BSF Lesson 2

Lesson 2 Questions

First Day: Read Lesson 1 Notes.

1. How did the lecture help you relate Ezekiel’s experience to your position and response before God?

1. As an Air Force veteran, a cyber instructor, and an ordained Southern Baptist minister, I found the lecture on Ezekiel 1–2: Ezekiel 1:1–2 (ESV)

“Ezekiel in Babylon

1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin),”

2.

profoundly relatable to my own walk with God and my calling. Ezekiel’s vision of God’s glory flattened him in humility, reminding me of the moments in the Air Force when I stood before overwhelming power on or near the flight line or in combat like areas, where respect for authority and recognition of forces greater than myself were instinctive; likewise, before God, I recognize my utter dependence on His Spirit. As a cyber instructor, Ezekiel’s vision of wheels covered with eyes recalled God’s omniscience, much like the constant vigilance and oversight required in cyberspace—reminding me that no vulnerability and no sin escapes His sight. As a minister, I resonate with Ezekiel’s commission to speak God’s truth to a rebellious people, realizing that my role is not to please or persuade in my own strength but to faithfully proclaim, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says,” having first internalized His Word as Ezekiel ate the scroll. Together, these perspectives press me to see that my position before God is that of a man wholly dependent on grace, unable to stand apart from His Spirit, and my response must be one of humble submission, bold obedience, and unwavering trust that His power, not my credentials or strength, accomplishes His purposes—calling me to stand as soldier, teacher, and minister alike, faithful whether others listen or reject the message.

2. What truths from the notes enraged you to listen to God and speak for Him?

1. From the perspective of an Air Force veteran, a cyber instructor, and an ordained Southern Baptist minister, the truths from the notes that most stirred me—indeed, compelled me—to listen to God and speak for Him were those that emphasized His absolute authority, His unwavering presence, and the necessity of obedience regardless of reception. As a veteran, I resonated with Ezekiel’s collapse before God’s glory, for it recalled the discipline of recognizing a higher command and submitting to it without hesitation; the truth that no one can stand before God unless the Spirit raises him reminded me that my strength and training are never enough, but His Spirit enables me to stand. As a cyber instructor, the image of the wheels full of eyes enraged—or rather, energized—me to understand that God’s omniscience is like the ultimate defense-in-depth: no hidden sin, no unseen rebellion, no concealed weakness escapes His sight, and if He sees everything, then I must teach and live with integrity, knowing that accountability before Him is total. As a minister, I was gripped by the truth that Ezekiel was called to declare, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says,” whether the people listened or not; this cut against the temptation to measure faithfulness by popularity or response, reminding me that God’s Word stands unshaken by human approval. These truths together inflamed in me a holy urgency: to remember that like Ezekiel, I am placed in difficult circumstances not by accident but by divine appointment; to accept that the scroll God places before me may contain lament and woe, yet it must be consumed and proclaimed; and to trust that my duty is to obedience, not outcome. The lecture therefore enraged me—in the sense of stirring righteous zeal and holy passion—to listen attentively to God’s voice and to speak for Him with clarity and courage, as both soldier under command, instructor charged with vigilance, and minister entrusted with the gospel, leaving the results entirely in His hands.

Second Day: Read Ezekiel 36:16-23: The LORD’s Concern for His Holy Name

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. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity. 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. 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. 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.’ 21 But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.

I Will Put My Spirit Within You

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. 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.

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 36:16–23.

3a. How and why did God pour out His wrath on the Israelites?

God poured out His wrath because the Israelites defiled the land through their persistent sin, idolatry, and bloodshed. They profaned what was meant to be holy by disregarding His covenant and living no differently than the pagan nations around them. Just as in the military when standards are ignored and discipline breaks down, consequences follow swiftly to preserve order and integrity, so too God’s wrath was necessary to preserve His holiness and justice. His wrath was not impulsive but righteous—a response to rebellion that had long ignored His warnings through the prophets. As a cyber instructor, I think of systems compromised by negligence; just as vulnerabilities must be patched or firewalls enforced, God’s wrath was His just response to breach after breach of covenant faithfulness. As a minister, I recognize that wrath reveals both God’s holiness and His love—because He disciplines those He loves, not to destroy them, but to call them back to Himself.

3b. What did people in other nations say as they observed Israel’s situation, and why did this profane God’s name?

When the surrounding nations witnessed Israel’s downfall—God’s chosen people scattered and broken—they concluded that Israel’s God was either powerless to protect them or indifferent to their plight. This misunderstanding profaned God’s name, dragging His reputation through the mud in the eyes of the nations. As a veteran, I understand how reputation and credibility are vital; when a unit fails in battle, it reflects not only on the soldiers but also on the leadership and command. Israel’s exile appeared to the world as if the Lord had abandoned His people or could not defend them, staining His honor among the nations. As a cyber instructor, I see the parallel in how a major data breach in a trusted system can make outsiders question the competence of the entire security framework. Spiritually, Israel’s exile made the nations misjudge the holiness and strength of Yahweh. As a minister, this convicts me that how God’s people live reflects directly on His name; when we compromise with sin or live indistinguishably from the world, unbelievers may mock not us but the God we claim to serve.

3c. From verses Ezekiel 36:22-23 … explain why God would intervene on His people’s behalf.

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. 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.

11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 36:22–23,

God made it clear that His intervention was not primarily for Israel’s sake but for the sake of His holy name, which His people had profaned among the nations. He acted to vindicate His glory, to show the watching world that He alone is the Lord. As a veteran, I understand that when the integrity of command is questioned, decisive action must be taken not just for the immediate soldiers but for the honor and credibility of the entire force. God’s intervention restored the truth of who He is before the nations. As a cyber instructor, I see this in terms of system trust—when trust is broken, the architect must act decisively to restore confidence in the system’s design. As a minister, this truth humbles me: God’s ultimate aim is the exaltation of His name, not my comfort. His saving work flows from His own holiness and faithfulness, demonstrating to the nations His sovereignty and His relentless commitment to His covenant.

4a. From today’s verses and other scriptures you may know (such as 2 Corinthians 5:20 …) note some ways the sin of God’s people impacts his reputation in the world today. * Matthew 17 is another section. Another references was made to prosperity gospels.

Ezekiel 36 reminds me that God’s people bear His name, and our lives reflect His reputation to the watching world. Just as Israel’s sin brought dishonor to His name among the nations, so too our compromise or hypocrisy can distort people’s view of Christ. But in Christ, we are called to be His ambassadors, as Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5:20: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” As a veteran, I know the weight of carrying a nation’s flag into foreign lands—you represent more than yourself, you embody the honor and credibility of the country. As a cyber instructor, I emphasize to my students that trust and integrity are foundational; the moment trust is broken, credibility crumbles. Spiritually, as a minister, I must live and teach in a way that points clearly to Christ, not to myself, so that God’s name is honored, not profaned. This means daily repentance, faithful obedience, and a readiness to speak truth in love, no matter how countercultural it may seem.

