For the sake of God's Name (Ezekiel 36:16-38)
Walk through the Word 2023 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Announcments
Announcments
Lynn Maples' Memorial Service
Thursday, August 24, 2023
VISITATION: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 11:00 AM
Pfeffer Funeral Home
928 South 14th Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220
member meeting - following the service.
Introduction
Introduction
What is God like?
God reveals Himself through His chosen people and how he relates and reveals himself to them.
Exodus 34:6–7 (ESV)
6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
God’s character and provisions.
God elected (chose) Israel as His people to show the nations what He is like. (I will be using the “nations” as a representative term meaning country of their exile or all people of the earth apart of God’s chosen people)
He is gracious, kind, Merciful, Loyal (Expected loyalty), faithful, truthful, etc. He wanted the nations to see who He is through how He interacted with Israel.
He brought the Israelites out of slavery and provided them with a prosperous land. He would provide all they needed in abundance.
Israel was to live in covenant relationship with God as a witness to the nations to what God is like.
Their loyalty, faithfulness, worship, trust, relying on God, seeking Him, etc.
Live in the abundance and peace provided by the Lord.
The Jewish people were connected to the Lord through the covenant relationship and were known as His people to the Nations around them. The way they lived their lives reflected on God and how the nations saw Him.
Israel’s failure to live with Him.
They were not Loyal, trusting, seeking, worshiping, etc.
God judged them in their sins and sent them into exile. The Israelites did not represent Him well even in Exile.
The nations saw God as not able to protect His people because they were conquered and brought into exile.
God’s desire for the nations.
2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
1 John 2:1–2 (ESV)
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
God loves all of His creation and desires for all to come to Him. God elects (chooses) His people for the benefit of others not to the exclusion of others. How He and His people relate is a witness to the world about Him. This is true of Israel and the Church.
In Ezekiel 36:16-21, God is giving a prophetic message to the Israelites in Exile about His plan to restore them to the nation and restore His name among the nations.
Profaning the Name of God (36:16-21)
Profaning the Name of God (36:16-21)
Israel sin (16-18)
Defile the Land (16-17)
Ezekiel 36:16–17 (ESV)
16 The word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds.
Defiled - to defile v. — to make morally or ritually impure. (Sense)
Way - conduct ⇔ way n. — a course of conduct. (Sense)
Deeds - act (deed) n. — something that people do or cause to happen. (Sense)
Seeking and Worshiping the gods of the nations, not YHWH. By conducting their lives and justice through the values of the nations, not on the Law of God.
Sinful actions (18)
Ezekiel 36:18 (ESV)
18 So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood that they had shed in the land, for the idols with which they had defiled it.
Lord’s Wrath - “the term is used, as a rule, to convey the concept of an inner, emotional heat which rises and is fanned to varying degrees. The context usually gives a clue as to which translation should be preferred, whether anger, hot displeasure, indignation, wrath, rage or fury. … God is aroused to great heat because he, as a jealous God, sees the people he loves disobey him and appeal to, or consort with, sinners or “no gods.” He then expresses his rage or pours out his fury (Ezk 36:6). … The point seems clear, once God is provoked to ḥēmâ, satisfaction of some kind must be made by the execution of judgment upon the cause of it.” (“860 יָחַם.” Ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 1999: 375. Print.)
God’s wrath is poured out on Israel because of the shedding of innocent blood and Idolatry.
Lord’s Judgment (19)
Ezekiel 36:19 (ESV)
19 I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. In accordance with their ways and their deeds I judged them.
Lord’s concern (20-21)
The people profaned His name (20)
Ezekiel 36:20 (ESV)
20 But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that people said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they had to go out of his land.’
When they were in exile, they continued to live in a way that profaned the name of the Lord.
Profane (Same word as Defile (17))- to defile v. — to make morally or ritually impure. (Sense)
Lord’s Concern (21)
Ezekiel 36:21 (ESV)
21 But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.
The Nations were misunderstanding of His true Nature and Character of who God is.
Nation’s ambassador represents them, so the Israelites represent God. He wants to be represented well, so the nations will understand Him.
How Israel lived reflected of the Nature and Character of God. How the Church lives reflects on the Nature and Character of God.
God is seeking to save all people.
People will misunderstand Him and His message because of His representatives.
God is the savior of the whole world.
1 Timothy 2:3–6 (ESV)
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Israel has Profaned God’s name in the world. What is God going to do to restore His Holy name among the nations. He is about to prophecy.
Lord’s Solution (36:22-32)
Lord’s Solution (36:22-32)
Reason for restoration of Israel (22-23)
Lord’s actions are for His name Sake. (22)
Ezekiel 36:22 (ESV)
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.
Lord’s vindication of His name. (23)
Ezekiel 36:23 (ESV)
23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
Vindicate - to manifest holiness v., to provide evidence of one’s holiness. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Vindicate His name amongst the nations.
Restore Israel (24-29a)
Restore the Nation of Israel (24)
Ezekiel 36:24 (ESV)
24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.
God is going to bring them back out of Exile into the Land again.
Forgive and Cleans the People (25)
Ezekiel 36:25 (ESV)
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
Transform His people (26-27)
Ezekiel 36:26–27 (ESV)
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Restoration (28-29a)
Ezekiel 36:28–29 (ESV)
28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29 And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you.
Restore the strong covenant relationship with them.
Restore the Land of Israel (29b-30)
Ezekiel 36:29–30 (ESV)
29 And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. 30 I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations.
What he is doing here is similar to the exodus. Taking them from slavery in a nation, bringing them into the Land and redeeming them.
God is going to vindicate His name through the restoration of the nation of Israel and the mercy/transformation of His people.
Remember your Sin (31-32)
Ezekiel 36:31–32 (ESV)
31 Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord God; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.
This does not mean that God is not doing this for their betterment because in other text of scripture God does this for them as well. However, in this context, God is concerned about His name amongst the nations.
He wants them to remember their sin and be ashamed of their actions.
Results of the Lord’s actions (36:33-38)
Results of the Lord’s actions (36:33-38)
Prosperity for Israel (33-35, 37-38)
Restoration of the Land (33-35)
Ezekiel 36:33–35 (ESV)
33 “Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. 34 And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. 35 And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’
Blessing of the People (37-38)
Ezekiel 36:37–38 (ESV)
37 “Thus says the Lord God: This also I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: to increase their people like a flock. 38 Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Nations influenced (36)
Ezekiel 36:36 (ESV)
36 Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.
When will all this happen?
I see it as a progression of events throughout history.
Partial fulfillment - Restoration of the land through Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. (restoration into the Land)
Partial Fulfillment - Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. (forgiveness, transformation, Holy Spirit)
Partial/Full Fulfillment - Jesus second coming and Millennial Reign (Nations left all around, restoration of the Land)
God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ.
Lessons from Ezekiel
Lessons from Ezekiel
God’s desire is for all people to come to Him.
2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
God’s plan of redemption is that through Jesus Christ all people could be saved through His death and resurrection.
People learn about God through the lives and witness of His people.
“You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read, and your life is under scrutiny every day. What do others learn from you? Do they see an accurate picture of your God?” (MacArthur, John)
As God’s people, How we live our lives will honor the name of Jesus or profane it.
This is not about living in guilt or fear.
This should cause us the seek the Lord and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to live in a way that honors him and will be a good witness.
1 Peter 1:13–16 (ESV)
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Benediction
Romans 8:37–39 (NET 2nd ed.)
37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.