Friday, January 14 2011
Ezekiel 11
Verse of the Week: V19 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:”
1. Man’s Deception (V1-12)
V3 “Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.”
The people of Israel refused to repent of their sins and continued to believe that Jerusalem was invincible until the Babylonians attacked and destroyed them. One of the worst sins is the sin of self deception or lying to one self. It is when we know we have sinned against God and yet we refuse to repent of our sins because of our wicked hearts.
Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
2. God’s Presence (V13-16)
V13 “And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! Wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?”
When Pelatiah, the wicked leader, died, Prophet Ezekiel knew that God’s judgment was upon the nation of Israel. He prayed and pleaded with God to spare the remnant of Israel and God promised him that His little sanctuary or His presence shall be with the remnant even though they would be scattered abroad among the foreign countries. No matter how tough and difficult is our present situations and circumstances, God is always with us and He shall never forsake us or leave us alone.
V16 “Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.”
3. God’s Healing (V17-25)
V17 “Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”
God is willing to heal His people and give us one heart and a new spirit and a heart of flesh if we will only repent of our sins and serve and worship the true and living God.
V19 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:”
Prayer of the Week
Dearest God, please give me a new spirit and a heart of flesh to worship You.