4b. How do God’s holiness and the greatness of His name change the way you live?

God’s holiness and the greatness of His name change the way I live by continually reminding me that my life is not my own, but a reflection of the One I serve. As a veteran, I know what it means to wear a uniform that represents not only myself but my entire branch of service and my nation; any failure in conduct brought dishonor not just to me but to the flag I stood under. In the same way, as a child of God, my choices either honor or profane His holy name before a watching world. As a cyber instructor, I teach my students that trust and vigilance are everything; if integrity is compromised, the system fails and the name of the institution suffers. God’s holiness calls me to guard my own integrity even more diligently, knowing that He sees all and that my testimony either strengthens or undermines others’ trust in Him. As a minister, I am convicted that every sermon I preach and every life I live before my congregation must point upward, magnifying the greatness of His name rather than drawing attention to myself. Holiness demands humility, obedience, and vigilance, and His great name fuels both my fear of failing Him and my joy in serving Him. Ultimately, this means I strive to live in a way that exalts Christ in my words, my work, and my witness—standing firm like a soldier under orders, teaching faithfully like a watchman on the wall, and shepherding God’s people in a manner worthy of His holy name. Romans 12 was referenced.

Third Day:

Read Ezekiel 36:24-38.

24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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.’ 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.

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.” 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 36:24–38.

God’s promises to Israel gave His people hope.

5. a. From verses 24-30 … list physical and spiritual blessings God promised His exiled people.

Physical blessings:

• God would gather His scattered people from the nations and bring them back into their own land (v. 24).
• He would make the land fruitful again, with abundant grain, crops, and fields (vv. 29–30).
• He promised protection from famine and renewed prosperity so that the nations would see His provision (v. 30).

Spiritual blessings:

• God would sprinkle clean water on them and cleanse them from all impurities and idols (v. 25).
• He would give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them (v. 26).
• He would place His Spirit in them, enabling them to walk in obedience to His statutes (v. 27).
• They would be His people, and He would be their God (v. 28).

5. b. How do these promises relate to salvation in Christ? (Include any Scripture verses that come to mind.)

These promises find their ultimate fulfillment in the new covenant established through Jesus Christ.

• Cleansing with water (v. 25) parallels Christ’s cleansing of believers by His blood and by the washing of the Word (Ephesians 5:25–27: 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 5:25–27. ; Titus 3:5: 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Tt 3:5.).
• The new heart and new spirit (v. 26) foreshadow regeneration—the new birth that Jesus described in John 3:3–6: 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 3:3–6.
• The indwelling Spirit (v. 27) points directly to Pentecost and the ongoing gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to obey (Acts 2:38: 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 2:37–38.; Romans 8:9–11: 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 8:9–11.).
• God’s declaration, “You will be my people, and I will be your God” (v. 28), finds its ultimate expression in Revelation 21:3: 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 21:3., where the redeemed dwell eternally with Him.

As a veteran, I see this like moving from an old operating order into a new one—the old covenant revealed the need, but the new covenant in Christ supplies the power and freedom to live as God commands. As a cyber instructor, I see the Spirit as the new “operating system” installed into a believer, enabling obedience from the inside out rather than forced compliance from the outside in. As a minister, I rejoice that these blessings remind us salvation is not about self-repair but about God’s radical transformation—cleansing, renewal, and Spirit-empowered living through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 5:17.).

6. From verses 31-32, in what way is grief over our sin profitable? (See also Romans 2:4 … and 2 Corinthians 7:10 …)

Grief over sin is profitable because it drives us to genuine repentance and deeper dependence on God’s grace. Ezekiel says the people would “remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities.” This isn’t hopeless despair—it’s godly sorrow that produces repentance. Paul affirms this in 2 Corinthians 7:10: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” Romans 2:4 reminds us that God’s kindness leads us to repentance, meaning grief is not an end in itself but a tool to break our pride and turn us toward His mercy.

As a veteran, I think of after-action reviews in the military: painful as they are, they allow growth, correction, and renewed effectiveness. As a cyber instructor, I see this in vulnerability scans—painful findings lead to patches, updates, and stronger systems. As a minister, I know that repentance marked by godly grief is what softens the heart and exalts Christ, making room for His Spirit to work.

7. God’s work on behalf of His people gives Him glory and extends grace to them by delivering them from evil. How have you experienced God’s work on your behalf, and what was the result?

I have experienced God’s work on my behalf in countless ways, but most profoundly in the way He delivered me from sin’s dominion and redirected my life’s purpose. As a veteran, I know what it is to rely on strength, discipline, and training, yet God showed me that none of that could overcome the weight of sin; only His grace through Christ could. As a cyber instructor, I have seen how systems fail when left to themselves—likewise, my life apart from God would collapse under unaddressed vulnerabilities. But in Christ, He patched my brokenness, restored my purpose, and gave me a new heart. As a minister, I have watched Him not only save me but also equip me to speak His Word into others’ lives, turning weakness into testimony. The result has been both peace and boldness: peace in knowing I am secure in Him, and boldness to live and teach so that His name is glorified.

Fourth Day questions on Ezekiel 37:1–14

8. From verses 1–3 … what did Ezekiel see, and what does his answer to God’s question reveal?

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.”11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:1–3.

Ezekiel saw a valley full of very dry bones—lifeless, scattered, and beyond human hope of restoration. When God asked him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel wisely answered, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” His response shows humility, dependence, and faith. As a veteran, I see this like facing an impossible battlefield situation—surrounded by overwhelming loss, acknowledging that victory could only come by the Commander’s will. As a cyber instructor, I see it as looking at a completely compromised system—destroyed beyond human repair—and admitting only the Architect of life could restore it. As a minister, I’m reminded that human wisdom fails, but faith looks to God’s sovereignty with confidence that He alone can bring life where there is none.

9a. From verses 4–8 … what did God command Ezekiel to prophesy? What happened when he did?

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:4–8.

God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, telling them to hear the word of the Lord—that God would bring breath, sinews, flesh, and skin upon them. When Ezekiel obeyed and prophesied, there was a rattling sound; the bones came together, tendons and flesh appeared, and skin covered them, though they were not yet alive. This demonstrates that obedience to God’s word has power, even in the face of impossibility. As a veteran, I know the importance of carrying out an order even when I don’t understand the outcome—Ezekiel spoke, and God acted. As a cyber instructor, I see a parallel in how a lifeless system can begin to rebuild piece by piece when the right commands are given. As a minister, I know this illustrates how God’s Word brings structure, order, and readiness before the Spirit breathes true life.

