God Speaks
The LORD Annouces His Plans to Shepherd His People, Punish Edom and Restore Israel
Verse of the Day: “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes. . . . ‘” [Quotes in the original.] (Ezekiel 36:22-23 NIV 2011) [Join me in praying that those we encounter will witness the holiness of the LORD displayed in our lives.]
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ezekiel 34-36:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Ezekiel 34
1. God is a good shepherd who cares for His sheep (people) and will deal with under-shepherds who only use and abuse the flock.
2. People are like sheep that are weak, injured, sick, wandering, lost, abused, confused, misled, and easy prey for those who mean them harm.
Ezekiel 35
1. God will bring back on the enemies of His people what they have done to His people. God will deal with anti-semites!
2. In God’s time, people will suffer for their mistreatment of the Jews.
Ezekiel 36
1. God will gather His scattered people and bring them back to the land He has promised them. He will prosper them there, and they will live in peace.
2. For millennia God’s people, the Jews, have been dislocated, maligned, and mistreated, but if they will repent, God promises to restore them for His own name’s sake.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ezekiel 34-36?
LORD, You are my shepherd. You take good care of me, one of Your sheep. I am only one of many who have turned to You in faith and obedience. Holy Spirit, enable me to reach out and help other sheep who are weak, injured, sick, wandering, lost, abused, confused, misled, or have become easy prey for those who mean them harm. Good Head Shepherd, I trust You to deal appropriately with those under-shepherds who only use, neglect, and/or abuse their flocks. Bring back on these enemies of Your people what they have done to other people, especially Your beloved children. God, deal with anti-semites and Christ haters! In Your time, O God, these enemies of You and the people You created will suffer for mistreating the Jews, Christians, and all the people that You love (and who love You). In the end, You, LORD God, will gather Your scattered people and bring them back to the land You have promised them since You first spoke to Abraham. You will prosper them there, and they will live in peace. For millennia, God, Your chosen people, the Jews have been dislocated, maligned, and mistreated. But if they repent and turn back to You, LORD God, You promise to restore them for Your own name’s sake. When the time is right, You will establish the new heavens and the new earth where every person and thing You created will bring You glory, LORD, forever and ever. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Ezekiel 34-36? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will study the history of the land and people of Israel so that I can explain it to other people who may be believing a false narrative.
- I will pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Israel.
- I will examine how I treat the “flock of God”–Jewish people, Christians, and people in general–and ask the Holy Spirit to help me to correct any wrong behavior or attitudes I may have.
- I will look for specific ways to help Israel and/or Jewish people, then put them into action.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.