Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Exilic Prophets (1) (4)
Pray Psalm 119.33, 34.
Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,And I shall keep it to the end.Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.Sing Psalm 119.33, 34.
(Regent Square: Angels from the Realms of Glory)
Teach me, LORD, and help me follow in Your perfect, righteous way!
From my heart I will observe and all Your holy Law obey.
Give me understanding, Jesus: I will keep Your Law always!
Read Ezekiel 36.22-38; meditate on verses 26, 27, 33-38.
Preparation
1. What will God give His people?2. What will they do with this gift?
Meditation
Ezekiel repeats a version of an earlier prophecy (Ezek. 11.19, 20), to the effect that a day was coming when God is going to give His people a new heart and put His Spirit within them. Jeremiah, Ezekiel’s near contemporary, also proclaimed this wonderful promise to the people who were going into captivity to Babylon (cf. Jer. 24.7; 31.33, 34). To the captive people of Israel, this must have seemed unreal and unlikely.
Some, however, would hold fast to such words, which would be fulfilled in the day when Jesus and the Father poured out the Holy Spirit for those who would believe. The effects of this work of God are dramatic, beginning in the souls of all who believe. Rather than despising or neglecting God’s Law, they would delight in it, learn it, and faithfully perform it by the indwelling power of God. Thus love for God and neighbors would increase as the people grew in understanding and obeying the Law.
The salvation of our Lord is so great! It brings renewal to our soul and the fulfillment of all God’s holy covenant (vv. 26-28). But the salvation and renewal that begins in the heart of everyone who believes does not stop there. The work of renewal spreads throughout the body and affects everything to which we put our hands. All our relationships, roles, and responsibilities will reflect the indwelling Presence of the Spirit as we walk in obedience to God’s Law.
Thus, God promises that this work of His Spirit will also brings cultural renewal—the rebuilding of cities, development of lands, fruitful harvests, and even effects on international relations (vv. 33-38). We are neglecting our great salvation if we do not seek its effects in all these arenas and more. God has promised that, as He saves and renews His people, when He gives us His Spirit and teaches us His Law, the Gospel we have embraced will bring out the goodness of the Lord in all aspects and areas of life.
We must be satisfied with nothing less.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Contrary to the notion that all things are done for us, and that God’s work is carried out for our happiness and eternal salvation, His voice rings loud and clear in this passage: “I do not do this for your sake…but for My holy Name’s sake, which [by the way] you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.” And additionally, “‘Not for your sake do I do this’, says the Lord GOD, ‘let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways…” (Ezek. 36.22, 32).
Our chief end, the catechism tells us, is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. It is all about Him, His Son, and the Holy Spirit—the Three in One holy, righteous, and good God.
It is when our lives match up to our mouths, and we are embracing the work of sanctification, that we are doing what God expects: “…the nations shall know that I AM the LORD when I AM hallowed in you before their eyes” (Ezek. 36.23).
And what will be the way to exhibit His power in our lives? That, indeed, it is all about Him and not about us? What will that look like? What will we think? Who will we be? How will we behave?
“I will give you a new heart
and put a new spirit within you;
I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh
and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you
and cause you to walk in My statutes,
and you will keep My judgments
and do them.
Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;
you shall be My people,
and I will be your God.
I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses” (Ezek. 36.26-29).
Because God’s Word is true, and His promises always kept,
Jesus’ salvation work was the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s Words to us through Ezekiel.
The only stipulation being: when we accept the gift, with thankfulness and appreciation,
we then walk within His Law, keep His Law, and do His Law.
“Then they shall know that I AM the LORD” (Ezek. 36.38).
“For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast.
For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2.8-10).
The Scriptures declare the Word and work of God (Jn. 5.36).
Creation declares the work and Word of God (Ps. 19.1-4).
And we? What do we do?
“Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5.16).
We dare not dishonor His majesty by evil ways and deeds that are not good (Ezek. 36.31).
Reflection
1. Day to day, what is your understanding of what the Spirit of God is working to do in and through you?
2. How is God working His renewal project through you?
3. Whom will you encourage today in their walk with and work for the Lord?
God will put his Spirit within, as a Teacher, Guide, and Sanctifier. The promise of God’s grace to fit us for our duty, should quicken our constant care and endeavor to do our duty. These are promises to be pleaded by, and will be fulfilled to, all true believers in every age. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ezekiel 36.26-38
Pray Psalm 119.35-40.
Pray that God will guide and empower your every step today, and the He will incline your heart to His Word and bring renewal into every aspect of your life.
Sing Psalm 119.35-40.
(Regent Square: Angels from the Realms of Glory)
Make me walk in Your commandments, let me keep Your holy part.
I will keep Your Law unfailing; from it let me ne’er depart.
For Your Word is my delight, Lord; help me keep it from the heart.
To Your holy testimonies, turn my heart, O gracious LORD.
Let me covet nothing worthless; my delight is in Your Word.
O revive me! O revive me, in Your way, most holy LORD!
Set me firmly in Your statutes, for Your servant, LORD, am I.
Fearing You in sweet devotion, let me live until I die.
Let no dread, let no reproach obscure Your judgments from my eye.
For Your holy precepts, Jesus, my whole heart longs earnestly,
for Your judgments all are good; Your Word is a delight to me!
In Your righteousness revive me! For Your goodness I would see!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: We continue reading excerpts from the book, Revived! in our Read Moore column. Why not listen in? Last week’s Crosfigell letter included a challenge to greater spiritual vision. And in our ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church”, we urged readers to pray that all things might be done for edification in the local church. And new in our bookstore, Let God Be True and Enjoying God, both free to download and share, and Ecclesiastes: A Matter of Perspective, also in free PDF format.
Support for Scriptorium comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