9b. From verses 9–10 … what happened the second time Ezekiel prophesied?

9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:9–10.

God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath (or spirit), calling it to come from the four winds and breathe into the slain so that they might live. When he did, breath entered them, and they stood on their feet, a vast army. This shows that God’s Spirit is the source of true life and strength. As a veteran, this resonates deeply—bones alone don’t make an army; it is the breath, discipline, and Spirit that give them force. As a cyber instructor, this reminds me that even a perfectly rebuilt system without power is still useless; it takes the Spirit’s “breath” to animate God’s people. As a minister, I rejoice that this vision points us to Pentecost and the Spirit’s work in the Church—God’s Word forms us, and His Spirit fills us, making us a living testimony to His power.

10a. From verses 11–14 … what was God communicating?

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.” 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:11–14.

God explained that the bones represented Israel, saying, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone.” The vision communicated His promise to open their graves, bring them back to their land, and put His Spirit within them so they would live. It was a message of hope and restoration for a people in exile who felt cut off and beyond repair. As a veteran, this is like hearing a commander promise reinforcements when all hope is lost—it renews courage. As a cyber instructor, it reminds me that even when a system seems irreparably destroyed, restoration is possible through the hand of the Architect. As a minister, I know this is the gospel itself: God brings life to the spiritually dead, hope to the hopeless, and restoration to the broken.

10b. What has God accomplished in your life that only He could do?

Only God could take my own “valley of dry bones”—a life marked by sin, pride, and self-reliance—and breathe new life through the saving work of Jesus Christ. As a veteran, I know the pride that comes with self-discipline and achievement, but none of it could overcome my sin; only His Spirit could humble me and raise me to new life. As a cyber instructor, I know the precision of systems, but even the most sophisticated frameworks cannot restore a broken soul; only God could give me a new heart and His Spirit. As a minister, I stand as living testimony that He not only saved me but also called me to speak His Word, to be part of His “vast army” declaring His glory. The result has been transformation—moving from death to life, hopelessness to hope, and silence to a Spirit-empowered voice for His kingdom.

Fifth Day questions on Ezekiel 37:15–28: I Will Be Their God; They Shall Be My People

15 The word of the LORD came to me: 16 “Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 17 And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. 18 And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ 19 say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. 20 When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, 21 then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. 22 And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

24 “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. 25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:15–28.

11a. Describe the dramatic, prophetic visual God commanded Ezekiel to perform.

God told Ezekiel to take two sticks and write on them—one representing Judah and the Israelites associated with him, and the other representing Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him. Then Ezekiel was to join the sticks together in his hand so that they became one stick. This was a physical, prophetic act—like a field exercise in the military—that used a tangible image to drive home God’s promise of unity.

11b. From verses 18–23 … what did this visual illustrate?

18 And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ 19 say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. 20 When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, 21 then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. 22 And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:18–23.

The joined sticks illustrated that God would reunite His divided people—Judah and Israel—into one nation under His rule. They would no longer be two kingdoms, and their idolatry and rebellion would be removed. They would be cleansed and restored to live faithfully in the land God gave their ancestors. As a veteran, I see this as a picture of fragmented units being reassembled under one command, no longer divided but operating with unity and discipline. As a cyber instructor, I see it as once-disconnected systems being securely integrated to function as one network. As a minister, I recognize this as God’s declaration that His fractured people would be reconciled, purified, and restored under His covenant.

12. How does the prophecy in verses 24–26 … point to Christ?

The prophecy speaks of one shepherd, God’s servant David, ruling over the people. Though David was long dead, this points forward to the Messiah, the Son of David, who would reign forever. 2 Samuel 7:12–16: 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 7:12–16. records God’s covenant promise to David that his throne would be established forever. Jeremiah 50:5: 5 They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.’ 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Je 50:5. echoes the covenantal language of unity and faithfulness to the Lord. Matthew 1:1: The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 1:1. confirms that Jesus Christ is “the son of David, the son of Abraham,” the rightful heir to this promise. As a veteran, I know the power of leadership—true unity and victory come only under the right commander. As a cyber instructor, I see this as the ultimate system administrator—Christ Himself—who brings order, oversight, and protection to His people. As a minister, I know this prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, our Shepherd-King, who unites Jew and Gentile into one body, the Church (John 10:16: 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 10:16.; Ephesians 2:14–16: 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 2:14–16.).

13a. What hope do verses 27–28 … offer?

27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:27–28.

These verses promise that God will dwell among His people, that His sanctuary will be with them forever, and that He will be their God and they will be His people. This is the hope of God’s permanent presence and peace, a foreshadowing of Revelation 21:3: 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 21:3. where God declares, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.”

13b. How do God’s presence with and work within His people provide a witness to the world?

God’s presence among His people testifies to the nations that He alone is the Lord who makes His people holy. When the world sees God’s people transformed, unified, and living in holiness, it points back to the greatness of His name. As a veteran, I know that when a unit thrives under the banner of its commander, outsiders recognize the strength of its leadership. As a cyber instructor, I see how a well-secured, resilient network demonstrates the skill of its architect. As a minister, I know that when the Church lives faithfully, it is a living testimony to God’s presence—our unity and transformation become the greatest apologetic for the gospel.

14. What helps you trust God when circumstances overwhelm you? What have you learned so far in this study and in your life?

What helps me trust God in overwhelming circumstances is remembering His past faithfulness and the certainty of His promises. As a veteran, I learned to rely on my training and the trustworthiness of my leaders in the midst of chaos; now, in life and faith, I lean even more heavily on the Commander of heaven’s armies, who has never failed. As a cyber instructor, I know that when systems are under siege, it is the preparation and security built beforehand that sustains them; likewise, immersing myself in God’s Word and prayer prepares me to endure trials. As a minister, I have learned through Scripture and experience that God’s glory is not diminished by hardship, and His Spirit empowers me to stand when I feel too weak. From this study in Ezekiel, I have learned that God’s presence is not confined to place or circumstance—He was with His people in exile, He raised dry bones to life, He promises unity under Christ, and He will dwell with us forever. That assurance strengthens my trust and fuels my hope even in the most overwhelming moments.

Sixth Day: Review Ezekiel 36:16–37:28.

God delivers His people from death—by His Spirit and for His glory.

