A New Heart

March 1, 2009

Lesson: Ezekiel 11:1-20

Key Verse: Ezekiel 11:19

Introduction

Ezekiel, meaning “the strength of God,” is a chosen prophet of the Lord during the time of great troubles for the people of God in captivity for their transgressions. Ezekiel was both prophet and priest: “The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar, and the hand of the Lord was there upon him” (Eze. 1:3). Ezekiel, along with King Jehoiachin, was taken to Babylon during the second exile: “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God” (Eze. 1:1). Ezekiel spent the rest of his life in Babylon, receiving revelations from the Lord.

“Concerning the date of it – the place whence it is dated and the time when. The scene is laid in Babylon, when it was a house of bondage to the Israel of God; there the prophecies of this book were preached, there they were written, when the prophet himself, and the people to whom he prophesied, were captives there. Ezekiel and Daniel are the only writing prophets of the Old Testament who lived and prophesied anywhere but in the land of Israel, except we add Jonah, who was sent to Nineveh to prophesy. Ezekiel prophesied in the beginning of the captivity, Daniel in the latter end of it. It was an indication of God’s good-will to them, and his gracious designs concerning them in their affliction, that he raised up prophets among them, both to convince them when, in the beginning of their troubles, they were secure and unhumbled, which was Ezekiel’s business, and to comfort them when, in the latter end of their troubles, they were dejected and discouraged” (Matthew Henry).

Ezekiel eleven begins with the Prophet being lifted up by the Spirit of God to see abominations that have besieged the city of Jerusalem, the city being an allegory of the desolation of Israel: “Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it” (Eze. 11:7). The Lord will bring his people to repentance, and they will be brought back to the land by promise. They will show their change from disobedience to obedience by taking “away all the detestable things” (vs. 18). The will be able to do this cleansing because of what the Lord will do: “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 the flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh” (Eze. 11:19).

We too live by the grace of God within an evil generation, having our hearts cleansed by his Word. John Calvin’s prayer from his Ezekiel Commentary aptly fits us today as we study this portion of Ezekiel eleven: “Grant, O mighty God, that we may learn to cast our eyes upon the state of thine ancient Church, since at the present day the sorrowful and manifest dispersion of thy Church seems to threaten its complete destruction. Grant also, that we may look upon those promises which are common to us also, that we may wait till thy Church emerges again from the darkness of death. Meanwhile, may we be content with thy help, however weak as to outward appearance, till at length it shall appear that our patience was not delusive, when we enjoy the reward of our faith and patience in thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

These are the Men – Ezekiel 11:1-3

The prophet Ezekiel instructs the people of God to take warning of those elders and princes who would lead them to follow the path of evil. He warns them through the vision he received from the Lord: “Moreover the spirit (breath of God, Holy Spirit) lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the Lord’s house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people;” implying “that those who held the reins of government were impious despisers of God, and hence it is not surprising that impiety and defection from God and his law had begun to increase among the whole people” (Calvin). Whether it is in the Church or in the civil governments, the importance of those chosen to office must be men of righteousness, being led by the moral law of God. If left unabated, the force of evil becomes more powerful, the people following a pied piper of man’s own making.

Ezekiel then records what the Spirit said to him, “Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city: which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.” These magistrates of the city, or it may be the elders of Church, cry out “Peace, peace” when there is no peace. These are they who know in their hearts that judgment is near, but they say it is not near, saying, “let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.” In other words, as the fire will not hurt the caldron, so we will not be hurt by the judgment, for our flesh is hid within. “Where Satan cannot persuade men to look upon the judgment to come as a thing doubtful and uncertain,” wrote Matthew Henry, “yet he gains his point by persuading them to look upon it as a thing at a distance, so that it loses its force: if it be sure, yet it is not near; whereas, in truth, the Judge stands before the door.” Therefore, look to your ‘elders’ and examine them with the Word of God.

Discussion: Why ought we to look first to those in leadership for the reason that evil surrounds us?

Execution of Just Judgment –Ezekiel 11:4-13

Ezekiel is to “prophecy” that the Israel may know what is the will and word of the Lord: “Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.” Though princes may wish to hide the truth of the situation from the people, the Lord not only knows what is true, but he also will reveal the truth: “Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.” Unrighteousness produces death, while righteousness produces life. Those who have “been slain” are the flesh of the city, while the city “is the caldron.” However, they will find no refuge in the city, but the Lord will bring them out of the city into captivity: “Ye have feared the sword and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord God. And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.” By this act of judgment Israel shall know that God alone is their Lord. His judgment is just: “for ye shall know that I am the Lord: for ye have not walked in my statutes, and neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.” When we transgress the moral law of the Lord, we are doing so in the manner of the wicked around us, even to the extent that we encourage their foolish acts of disobedience.

The Lord, in the vision, set Ezekiel’s eyes upon the death of Pelatiah, who was one of the chief rulers, which brought sorrow to the heart of the prophet, “who cried out with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord God! Wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?” This may be a rhetorical question, for God’s prophet would know of God’s promises to keep a remnant. Hope is always there that the Lord will remain true to his covenant; “He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth. He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generation” (Ps. 105:7-8).

Discussion: Why does God bring judgment upon his people?

A New Spirit Within – Ezekiel 11:14-20

The whole house of Israel is brought before the eyes of Ezekiel, calling them “thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly.” The Lord gives Ezekiel confidence that God will keep his covenant; “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.” Today the Christian see themselves as dispersed among many nations, sometimes making false sanctuaries by uniting themselves to political parties or liberal doctrines within false churches. Those in persecution find great hope in the sanctuary of the Lord who gives them his strength. Why should we not abide in the sanctuary that the Lord provides? Then we will become blessings to the brethren. Then we will know that we are truly priests and kings under the rule of the Prince of kings in every nation.

The Lord’s grace not only delivers his people but enables them to be a cleansing agent within themselves, their churches, homes, and communities: “And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.” They shall be able to do this because of the Lord’s act of grace in the hearts of his people. Calvin wrote, “But we see that the Prophet unites two things together, namely, the faithful elect of God strenuously attending to their duty, and intent on promoting his glory, even with ardor in the pursuit of his worship; and yet they were nothing by themselves.” Thus the Lord promises: “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 a heart of flesh: that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”

Discussion: What promises did God give to his people through his prophet Ezekiel?