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A New Heart (1 of 2)
Series: Ezekiel
D. Marion Clark
Ezekiel 36:24-38
Introduction
A few weeks ago a soloist sang for the prelude the song that we know as ''Dem Bones.'' I was struck by the rendition of it, which presents more than a funny children's song, but gets the message across about the power of God's word. Next week we will consider the text it comes from. The message this morning treats the passage that precedes the Valley of Dry Bones passage in Ezekiel 37.
Text
This passage is famous in its own right, especially verses 25-27. Here is the context. Jerusalem has fallen to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The nation of Judah has ended. The northern kingdom of Israel had been broken up over a century earlier and the inhabitants deported throughout the Assyrian empire of that time. A decade earlier, Judah had succumbed to Nebuchadnezzar who had then taken many of the people, especially the nobles, to Babylon. Daniel and the prophet Ezekiel were in that number. He had kept the Judean king on the throne, but that king, Zedekiah, revolted, bringing final destruction upon Jerusalem and Judah.
Ezekiel had prophesied that this destruction would take place and had explained why. It was for the same reason that all of the other prophets had said, namely, for Judah's rebellious sins. Even so, destruction is not the last word for God's people. Let's listen in.
24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.
This is the good news of redemption - of being brought out of exile and restored to their homeland. God has not forgotten the people of Israel. (And from now on, they will no longer be known as Israel, the northern kingdom and Judah, the southern kingdom. They are the one covenant people of Israel.)
But deliverance from exile is not the heart of Ezekiel's message. The good news is not merely that God's people will move back home but that a transformation will take place withi ...
Series: Ezekiel
D. Marion Clark
Ezekiel 36:24-38
Introduction
A few weeks ago a soloist sang for the prelude the song that we know as ''Dem Bones.'' I was struck by the rendition of it, which presents more than a funny children's song, but gets the message across about the power of God's word. Next week we will consider the text it comes from. The message this morning treats the passage that precedes the Valley of Dry Bones passage in Ezekiel 37.
Text
This passage is famous in its own right, especially verses 25-27. Here is the context. Jerusalem has fallen to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The nation of Judah has ended. The northern kingdom of Israel had been broken up over a century earlier and the inhabitants deported throughout the Assyrian empire of that time. A decade earlier, Judah had succumbed to Nebuchadnezzar who had then taken many of the people, especially the nobles, to Babylon. Daniel and the prophet Ezekiel were in that number. He had kept the Judean king on the throne, but that king, Zedekiah, revolted, bringing final destruction upon Jerusalem and Judah.
Ezekiel had prophesied that this destruction would take place and had explained why. It was for the same reason that all of the other prophets had said, namely, for Judah's rebellious sins. Even so, destruction is not the last word for God's people. Let's listen in.
24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.
This is the good news of redemption - of being brought out of exile and restored to their homeland. God has not forgotten the people of Israel. (And from now on, they will no longer be known as Israel, the northern kingdom and Judah, the southern kingdom. They are the one covenant people of Israel.)
But deliverance from exile is not the heart of Ezekiel's message. The good news is not merely that God's people will move back home but that a transformation will take place withi ...
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