15. What truth about God, revealed in Ezekiel, offers you hope and encouragement this week?

The truth about God revealed in Ezekiel that offers me hope and encouragement this week is His unwavering power to bring life where there is only death and to restore what seems beyond repair—all by His Spirit and for His glory. As a veteran, I know what it is to walk into situations that feel hopeless, where losses seem final and strength feels spent, yet Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones reminds me that the Commander of heaven’s armies is never outmatched and that His authority reaches even into the valley of despair. As a cyber instructor, I see that even the most compromised system, corrupted and broken beyond human repair, can be fully restored when the Architect Himself intervenes, breathing new life into what was thought lost. As a minister, I am deeply encouraged that God acts not because of my worthiness but for the greatness of His name; His glory guarantees His faithfulness, and His Spirit guarantees His presence within me. This week, when circumstances threaten to overwhelm or when I feel the weight of human weakness, I take courage in knowing that the same God who gathered Israel, cleansed them, gave them a new heart, raised dry bones to life, and promised a coming Shepherd-King is still at work today—bringing hope out of hopelessness, life out of death, and victory out of what seems impossible.

Lesson 2 Expanded – Ezekiel 36:16–37:28

Day Two – Ezekiel 36:16–23

3a. How and why did God pour out His wrath on the Israelites?

Ezekiel declares plainly: Israel’s idolatry, bloodshed, and rebellion defiled the land (ḥillēl, חִלֵּל – “to pollute, profane”). God’s wrath (Hebrew ḥēmāh, חֵמָה – “burning anger, fury”) fell not because of geopolitical accidents but because sin violated covenant holiness (cf. Deut 28). The imagery recalls Levitical teaching where sin pollutes land and temple (Lev 18:25). As a veteran, I see this like a commander enforcing discipline across a unit: unchecked failure threatens the whole force, so discipline—even severe—must fall to preserve integrity. As a cyber instructor, I think of vulnerabilities left unpatched; when systems are repeatedly compromised, eventually the architect enforces drastic resets. As a minister, I see here God’s holiness: wrath is not arbitrary rage but righteous correction, intended to preserve His name and turn hearts back to Him.

3b. What did people in other nations say, and why did this profane God’s name?

The nations assumed Yahweh was powerless. In ancient Near Eastern thought, gods were “tied” to their land. When Israel was expelled, pagans concluded Israel’s God had failed. The Hebrew ḥillēl again is used—Israel’s sin “profaned” (made common, cheapened) God’s šēm qādôš (שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁ – “holy name”). As a veteran, I know what it means to dishonor a flag or uniform—an act of shame reflects on the entire nation. As a cyber instructor, I see it like a failed system breach that makes the architect appear incompetent. As a minister, I am humbled: the way God’s people live either magnifies His holiness or profanes His name.

3c. Why would God intervene?

God says, “Not for your sake… but for the sake of my holy name” (36:22). The phrase in Hebrew (lĕma‘an šēmî haqqādôš) highlights His ultimate motive: His glory. He would vindicate His holiness (qiddashtî – to set apart, sanctify) so that the nations know He is Yahweh. The Septuagint uses hagiasthēsetai (ἁγιασθήσεται), same root as the Lord’s Prayer, “hallowed be thy name.” As a minister, I rest in this: my salvation is not grounded in my worth but in God’s zeal for His glory. As a veteran, I see a commander protecting the honor of his colors. As a cyber instructor, it is like the architect restoring a compromised system, not because of the users’ merit, but to demonstrate the reliability of the design.

Day Three – Ezekiel 36:24–38

5a. List physical and spiritual blessings.

• Physical: regathering to land (36:24), fruitful harvests (vv. 29–30), rebuilding ruined cities (vv. 33–36).
• Spiritual: cleansing from sin (ṭāhēr, טָהֵר – to purify, v. 25), new heart (lēb ḥādāš), new spirit (rûaḥ ḥădāšāh, v. 26), indwelling Spirit (v. 27).

5b. How do these promises relate to salvation in Christ?

• Cleansing → fulfilled in Christ’s blood (Heb 9:14; Titus 3:5).
• New heart & Spirit → regeneration (John 3:3–6; 2 Cor 5:17).
• Spirit indwelling → Acts 2 Pentecost, Romans 8.
• God’s covenant formula (“You will be my people, I will be your God”) fulfilled in Revelation 21:3.
• As a veteran, this is like a soldier receiving not only forgiveness of past failures but new training and strength to fight rightly. As a cyber instructor, this is the difference between patching a broken system and installing an entirely new OS. As a minister, I proclaim this is the gospel: salvation is not reform but re-creation.

6. In what way is grief over sin profitable?

Verses 31–32 say they would loathe their sins (qût, קוּץ – to feel disgust). Paul echoes: godly sorrow produces repentance (2 Cor 7:10). Romans 2:4 says kindness leads to repentance. As a veteran, after-action reviews often sting, but they build stronger units. As a cyber instructor, exposure of vulnerabilities is painful, but only then can true remediation happen. As a minister, grief is grace: it humbles us, drives us to Christ, and restores us.

7. God’s work on behalf of His people.

Only He could raise the dead nation, cleanse hearts, and vindicate His name. Personally, I testify: only God took my “dry bones”—sin, pride, misplaced identity—and breathed life. As a veteran, He gave peace after deployments and discipline after failures. As a cyber instructor, He showed me that no self-patched firewall of morality could protect my soul. As a minister, He called me to preach Christ crucified—the only true restoration.

Day Four – Ezekiel 37:1–14

8. What did Ezekiel see, and what does his answer reveal?

He saw rāb mē’ōd ‘ăṣāmôt yĕbēšôt (רַב מְאֹד עֲצָמוֹת יְבֵשׁוֹת) – “very many, very dry bones.” His answer, “Adonai Yahweh, you alone know”, shows humble faith. As a veteran, I know when a battle is unwinnable in human strength. As a cyber instructor, I know when a system is unrecoverable. As a minister, I know faith admits, “Only God can.”

9a–b. First and second prophecies.

• First: prophesy to bones—sinews, flesh, skin assemble, but no breath.
• Second: prophesy to the rûaḥ (רוּחַ – breath, wind, Spirit). Breath enters, and they live as a vast army. Hebrew wordplay shows that Word + Spirit = Life. As a veteran, bones are useless until given breath and order—then they become an army. As a cyber instructor, hardware without power is inert; Spirit is the “power supply.” As a minister, this anticipates Pentecost: God’s Word structures, Spirit animates.

10a. Meaning of vision.

It symbolizes Israel’s hopelessness (“Our hope is gone”) and God’s promise of resurrection from exile and spiritual death. As Paul applies: You were dead… but God made you alive with Christ (Eph 2:1–6).

10b. What has God accomplished in your life?

