Series: Renewal
Ezekiel 18:30-32 ESV
Jeremiah 52:28-30 ESV
Ezekiel 11:16-20 NKJV
Ezekiel 18:30-32 The Message
Ezekiel the Prophet was an interesting guy.
Ezekiel was Priest and Prophet for Israel during the 6th Century B.C.
During the prophet’s early years he was a Priest who served in the Temple.
Early on he foretold the destruction of Israel and later in the prophet’s life the theme of his prophesies changed to what Israel would face after the Babylonian Exile.
Ezekiel’s prophecies became a reality when Israel surrendered to King Nebuchadnezzer’s forces in 597 B.C. However, a remnant remained and fought until 586 B.C. By 582 B.C. the best of the best of Israel had been deported to Babylon to serve King Nebuchadnezzer. According to Jeremiah 52:28-30, “This is the number of the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year, 3,023 Judeans; in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem 832 persons; in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Judeans 745 persons; all the persons were 4,600.”
Prior to the Babylonian Exile the prophet wrote in Ezekiel 18:30-32, “I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
God knew what Israel was about to face.
Notice that while the prophet speaks to Israel God’s declaration is to each and every person based on the decisions each person makes.
God was telling Ezekiel the children of Israel needed to turn and live.
Yet in Ezekiel 11:16-20 the Prophet wrote, “Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone." ' "Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel." ' "And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there. "Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them,* and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, "that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”
God promised that even though they would be scattered the Lord God would be a sanctuary for them.
God promised He would gather them and give them the promised land again.
God promised they would be of one heart and they would have a new spirit.
The message from God to Ezekiel that warned Israel what was coming was a plea from God’s own heart. God was hoping, pleading, yearning for them to turn to Him.
Ezekiel 18:30-32 from the The Message says, “The upshot is this, Israel: I’ll judge each of you according to the way you live. So turn around! Turn your backs on your rebellious living so that sin won’t drag you down. Clean house. No more rebellions, please. Get a new heart! Get a new spirit! Why would you choose to die, Israel? I take no pleasure in anyone’s death. Decree of God, the Master.”
I love the description in the Message because we see God’s passion for His children.
God is begging them to turn back to Him!
God KNOWS rebellious living without Him will drag them down.
We get a glimpse of God’s compassion.
He wants them to clean their houses from within by walking TO Him.
God is offering them a new heart filled with love and a Spirit that will give them peace and joy!
In addition to that God doesn’t want the children of Israel to die. God wants them to live abundant lives filled with everything good.
I know it’s been my experience that when people have come to sit with me who have not been living like God would have them live they struggle to go back to God.
They feel so guilty that they can’t face God with what they’ve done. Many many times people have said they don’t believe there is any way God can forgive them for what they’ve done.
I assure them that God’s greatest desire is to have them turn back to Him.
As a Mother, I know what’s it’s like when I miss my children and I want to see them. That’s exactly how God feels. God just wants us to come.
The words to the old old song, “Just as I am” is exactly what God wants. Just as we are, God loves us and longs for us to come to Him.
All it takes is a slight turn and a thought about God’s love…God will take care of the rest!
Spiritual Practice: Turn
Turn to God and let go. Let God hold you. Let God’s love enfold you. That’s exactly what God longs for…
In God, Deborah