Today’s passage: Ezekiel 37

Helpful thoughts:

• There are two major sections in this chapter:
  • The Valley of Dry Bones (Verses 1-14)
    • The word for “breath” can also mean “wind”…or “spirit.”
    • Through the preaching of a servant, God brings to life those who were dead.  This serves as a picture (See question 1 below).
  • The Uniting of all Israel (Verses 15-28)
    • This prophecy speaks of the Kingdom of Israel after Christ’s return.
    • Christ is the Davidic King, from the House of David.

Questions to consider:

1. Compare the promises of this passage with Ephesians 2:1-10 and John 3:7-8.  What is being described here in Ezekiel 37?  How does life come to those who are dead?
2. Why is it fitting that God receive all the glory for our salvation?
3. There are some that suggest the nation of Israel as we see it today is the fulfillment of verses 15-28.  What parts of this passage make that impossible?  Is modern day Israel led by Christ? Are they walking in God’s rules?  What will this kingdom be like when God fulfills His promises?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 36:22-38

Helpful thoughts:

• In the first half of chapter 36, we read of God’s intention to restore Israel.  And we saw that it wasn’t the land that needed to change, but the people.
  • Today, we get to read how God will make this happen and why.
• God “will vindicate the holiness” of His great name.
• God’s people will be a transformed people:
  • Their sin will be washed away.
  • The inner man (The heart and spirit) will be a new creation.
  • The Holy Spirit will dwell within them.
  • They will desire to follow and obey God.

Questions to consider:

1. How do these promises compare with what we read in 2 Corinthians 5:17?  What has just been described in verses 25-27?  In what ways is it the same or different than what the New Testament teaches us about our conversion?
2. In what way does our conversion and life of sanctification vindicate the holiness of God’s great name?  In what way will the fulfilment of these promises do the same?
3. Why will it be obvious that God should receive all the glory when people who were lost and dead in their sins are cleansed, redeemed, changed, and joyfully following Christ?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 36:1-21

Helpful thoughts:

• Wayne Grudem defines God’s jealousy as “continually seeking to protect His own honor.”
  • A righteous jealousy will result in protecting or being watchful of that which is yours and under your care, as a husband or wife should be for their spouse or their children.
    • The way people often use the word, “Jealousy” today is really more like the biblical idea of “Coveting.”
• Surrounding nations (Like Edom) scoffed at Israel in her despair and destruction.  God promises that these surrounding nations would suffer reproach and Israel would later be restored.
• God is concerned for His holy name (Verse 21).  Because God’s name must be honored, sinful Israel was scattered.  Because God’s name must be honored, Israel will be restored and blessed as never before.

Questions to consider:

1. It is an immense blessing that God is jealous for His people!  Who would we rather have as our Lord, Savior, Caretaker, etc.?  What would be better than honoring our good, loving and righteous Creator?
2. Why is it good that God is for His glory?  Why is it best for us for God to be about His glory?  If God gave us something else, would it be as satisfying and joy-filled?  When you truly love someone, do you give them what they want if what they want isn’t best?  What is the best thing God can give to His people?
3. Was it the land’s fault the nation was suffering (Verses 12-14)?  What was the reason for the downfall of Israel (Verse 17)?  Then…what is God going to have to do to make Israel a great place to be? (The answer is coming in the rest of this chapter and in chapter 37)

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 35

Helpful thoughts:

• Chapters 35 and 36 go together.  First, a judgment on Edom (Mt. Seir) and second to Israel (The mountains of Israel).
• The descendants of Esau (Edom) watched the demise of Israel and Judah with eager expectation and had ambition to go and take the land.  They would instead suffer the same demise as that of Israel and Judah.
• When the Edomites spoke against the people of Israel, they were speaking against God Himself (Verse 13).

Questions to consider:

1. How is the sin of Edom described in this chapter?  What did they do?  What would have been the right thing(s) to do?
2. In what way does reviling God’s people amount to reviling God Himself?  What assurance can that give to the church as “The body of Christ?”  How does our union with Christ give us purpose and hope in this life, including during times of opposition?
3. Is there anything that God does not hear and know (End of Verse 13)?  What will God’s omniscience (God knows all things eternally), and the fact that all our sin is first sin against Him personally teach us about the judgment?  How do these truths help us to think more accurately (And thankfully) about all that Christ suffered for us when He took our judgment on Himself at the cross?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 34

Helpful thoughts:

• In today’s prophecy, the leaders of Israel are rebuked as bad shepherds who use their sheep for their own selfish gain.  God promises to shepherd His own sheep in righteousness and justice.
• Jesus, God the Son and the King of Kings from David’s line, is our Good Shepherd! (John 10:11-18)
  • The reference to David is to his line, his throne.  Not necessarily David himself.
• When the Good Shepherd and Davidic King is on the throne (Jesus Christ), there will be a covenant of peace.  God’s people will live in peace, showered with blessings, and God will be with His people and they will know the LORD is their God!