He raised me from spiritual death. As a veteran, He gave me peace that surpasses understanding. As a cyber instructor, He restored order where I saw only failure. As a minister, He called me into His service, making me part of His “vast army.”

Day Five – Ezekiel 37:15–28

11a. The visual.

Two sticks, one for Judah, one for Joseph, joined as one.

11b. Meaning.

It symbolized national reunification under one king. Historically, partial fulfillment in post-exilic return; ultimately in Christ, the Son of David. As a veteran, I see a fragmented force re-unified under one commander. As a cyber instructor, it’s like disparate systems integrated under one secure architecture. As a minister, it’s God’s one flock under the Shepherd-King (John 10:16).

12. How does prophecy point to Christ?

“My servant David will be king” → messianic title. 2 Sam 7:12–16 promises an eternal throne. Jeremiah 50:5 envisions everlasting covenant. Matthew 1:1 names Jesus “son of David.” Greek NT calls Him ho poimēn ho kalos (ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός – “the good shepherd”).

13a–b. Hope and witness.

Hope: God’s sanctuary forever with His people (37:27). Witness: His indwelling presence shows nations He sanctifies His people. As a veteran, this is like permanent HQ presence reassuring the force. As a cyber instructor, it is like constant monitoring and defense. As a minister, it is Emmanuel—“God with us.”

14. Trust when overwhelmed.

I trust God’s proven character and past deliverance. As a veteran, reliance on a trustworthy commander sustained me. As a cyber instructor, tested systems give assurance under pressure. As a minister, God’s Spirit in Ezekiel assures me: no exile, no valley of bones, no division is beyond His restoration.

Day Six – Ezekiel 36–37 Review

15. What truth gives hope and encouragement?

That God delivers from death by His Spirit and for His glory. He regathers the scattered, cleanses the impure, gives new hearts, breathes life into dry bones, unites the divided, and dwells forever with His people. Hebrew rûaḥ and Greek pneuma remind me that His Spirit is breath, wind, and life. As a veteran, I rest in His command. As a cyber instructor, I trust His architecture cannot fail. As a minister, I proclaim this truth: God’s glory guarantees our hope.

Devotional–Commentary on Ezekiel 36:16–37:28

“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.” — Ezekiel 36:36

Introduction: God’s Glory in Exile

When Ezekiel was called to prophesy in Babylon, God’s people were scattered, defeated, and broken. The temple lay in ruins, Jerusalem was desolate, and the covenant people of God wondered if His promises had failed. Into this despair, Ezekiel proclaimed visions of wrath and of restoration. He made clear that God’s purposes never falter; His holy name will be vindicated, His Spirit will breathe life into what is dead, and His Messiah will rule as Shepherd-King.

For me — as a veteran who understands discipline and command, as a cyber instructor who teaches vigilance and integrity, and as a Southern Baptist minister who shepherds souls — these visions are more than history. They are truths about God’s holiness, sovereignty, and mercy that shape how I live, lead, and teach today.

The Wrath of God and the Profaning of His Name (Ezekiel 36:16–23)

Ezekiel begins with the charge against Israel: they defiled the land through bloodshed and idolatry. The Hebrew verb ḥillēl (חִלֵּל) means “to pollute, to profane,” the same root used to describe how God’s name was dragged down among the nations. God’s wrath (ḥēmāh, חֵמָה — burning anger) was not capricious but covenantal. Israel had ignored His standards; therefore His judgment fell.

As a veteran, this resonates with the discipline of command. If a unit abandons its mission or ignores its code, consequences must fall to preserve the honor of the whole force. As a cyber instructor, I think of vulnerabilities that remain unpatched; repeated failures demand drastic action. As a minister, I see the pastoral truth: God’s wrath is not the opposite of His love but its expression against sin that destroys His people.

The nations mocked. In their worldview, gods were tied to geography. If Israel was exiled, Yahweh must be weak. Thus His name was profaned among the nations. But God declares He will act, not for Israel’s sake, but “for the sake of my holy name” (36:22). The Septuagint renders this hagiasthēsetai (ἁγιασθήσεται) — “will be sanctified” — the same petition Christ taught in the Lord’s Prayer: “Hallowed be Thy name.”

This offers me hope: my salvation is not anchored in my worth but in God’s zeal for His glory. He will restore not because I am good but because He is holy.

The Promise of Cleansing and Renewal (Ezekiel 36:24–30)

From judgment, God moves to promise. The blessings He speaks are both physical and spiritual.

• Physical: He will regather His people into their land (v. 24), protect them from famine, and make their fields fruitful again (vv. 29–30).
• Spiritual: He will sprinkle clean water (ṭāhēr, טָהֵר — purify) upon them (v. 25), give them a new heart (lēb ḥādāš) and new spirit (rûaḥ ḥădāšāh, v. 26), and place His Spirit within them (v. 27).
• This is the language of regeneration. Jeremiah 31 had promised a new covenant written on the heart. Jesus spoke of being “born again” (John 3:3–6). Paul taught that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). The Spirit (rûaḥ/pneuma) both animates and sanctifies.
• As a veteran, I see this as a commander not only forgiving failure but retraining and re-equipping soldiers for the mission. As a cyber instructor, it is not merely patching an old system but installing a brand-new operating system. As a minister, I rejoice: the gospel is not moral reform but total re-creation in Christ.

The Profit of Godly Grief (Ezekiel 36:31–32)

God adds a striking promise: His people will “loathe themselves” for their sins. The Hebrew verb qût (קוּץ) conveys revulsion, deep grief. Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 7:10 — godly sorrow produces repentance without regret. Romans 2:4 reminds us it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance.

As a veteran, I think of painful after-action reviews that expose mistakes but lead to better readiness. As a cyber instructor, I think of vulnerability scans — unwelcome but necessary. As a minister, I know grief is grace: it humbles us, drives us to Christ, and produces repentance unto life.

The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1–14)

Perhaps Ezekiel’s most famous vision: a valley full of ‘ăṣāmôt yĕbēšôt mĕ’ōd — “bones, very dry.” God asks, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel wisely answers, “Adonai Yahweh, you alone know.”

The first prophecy brings structure: bones rattle, sinews form, flesh and skin appear — but no breath. The second prophecy calls the rûaḥ — breath, wind, Spirit — from the four winds. Then breath enters, and they stand as a vast army. Word and Spirit together bring life.

As a veteran, I see bones without breath as unorganized troops — structure without Spirit. As a cyber instructor, I see hardware without power — inert until Spirit gives energy. As a minister, I see Pentecost: God’s Word builds, God’s Spirit animates.

God explains: the bones are Israel, hopeless in exile. He promises to open graves, bring them home, and place His Spirit within them. The message: only God can restore the dead, whether a nation in exile or a sinner in rebellion.

