A New Respect

Background Scripture: Ezekiel 36:22 – 32
Lesson Passage: Ezekiel 36:22 – 32

Today's lesson continues our study of Ezekiel's prophecies of restoration for the Nation of Israel. Each lesson presents some aspect of the total restoration that God is going to provide; however, the restoration will be under God’s control and not left up to their abilities. Our focus in today’s text is on restoring respect. What is respect? It is in fact twofold, i.e., it is how others see us and at the same time it is how we see ourselves. What God is promising in today's lesson passage is described against the backdrop of Israel’s past failures. God reminded Israel that they had brought shame to his name because of their lifestyle before the other nations. Because Israel violated God's laws and defiled his ordinances, the righteousness of God demanded that justice be served. Israel was judged by God because they misused and abused the land of promise once they had possessed it. God used heathen nations to punish Israel. Their punishment was so severe that their destitute state became part of the gossip. God first assured the prophet Ezekiel that those other nations who had mocked and put down the Jews because of their state of punishment, would indeed themselves be punished and at the same time they will witness Israel’s return to prosperity. Not only would Israel return to her previous condition, but conditions would be better than previously.

This good news was tempered with a bit of reality. God commanded Ezekiel to make it clear to Israel that what he was going to do would not be for their sakes but for his own name’s sake. The respect that would be brought about was in fact a new respect for God himself. It would not be enough just to restore Israel and give them a new leader. God demanded that they also abide by his laws and observe his ordinances. This would require two things. On the one hand, Israel would need to be cleansed spiritually. Because of their idolatry as well as their intermingling with other nations, God considered them to be ceremonially unclean. God promised to sprinkle or cleanse them of their spiritual defilement. After this, to insure that they would not go back to their old habits, God reminded them of earlier prophecy that he would give them a new spirit and a new heart. The Spirit of God in them would guide them and cause them to walk according to God's commandments. This is indeed good news. Israel would not have to remember all of the laws or statutes nor would they be required to remember all of the ordinances. The Spirit of God in them would be their guide and teacher; he would bring back to their remembrance all they needed to know so they could walk in the ordinances and laws of God. As changed people, Israel will be able to walk before other nations as godly examples because they will have the Spirit of God living in them. Their land will be fruitful and blessings will again flow from God. Only then would Israel be able to command the respect that God so richly deserved. This would not be a result of their might or strength nor would it be the result of their minds. But this could only come about because of the work of God on the inside of each one of them. They would indeed receive a new respect but it would not be for them. God’s restoration is for his name’s sake; he will be sanctified in Israel before the same nations that had once seen Israel bring shame to God’s name. In all that they would be able to do and all that they would become, it will be to God's glory. It would in fact be God who would receive a new respect.

Robert C. Hudson
March 9, 2009

Sunday School Corner

A New Shepherd
March 8, 2009


Background Scripture: Ezekiel 34
Lesson Passage: Ezekiel 34:23 – 31

Today’s lesson continues our study in the book of Ezekiel. This study progresses as God effects a total spiritual renewal of his people. Our last lesson focused on the individual’s need for a new spirit that subsequently would generate a new attitude and lead to works of righteousness. At this point in Ezekiel’s prophecy the change had not taken place but it was indeed the first change that would need to happen. This would come about as Israel returned to God in truth and sincerity and allowed him to give them a new heart. After this change of heart, God promised them new leadership. Many of the errors that caused Israel to go astray were directly attributed to the spiritual leadership of her kings. God established Israel as a theocracy or God-centered and directed government. Israel’s religious laws were the basis for all of her statutes and ordinances. Put another way, her civil laws were to be governed by those religious laws. Israel rejected this form of government because she wanted to be governed like the neighboring countries surrounding her. Israel demanded a king just as the other countries had kings. Samuel, Israel’s spiritual leader at the time, resisted the desire of the people but God instructed him to give his consent because their rejection was not of Samuel, God’s leader for them, but they were in fact rejecting God’s governance over their lives. This change from a theocracy to a monarchy form of government started a downward spiral that saw an increasing distance between the civil and the religious. Israel’s fate was in the hands of her kings just as Samuel prophesied it would be. As the king’s spirituality went, so too went Israel’s spirituality. Some kings were good kings but most of them were not. The good kings followed God’s leadership and depended on God but the bad kings did as they pleased and refused to listen to those God sent to warn them of impending danger. It was this downward spiritual cycle that led to Israel’s exile in Babylon. The people followed their leaders and their hearts became hardened just like their leaders. God remained true to the covenant he had with Abraham and because of it, he would restore Israel. In addition to promising the people a new spirit, God also promised them new leadership. God would give them a leader that would not lead them astray or away from him.

God instructed Ezekiel to warn the shepherds that he was against them. They had taken advantage of the sheep (God’s people) and had abused them to their own gain. This led to the scattering of Israel among the nations. God promised to gather them from among the nations where they were driven and bind up those that were bruised. Furthermore, God would honor his covenant with David by placing David’s descendant over God’s people as their shepherd. This relationship would not last for a generation but it would be eternal. God ended this portion of prophecy with a statement of clarity. The sheep of God’s flock are men and the shepherd is God.

Robert C. Hudson
February 26, 2009