November 2, 2019
1. Review.
The Lord gave Ezekiel His prophet visions in order to communicate through him to the Children of Israel.
These visions were in 4 categories
• A Vision of God – What is God Like? (Chap1 & 10)
• A Vision of Judgement – When God is Your Adversary! (Chap 6 & 7, 14, 23, 25-32)
• A Vision of Restoration – Death Precedes Life!(Chap 37)
• A Vision of Renewal – A Future That’s Coming (Chap 43)
God’s goal for the nation of Israel after His judgement and 70 years of exile in Babylon was shown through Ezekiel’s ‘Vision of a Valley of Dry Bones’ showing the Nation of Israel would be restored Ezekiel 37:11-14 (study 3)
2. The future that’s coming.
In this study we look at Ezekiel’s vision of God’s renewal of Israel.
Read Ezekiel 37:15-22. What would happen to the divided nation of Israel?
What is the promise of Ezekiel 37:23? How will this be accomplished? Ezekiel 37:14? Is this referring to then or to the future Church or both? Consider who is “My servant David” referring to? Ezekiel 37:24-25.
Discuss how this has happened in the church. Ephesians 2:18, 21 (extended reading Ephesians 2:11-22), 1 Corinthians 12:13.
3. God’s Glory Returned.
Read Ezekiel 43:1-5. What happened and what was Ezekiel’s response? Discuss why Ezekiel saw this as so significant for God’s people, the Nation of Israel? What had happened years earlier Ezekiel 11:22-23.
What did the presence of “The Glory of the Lord” indicate?
What did the following phases in Ezekiel 43:7 indicate:
• ‘place of My throne’
• ‘place where I will rest my feet’
What did God promise in Ezekiel 43:27b?
4. Renewal Today.
So, what does Ezekiel’s vision of renewal mean for us today?
What happens to a person when they put their faith in Jesus Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 1:13. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.
Renewal continues to be the desire that God has for His people today.
Some aspects of this Renewal will be sudden, immediate as at conversion.
Aspects of this renewal will be a process of gradual, progressive change as we grow.
What does Paul say in 2 Corinthians 3:18? What do we become? Where is God’s glory?
Where is God’s rightful place in our lives and what will be the results? Romans 12:1-2.
How do you see your future as God’s child?
The future that’s coming for each Christian is not primarily centered on a place it is centred on a person – the person of Jesus.
5. Summary.
The book of Ezekiel begins by describing the holiness of God that Israel had despised and ignored. As a result, God’s presence departed from the Temple, the city and the people. The book ends with a detailed vision of the new Temple, the new city and the new people-all demonstrating God’s holiness.
The pressures of everyday life may cause us to focus on the here and now and thus forget God. That is why worship is so important; it takes our eyes off our current worries, gives us a glimpse of God’s holiness, and allows us to look toward His future Kingdom. God’s presence makes everything glorious, and worship brings us into His presence. Taken from ‘Life Application Study Bible’