The Two Sticks and the One Shepherd (Ezekiel 37:15–28)

After life comes unity. Ezekiel joins two sticks: Judah and Joseph/Ephraim. Together they symbolize a reunited people. The divided kingdom will be one under one King.

That King is called “my servant David.” This cannot be the historical David, long dead, but the promised Messiah. 2 Samuel 7:12–16 spoke of David’s eternal throne. Jeremiah 50:5 spoke of an everlasting covenant. Matthew 1:1 introduces Jesus Christ as the Son of David.

As a veteran, I know true unity comes only under a trusted commander. As a cyber instructor, this is integration under one secure architecture. As a minister, I proclaim Jesus, the Good Shepherd (ho poimēn ho kalos, John 10:11), who unites Jew and Gentile into one flock.

Verses 27–28 climax with hope: God’s dwelling will be with His people forever. His sanctuary will not be destroyed again. Revelation 21:3 echoes this promise — “the dwelling of God is with men.” His presence is the ultimate witness to the nations.

Living Hope: God’s Spirit and God’s Glory (Ezekiel 36–37)

Across these visions, a pattern emerges:

1. God judges sin to vindicate His name.
2. God restores His people by cleansing, renewing, and indwelling them.
3. God raises the dead by His Word and Spirit.
4. God unites His people under His Shepherd-King.
5. God dwells with His people forever, for His glory.
6. As a veteran, this teaches me discipline, unity, and confidence in my Commander’s plan. As a cyber instructor, this teaches me vigilance, cleansing, and total dependence on the Architect of life. As a minister, this teaches me that all of salvation — past, present, future — is by God’s Spirit and for God’s glory.
7. When I feel overwhelmed, I remember: the same God who raised dry bones, who regathered exiles, who promised David’s Son as King, is at work today. My hope rests not in circumstances but in His unshakable promise: “I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it” (36:36).

Conclusion

Ezekiel’s visions still speak. They remind us that sin is serious, grief is grace, hope is real, and God’s glory is ultimate. They tell us that life comes not from human effort but from God’s Spirit, who breathes into our deadness and makes us live. They point us forward to Christ, the Shepherd-King, who unites us and dwells with us forever.

Deadness does not deter God. Exile does not silence Him. Division does not defeat Him. He delivers His people from death — by His Spirit, and for His glory.

Lesson 2 Notes:

Lesson 2 Notes — Ezekiel 36:16–37:28

The Context for Ezekiel’s Message

This year’s study enters Israel’s history when God sent His people into exile because they persistently rejected Him. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was deported to Assyria and the Southern Kingdom to Babylon. In grace to His exiled people, God continued to send prophets to speak on His behalf. A contemporary of Daniel, Ezekiel found himself in Babylon, called by God as His prophet. While Daniel

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served God faithfully in the king’s palace, Ezekiel served among and spoke to the exiled community of God’s people. Our lessons on Ezekiel cover two significant passages within his 48-chapter book that help set the stage for our entire study this year. Last week’s lesson considered Ezekiel’s vision of God’s glory and how it prepared him for his call to challenging service.1 God’s presence would remain with His exiled people as God sent His prophets to them. Ezekiel recorded lengthy messages of judgment against the nations that had harmed his people, even as he prophesied Jerusalem’s fall to the Babylonians (Ezekiel 4–32). This week, we study Ezekiel’s vision that pictures and promises God’s restorative work in His people. Ezekiel’s book ends with promises and visions regarding Israel’s future (Ezekiel 33–48). God’s people failed to live for God, but His purposes prevailed. This year’s study covers the end of Israel’s exile and their God-ordained return to their homeland. God’s people faced physical obstacles in their quest to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, but they also needed spiritual restoration to turn their wayward hearts back to God. Ultimately, Israel’s history leads to the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah and God’s own Son. As you spend time exploring the prophetic and historical books that recount Israel’s return to their land and close out the Old Testament, watch for the promises of the coming and return of our Savior. Israel’s history and future do not point to their worthiness but to God’s faithfulness. Today, Jews and Gentiles alike look to Jesus for salvation. God’s promises hold the future secure. His persistent pursuit of unfaithful people and commitment to His plan give us hope. People may view the prophetic book of Ezekiel as unfamiliar and challenging. However, all Scripture equips God’s people to know Him and understand His ways. Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Truths about God, ourselves, and our world rise from every portion of the Bible. Passages such as those in Ezekiel, though primarily about Israel, speak to all of God’s people and demonstrate His faithfulness. The Israelites faced dismal times when hope seemed lost. We sometimes find ourselves similarly weighed down and struggling to move forward. However, God continues to work despite our failings. Ezekiel’s message rings true today.

Focus Verse

“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.” (Ezekiel 36:36)

Outline

• The Context for Ezekiel’s Message
• The Promise of Restoration – Ezekiel 36:16-38
• The Vision of Regeneration – Ezekiel 37

Engage

Believers everywhere know we worship a great and glorious God. But many find it difficult to describe what God’s glory is and why it matters. God’s glory is the total of all His attributes. He reveals His glory whenever He makes His person, power, or purposes evident. He unveils His glory through creation’s order and beauty. He displays it in hearts and lives transformed by Christ. However, as earthbound people, we evaluate history and interpret our lives from a limited perspective. We readily focus on how God’s actions impact us. But we learn much more by considering what God’s actions reveal about Him. God graciously and generously enriches His people’s lives, but ultimately, God’s glory matters more than the blessings we enjoy. God’s name and fame stand behind His declarations and actions. Everything God does displays His glory. God receives glory when He saves sinners and when He judges sin. The rebellious Israelites’ exile demonstrated God’s power to carry out His warnings. However, God had more to say when their painful discipline caused the surrounding nations to question His character. Ezekiel’s prophecy foretold a coming day when God would uphold His great name by fulfilling His promises. Israel’s past and future showcase God’s infinite character. Though dead in sin and dispersed among the nations, God would restore His people through His power. God delivers His people from death—by His Spirit and for His glory. A deliberate focus on God’s greatness properly humbles us before Him.

The Promise of Restoration – Ezekiel 36:16-38

God’s Holy Name Vindicated – 36:16-23

The Results of Israel’s Sin (36:16-21) – God’s prophets spoke the messages God delivered to them. After lengthy declarations of judgment recorded in previous chapters, the word of the Lord again came to Ezekiel. The prophet clearly explained Israel’s current situation. Their sin against God while living in their own land brought His judgment against them. Israel’s idolatry and defiled conduct led God to scatter them among the nations. Outward behavior reflects the condition of our hearts. God’s people could not blame their circumstances on warring nations or power-hungry kings. Their sin and posture toward God resulted in their current calamity. An honest appraisal of their outward conduct and inward condition was needed for their repentance and restoration.

