Bible reading & studying in one year on 12/8/2021 Ezekiel 34-36 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible reading & studying in one year on 12/8/2021 Ezekiel 34-36

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel Music

Chapter 34 Ezekiel mentioned about Israel’s Shepherds: False shepherds 34:1-31 and the true Shepherd 34:11-31. In 34:2 “Shepherds of Israel” I.e. like Jehoiakim and Zedehiah, who did not protect and provide for the people (Jer.23:1). In verse 13 God, the good Shepherd will restore the people to their land (to be completely fulfilled in the millennial kingdom). God not only judges false leaders, but also those who trample on the poor (v.18).

 

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: “this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled then harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them…I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them. (vv.1-6, 10).

 

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep? I will rescuer them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and father them from the countries and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. (vv.11-16)

 

In verse 23 mentioned about “My servant David” was not indicated King David resurrected, but David’s greatest descendant, the Messiah (see Isa.55:3 and Jer.23:5).  

 

I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I, the Lord have spoken. (vv.22, 23,24.)

 

In verse 25 mentioned, “A covenant of peace” is the new covenant, its blessings include the taming of nature (Isa.11:6-9), increased productivity of the land (Isa.35:1-2), safe occupation of the land of Palestine (Amos9:14-15), and the knowledge of God (Jer.31:34).

 

I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety. (v.25).

I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing (v.26).  

 

The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them. They will no long be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid. (vv.27-28).

 

I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. Then they will know that I, the Lord their God am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord. (vv.29-31).

Chapter 35:1-36:38 Ezekiel prophesy the rebirth of the Nation.

35:1-15 the destruction of Edom. Verse 2 states “Mount Seir” the mountainous region SW of the Dead Sea where the Edomites lived (see Obadiah and Ezek.25:12-14) Edom joined with the Babylonians in 587 in killing Jewish refugees (v.5) and grabbing some of the land (v.10). As Edom rejoiced over the fall of Judah, so the nations of the world would rejoice over the fall of Edom (vv.14-15)

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: while the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolated, O Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the Lord. (vv.14-15)

Chapter 36:1-38 the New Covenant with Israel

 The mountains of Israel. I.e. the mountain land of Israel, which is here promised deliverance from all her enemies. (v.1) in the kingdom age, the land of Israel will be luxuriantly fruitful (34:25)

 

“I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children. (vv.9-12)

 

Another promise of the ultimate regathering of scattered Israel from the nations to her own land, a prophecy that will find fulfillment at the end of the Tribulations period (Matt.24:31; cf.Jer.16:15). The new covenant with Israel ( to be inaugurated for them at the second coming of Christ, Rom.11:26-27) provides for the spiritual regeneration of those Jews living at that time (cleansing , new heart, and presence of the Spirit are specifically promised in these verses (vv.25-28).

 

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 show myself holy through you before their eyes.(vv.22-23)

 

For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. (vv.24-25)

 

I will give you a NEW HEART and put a NEW SPIRIT in you; I will remove from you

Your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my SPIRIT in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (vv.26-27)

 

Other results of Israel’s regeneration include possession of their land (v.28), renewed relationship with God, productivity of the land (vv.29-30) and repentance of past sins (vv.31-32)

 

You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel! (vv.28-32)

 

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, “ This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden, the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited. Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it. (vv.33-36 )

 

 

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.