Questions to consider:

1. God calls these sinful leaders of Israel, “Shepherds” but then also says in verse 8, “there was no shepherd.”  What does it mean to truly shepherd a group of people?  Does holding a position or title make someone a leader?  What must shepherd leaders do to truly shepherd people?
2. Why can God say, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep” (Verse 15) and “I will set up over them one shepherd?”  How is our shepherd BOTH a descendant of king David AND God Himself at the same time?  How is that possible?  Who is being promised here in this Old Testament prophecy?
3. When the world looks like it is moving further away from the Lord, toward sin, destruction and conflict, why can Christians have peace of mind?  What do we know will be the end of all this?  Who is the hero who will bring it about?  Who can you share the good news of the Good Shepherd with today?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 33

Helpful thoughts:

• After many prophecies concerning the nations surrounding Israel, the focus now returns to the people of Israel.
• Ezekiel is called the “Watchman” for Israel.  He is responsible to warn the people concerning what he sees.  How the people respond is their own responsibility.
• Those who are considered “Righteous” in the world’s eyes still fall short and have sin in their lives, which must be justly punished.  But, those who are deemed as wicked can “surely live.” (Verses 12-16)
  • The one thing that is needed for all of them to see the salvation of the Lord is…repentance.  (Romans 10:9-13)

Questions to consider:

1. Does God take pleasure in seeing the wicked suffer?  What response is pleasing to God? (Verse 11)
2. What does it appear the people were trusting in to get possession of the land in verses 24-26?  Does it look like they understood that God had given the land and He could take it away, or did they think they were to occupy it in their own strength?  What did they want more, to have the land or to be pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 5:9)?
3. What kind of a situation is the passage in verses 30-33 describing?  What were the people who listened to Ezekiel “enjoying?”  What was the disconnect if they were “enjoying” his messages but continuing to live in sin and pursuing selfish gain?  What might this look like if we saw it happening in our church buildings today?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 32

Helpful thoughts:

• There are two statements against Egypt in this chapter:  Verses 1-16 and 17-32.
• In verses 1-16, the Pharaoh (Who sees himself as a mighty lion) is instead likened to a dragon (Or possible a crocodile in the Nile River). His destruction will later result in the healing of the land (Verse 14).
• In verses 17-32, Egypt joins the other nations whom the Lord has judged in the “Pit,” or the place of the dead (Verse 18).  All of the nations whom Israel and Judah had abandoned the Lord for will be dead in the grave.

Questions to consider:

1. What was the nature of Pharaoh’s blindness to the reality of who he was and who God is?  Where would he have thought his power came from?  Why was he doing the wrong things even if he thought he was doing the right things?
2. Why would it matter then that Pharaoh (And all Egypt…and all the world) would know that God is the LORD?
3. In what way would the knowledge of the Lord among the nations bring gladness (Psalm 67:4)?  What is the greatest importance of missions to the nations (Matthew 28:19-20)?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 31

Helpful thoughts:

• Pharaoh had not been able to prevent the Lord from bringing about the destruction of Assyria.  Neither would he be able to prevent the downfall of his own nation, Egypt.
• Verse 9 makes it clear again who was responsible for the strength and beauty of Assyria at its height, the Lord Himself.
  • There is no pride to be had by any nation for its accomplishments. (Proverbs 21:1)
• “The most ruthless of nations” (Verse 12) refers to Babylon.

Questions to consider:

1. Why might it be surprising that God rightfully is to be credited with the rise and fall of every empire and nation?  What perspective does it give us when we think of the nations of the world?  Is there anything that is not under His sovereign command?
2. Pharaoh could have certainly disagreed with Ezekiel’s prophecy, but would that have mattered?  Could Pharaoh have won an argument or a battle against God’s will?  What is the only right response to God’s revealed will?
3. What has God decreed for sinful mankind and what is the only way of salvation and life? (Romans 6:23)  How must we respond to this truth today if we desire rescue?