1. Ezekiel’s vision and call: Ezekiel 1–3

Bible Study Fellowship | 28 | Lesson 2

Ezekiel declared a more serious issue than Israel’s displacement from their homeland: God’s chosen people had profaned His holy name. God faithfully invested in Israel as a nation. He gave them spiritual advantages—promises of blessing, His righteous standards, a system of worship, godly leaders, and untold blessings. Yet, the Israelites persistently disregarded God’s goodness. They failed to honor God as He deserves. Their behavior did not reflect God’s worthiness. A right view of God enables people to recognize His worth and their position before Him. God intended His chosen people to represent Him to the nations. Israel’s blessings came from God’s gracious hand and never should have filled them with pride and self-sufficiency. They had ignored and rejected God, displaying a confusing message to the world. As neighboring peoples considered Israel’s exile, they struggled to understand why God’s people needed to leave His land. Ancient people connected deities with regional authority. If God’s people left the land He gave them, then who was this God? Israel’s sin and God’s righteous judgment confused the world. God’s worth and position do not depend on human endorsement. Nevertheless, God expressed concern for the reputation of His holy name. God calls His people to represent Him to the world and magnify His glory. God’s holy name matters far more than our independent, self-willed desires and everything the world exalts. God’s name incorporates the totality of His character—His glory and worth.

The Renown of God’s Name (36:22-23) – God’s name is hallowed, holy, and set apart from us in every way. When we declare God as holy, we seek to live our lives unto Him.2 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!”3 Properly understood, God’s holiness impacts the way His people live. God would act in response to His people’s rebellion but not primarily for their benefit. As Ezekiel recorded, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that 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.” God would uphold His glory and prove Himself holy so the nations would know He is God. God does amazing things on behalf of His people. The salvation for which Christ died speaks to His compassion for helpless sinners. He answers prayers and orchestrates circumstances to call us to Himself. Yet, the ultimate force behind everything God does is His glory. Our self-serving motives keep us from fully understanding why God’s pursuit of His glory differs from the selfish way we operate. Is God self-serving in desiring the glory He deserves? Not at all! The expression of God’s glory represents the best ways possible and benefits us greatly. God is glorified through the exaltation of His Son, who laid aside heaven’s splendor to save us. God’s glory represents our worthy calling. We were made to know God, enjoy Him, and glorify Him. Human hearts can experience no greater satisfaction than knowing and enjoying God’s love—poured out on their behalf. We glorify God when we yield ourselves to His compassionate care. God calls a people unto Himself and to reveal His glory to the world.

God’s GraciiProvisions – 36:24-38

Through Ezekiel, God spoke amazing promises of restoration to His wayward people. When God fulfills His promises, He declares to the world, “I am the Lord.” Only God can orchestrate the future to broadcast His glory. Israel’s exile exalted God, but so would their restoration.2. Living for God: Colossians 3:17 3. Holy is the Lord God Almighty: Revelation 4:8 Bible Study Fellowship | 29

This section of Scripture announces wonderful things God does for His people. Some of these promises were fulfilled as the Israelites reinhabited their homeland, but many anticipate a greater fulfillment in the more distant future. God’s promised blessings to Israel relied not on their perfect obedience but on God’s unconditional faithfulness. In fulfilling His eternal plan, God would judge sin and carry a people to the bright future He had prepared. In these verses, God promised the following:

• To regather His scattered people and return them to their land (, 33b, 37-38)
• To cleanse them from idolatry and impurity (36:25, 29a, 33a)
• To remove their stony hearts and give them hearts of flesh (36:26; also seen in Jeremiah 31:31-35)
• To put His Spirit within them and move them to obey Him (36:27)
• To move them back to the land of their ancestors and be their God (36:28)
• To make their land fruitful and productive (36:29b-30, 34-35)
• To vindicate His reputation before the nations (36:36)

Everything in this list restates Jeremiah’s prophecy about the new covenant4 but with fresh imagery. God’s promises through both Jeremiah and Ezekiel firmly foretell a restored place for Israel that blesses the world. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus established the new covenant, and the Spirit’s arrival in Acts 2 began this global work. Paul’s writing in Romans 11 also confirms this theme. Verses 31-32 point to something we may fail to see as a blessing. God would bless His people by allowing them to remember their evil deeds and wicked ways. They would loathe themselves and be ashamed and disgraced for their conduct. Restoration to peace with God requires mourning our sin and admitting our utter need of salvation.5 God’s Spirit reveals our sin, which leads us to seek forgiveness and restoration with God.6 Without understanding the depths of our sinfulness, we will not turn to God for salvation. Israel’s return from exile brought some measure of physical and spiritual restoration, but the full sweep of these promises has yet to be experienced. Since the Romans invaded Israel and decimated Jerusalem in AD 70, the Israelites have remained scattered throughout the world. Some see these promises transferred from Israel to the Church, and believers in Christ do experience some of these blessings. However, Scripture points to a spiritual restoration within Israel before Christ returns and reigns from Jerusalem.7 God is sovereign over all of history, including the establishment of Israel as a nation in 1948, but full understanding of all God will do awaits the future unfolding of His plans. This entire passage elevates God’s glory—revealed through His purposes and displayed before the people on earth. God will work within His people to accomplish His plans and reveal His power, sovereignty, and worth. What God had done, does, and will do reveals He is Sovereign Lord. How can we raise our gaze from this world’s fleeting pleasures to God’s unfading glory? Even as we enjoy the blessings of our salvation and anticipate eternity’s glory, we recognize that God Himself stands at the pinnacle of all He declares and accomplishes. The God who judges sin and restores the sinner remains worthy of our eternal worship.

