Today’s passage: Ezekiel 41

Helpful thoughts:

• In today’s chapter, we are brought inside the future temple.
• Ezekiel did not go into the Most Holy Place (The Holy of Holies) in the temple when it was being measured.
• The cherubim and palm trees (Verses 18-19) were used in the design of Solomon’s temple as well (1 Kings 6:29-32).
  • Cherubim guarded the presence of God in Ezekiel’s earlier visions as well as the eastern entrance to the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:22-24.
  • The main entrance to the temple is the eastern gate, so there are parallels and pictures here of a return to God’s presence with man in the garden.

Questions to consider:

1. Why do you think God would invite Ezekiel and the rest of us into this attention to detail?  What can this teach us concerning God’s omniscience, His excellence, etc.? And how can this encourage us in our various pursuits throughout the day?
2. What kept Adam and Eve from the garden and God’s presence?  What will God wipe away to return mankind to that kind of fellowship with Him?
3. How does the design of this temple tie the whole story of redemption together?  What things is God teaching His people in all these details?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 40

Helpful thoughts:

• The previous two chapters spoke of what the nations of the world would see in the end at their final defeat.  Now the final nine chapters of Ezekiel speak of what God’s people will experience.
  • From the ESV Study Bible, “Almost all interpreters agree that Ezekiel 40-48 is one of the most difficult passages in the entire Bible.”  Buckle up!
    • The difficulty lies in knowing what all is symbolic and what is to be understood literally in these prophecies.
• In chapter 40, we read the beginning of a description of a new temple.
  • Verses 5-27 describe the outer courts and gates.
  • Verses 28-49 describe the inner court, gates and chambers.
• The reed used for measuring was about 10 feet long.  The cubits are about 20 inches.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the “temple” today (1 Corinthians 3:16)?
2. What has Christ accomplished that would render blood sacrifices at the temple unnecessary (Hebrews 10:1-10)?
3. What questions come to mind when thinking about the idea of a future temple?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 39

Helpful thoughts:

• The prophecies against Gog and Magog continue in today’s passage.
  • A valley and city will be named after all those who are defeated.
    • Hamonah means multitude.  Hamon-gog means the multitude of Gog (Verses 11, 15-16).
• When this battle is completed the nations will know that Israel had previously been judged for their sin against God, but thereafter Israel will serve the Lord (Verses 21-24).
• When the people of God are gathered together in the end, the Spirit of God will be poured out (Remember Ezekiel 36 & 37).  The people of God will follow God wholeheartedly, and they will do so willingly and happily having been freed from their sin!

Questions to consider:

1. Knowing that Gog and Magog are spoken of in Revelation 20:8, what does it appear is happening in this prophecy?  To what time is this prophecy speaking?
2. What is the significance of the out-pouring of the Spirit?  Why is that necessary?  What would mankind continue to do without God’s gracious redemption? (John 3:3-8, Romans 3:10-18, 21-26, Ephesians 2:1-10, etc.)
3. When will the world truly be in perfect peace?  What will God do? (Revelation 21:1-5)  How does keeping that day in mind impact how we think about today?

Today’s passage: Ezekiel 38

Helpful thoughts:

• The identities of the leader and people referred to as “Gog and Magog” are a mystery.  There are many who have made guesses (From Alexander the Great to Russia), but we won’t be sure until the prophecy is fulfilled.
  • God’s victory over God and Magog is also spoken of in Revelation 20:8.
• Beyond Gog and Magog, it appears there will be enemies coming against Israel from all around (Verses 5-6).
• God’s holiness means that He is like no other.  He is set apart from all creation.  Nothing and no one is His equal.

Questions to consider:

1. Why will all these nations come to fight against Israel in the end times (Verse 4, 16)?  What will God use their attacks to display for all the world to see?
2. Why will God’s victory over the nations of the world be hard to credit to anyone other than God?  How will this victory be won (Verses 19-23)?  How will it show God’s greatness and holiness?
3. How can this description of God’s sovereignty and holiness give you confidence and compassion toward others in the midst of the world today?

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?