiness.
Timeline: Ezekiel was a priest and prophet during the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon, he ministered between 592 BC and the 27th year of the exile (around 570 BC). You can find visual representation of where this period falls in the timeline below under the “Divided Kingdom”.
Need to know notes: We will be in the book of Ezekiel for the next three weeks. It will be important to know as much as possible about this prophet and Isreal in that time to better understand our lessons. For a brief overview, click the link here. Israel leading up to Ezekiel
Prelude
The Land Given to the Jews by God.
God gave the land of Israel to the Jews as a part of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-18; 15:7-21). This was their deed to the land, but the stipulations of ownership depended on their faith and obedience to God. (Leviticus 26).
a) As Christians we have a similar agreement. We enter God’s family by trusting Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9), We reap the fruits of being in his family by believing and obeying Him. (2 Corinthians 6:18-7:1).
b) Disobedient children have to be chastened (Hebrews 12), and God often had to chasten the people of Israel because of their rebellion and disobedience.
Ezekiel 36:1-4
Ezekiel had set his face against Mount Seir, which represented the land of Edom (Ezekiel 35), but now he addresses “the mountains of Israel” as representative of the land of Israel.
a) The Babylonians had ravaged and plundered the Promised Land and the neighboring nations (especially Edom) had tried to possess the land (36:10). “Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession” (v. 2). Instead of assisting the Jews, the neighbors had ridiculed them and even helped the Babylonians loot the city of Jerusalem. Why? Because of their long, standing hatred of the Jews and a desire to possess the land of Israel.
b) But the Lord knew what the enemy was saying and doing, and He determined that there would be serious consequences because of their decisions.
Ezekiel 36:5-7
First, God’s wrath would burn against Israel’s enemies because of the way they had treated His people and His land (vv. 4-6; Leviticus 25:23). He promised (Ezekiel 36:7) that the nations would be repaid for the way they treated the Jews.
Ezekiel 36:8-12
Ezekiel described that future day when the land would be healed and once again produce abundant flocks, herds, and harvests (vv. 8-9). This was a part of God’s covenant with Israel (Leviticus 26:3-5). The land would not only be fruitful, but it also would be safe and secure (Ezekiel 36:10-12). The after-effects of war, pestilence, and wild beasts had decreased the Jewish population (6:1-8; 7:15; 12:16), but God promised to replenish and repopulate the land.
Ezekiel 36:13-15
God accused the mountains of Israel of depriving the Jews of their children (Ezekiel 36:12-14, see NIV). While in idolatry, some of the Jews offered their own children to the heathen gods in the pagan high places. But that would end, because the exile in Babylon cured the Jews of their idolatry, and in the future kingdom, only the true and living God would be worshiped. —- prelude Trustee Richard Barnes
Our Lesson: A New Respect
Commentator: Deac. William Goss
Have you ever been in a situation where it seemed to be no way out, you just could not see the light? When no one was there for you to lean on or no one to call? This lesson helped to enforce the fact that there is power in his name. God is so powerful that you can just call his name and feel his mighty move. Proverbs 18:10 reference the Lords name as “a strong tower”, a refuge for the righteous. Ezekiel 36:23 says “and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD ”. just call on him and he will be there when you need him and even your enemies know his name and the power he has and will flee at the sound of his name. In Jesus name Amen
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