"I Will Give You A New Heart."
.Ezekiel 36
- Manny Oladipo
A lasting & real hope; a certain hope for broken people.
God will act for the glory of His name
The ways of the Israelites were more evil than those of the nations around them.
God’s judgement thus exiled the Israelites.
(v.22) Through the prophet Ezekiel - “it is not for your sake”
God’s name, a name they have defiled & brought into disrepute
His position & status - as Creator of the universe & Lord of all -
deserves glory & respect.
“His name is the greatest guarantee that He will continue”.
... How? through Israel
“I will” - used as a refrain ten times over
To lavishly bless & restore His people
“I will gather you” - Overtones of the Exodus story;
echoes from Egypt & deliverance from slavery
Through the act of gathering, God is seeking to restore His people to himself,
to themselves.
- Cleansed:
Sin = living in disobedience to God
Will not be tolerated by Holy God
To be in the presence of sin is offensive to Him
- (v.25) will be sprinkled clean from impurities & idolatry
A spiritual cleaning of the dirt that just won’t rub off;
The people cannot keep or stay clean,
they would turn back to God & then turn away again,
would be made clean & then go back to the dirt again
- a repetitive & vicious cycle
______________
- (v.26) A radical transformation will occur
A corrupt, stubborn, stiff-necked people - the problem is with their heart
- the centre of all emotion, will, thought, attitude & motivation
CPR: a deliberately brutal & radical act to make the heart beat again
A new heart, a new spirit: whole-hearted obedience
- by His actions, He will enable them to obey Him
- (v.28) A restored people (echoes of Revelation) for the sake of His name
They should be Yahweh’s people, living in Yahweh’s land amidst blessing & abundance
Ø Prophecy of restoration & forgiveness looks ahead to a fulfilment in Jesus
Re-gathering at the Cross of the exiled & as a new people is formed;
those held captive to the power of sin are cleansed.
- Jesus died & was raised to new life that his spirit would be poured out.
God’s complete & confident hope in sending Jesus - acting for the glory of His name & in doing so, is bringing lavish blessing & radical transformation to those who then put their trust in Him.
______________
The people’s response: one would expect the Israelites to feel
joy, jubilation, awe & relief to these words of hope & blessing
- (v.31) Instead, response is one of shame & disgrace, sombre mood
Shame - leads to guilt: “I can never be forgiven”, erodes oneself
- leads to sorrow: “I did this yet I was forgiven”
= the gravity of their sin but also the magnitude of God’s grace
not crushing & destructive but fuel for genuine repentance
- (v.35) Like the Garden of Eden - great wonder at re-creation
... A remarkable blessing to a rebellious people;
As we are put in our place & brought low, God is elevated;
it is there we find ourselves elevated beyond that which we could ever imagine.