1. New covenant: Jeremiah 31:31-35
2. Mourning sin: Ezra 10:6; Ezekiel 9:4; Jonah 3:5, 10; Matthew 5:4; Luke 18:13; James 4:9
3. Spirit’s leading: John 16:7-14; Romans 8:11, 27; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13
4. God’s future work within Israel: Isaiah 2:1-4; 11:6-12; 19:23-25; Zechariah 12–13; Matthew 23:37-39; Romans 11:11-15, 25-29

Bible Study Fellowship | 30 | Lesson 2

The Vision of Regeneration – Ezekiel 37

Dry Bones Live – 37:1-14

Ezekiel’s vision of a valley of dry bones illustrates the promises of restoration enumerated in chapter 36. Perhaps the most familiar content in the book of Ezekiel and even among Old Testament prophecy, this vision pictures a restoration only God could accomplish. Apart from God’s intervention, the exiled Israelites’ situation appeared hopeless. They were living in a foreign land. Jerusalem and its temple, the centerpiece of worship, had been destroyed. Even those who knew and trusted God surely grieved the circumstances they faced. The context here points prophetically to Israel, but the vision certainly parallels God’s regenerative work within any sinner who finds salvation in Christ.8

The Situation (37:1-6) – God intentionally positioned Ezekiel to see this vision. The “hand of the Lord” brought him “by the Spirit of the Lord” to witness a gruesome sight. Ezekiel saw many very dry bones in the middle of a valley. Death and decomposition had long since removed all vitality, life, and hope. After walking Ezekiel back and forth through the bone-filled valley, the Lord asked him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel’s answer revealed he grasped God’s unlimited power and knowledge. He replied, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” The term “son of man” most simply reflected Ezekiel’s humanity, as his answer recognized God’s deity. Ezekiel understood that the God who knows everything can do anything—even bring life from death.9 The Lord instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to the dead bones. Ezekiel declared God’s very words: “I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” God’s power and glory would be revealed through the bones’ restoration.

The Rejuvenation (37:7-10) – In response to Ezekiel’s obedient declaration, bones rattled to join bones and were then covered by tendons and flesh. Yet the rebuilt bodies still had no breath within them. The Lord then gave Ezekiel another message: “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” As Ezekiel again obeyed and prophesied, the skin-covered bones drew breath, came to life, and stood on their feet. God transformed a valley full of brittle bones into a vast army. God’s word and His Spirit brought life to a place overcome by death. Ezekiel obeyed God, who accomplished His purpose by His sovereign power.

The Explanation (37:11-14) – This vision communicates more than God’s power to resurrect people from death. What was God’s purpose in revealing this remarkable scene? God clearly interpreted this vision for His obedient prophet. These dry and disconnected bones represented a scattered people— the exiled nation of Israel. Cut off from their national heritage, homeland, and worship, the Israelites felt utterly hopeless and deadened by sin’s consequences. The bones, resurrected in this valley, carried a hope-filled message to God’s exiled people. God promised to open the graves and raise His people from death back to life.10 They would return to their land, know He is the Lord, and receive God’s life-giving Spirit within them. They would know that only God could and would do this for His people. The Lord’s restoration of His people, who were scattered from their land and distanced from His purposes, would prove His power to the nations.

1. Alive in Christ: John 5:25, 11:25; Ephesians 2:1-10
2. God’s power to give life: Hosea 13:14; Romans 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55; Ephesians 2:4-6
3. Dead will rise: John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Bible Study Fellowship | 31

God’s People Reunited – 37:15-28

The Illustration (37:15-18) – Israel awaited not only a day of restoration but also a day of reunification. God’s prophets often delivered His truth in visual illustrations as well as verbal declarations. God speaks so people will hear and understand His truth. Following the vision of dry bones, God told Ezekiel to gather two sticks. On one he was to write, “Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.” He was to label other stick, “Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.” The two sticks were to be joined together, becoming one in Ezekiel’s hand.

The Explanation (37:19-28) – The scattered, separated, exiled Israelites could anticipate a day their divided nation would reunite. After the exile, Israel would reemerge as a solitary nation, no longer two kingdoms divided by warring monarchies. Ezekiel’s prophecies promised the Israelites would reinhabit their land as one united people under God, who would dwell with them forever. While this prophecy was partially fulfilled after the exile, it points to the more distant future when Christ returns. God’s work among His people will break down dividing walls and unite His people around the world.11

1. United people: Isaiah 19:19-25; Revelation 5:9; 7:9; 11:9

From Death to Life

The Doctrine of Regeneration

While Ezekiel’s vision foretells God’s plans for the people of Israel, believers recognize the illustration of salvation evident here. Adam and Eve rebelled against God, bringing sin’s condemnation upon all humanity. Since then, everyone is born physically alive but spiritually dead.1 People remain unresponsive to God until the Holy Spirit awakens their hearts to look to Christ for salvation.2 Regeneration is the Holy Spirit’s work that infuses eternal life into someone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This new birth fills a spiritually dead individual with new life.3 Without a regenerated heart, a person remains as spiritually dead as the dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision. Human efforts to regulate behavior fall short. In our fallen state, all people are so marred by sin’s corruption that we fail to seek and surrender to God.4 Self-will and rebellion against God dominate the desires of a sin-deadened heart. Without God’s intervention, we remain dead in our sin. We need to recognize the deadness that dominates us and God’s power to overcome death with new life. The gospel offers new life to the spiritually dead. God’s Word declares His truth; His Spirit imparts His life. Believers live energized by new life flowing into their hearts through the Holy Spirit. They see the world with new eyes and recognize God’s presence in the world He created. Only God can bring life from death. And He does—by His Spirit and for His glory.

1. Dead in sin: Genesis 3; Ephesians 2:1-3
2. Made alive in Christ: Ephesians 2:4-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
3. New birth: John 3:3, 7; Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:3
4. Refusal to seek God: Romans 3:10-18

Bible Study Fellowship | 32 | Lesson 2

Ezekiel added another important detail about God’s work in the future. God promised an eternal King from David’s lineage: “My servant David will be king over them, and they will have one shepherd.”12 God foretold a new, everlasting covenant of peace with His people. These promises unite what God has done in Israel’s past with what He promises for the future. Ultimately, Jesus Christ, the ShepherdKing, fulfills everything God promised to His people. This chapter ends by again declaring that God’s work through Israel will cause the nations to know He is the Lord. A nation considered dead would receive life and hope from God. People deadened by sin can turn to Christ for salvation and live with Him forever. God delivers His people from death—by His Spirit and for His glory.

1. Jesus as shepherd: John 10

Bible Study Fellowship | 33

Take to Heart

Hold Fast

The prophet Ezekiel spoke for God to the Israelites exiled in Babylon. Defeated, dispersed, and discouraged, the Israelites lived in a foreign land, adrift from their God-given homeland and the worship God prescribed in the Jerusalem temple. Had God’s care and provision collapsed along with their nation and homeland? Ezekiel’s prophecy declared what God would do to fulfill His promises to His people. However, he heralded a purpose higher than overcoming Israel’s defeat. Israel’s perpetual sin and idolatry brought God’s promised judgment and their exile. The nations surrounding Israel were confused by Israel’s expulsion from the land God gave them. Israel’s sin and exile profaned God’s holy name among the nations. However, God’s continued work would uphold His glory. Ezekiel prophesied Israel’s restoration by God’s hand and for His glory. His vision of resurrected dry bones revealed that God would bring life to the dead nation that suffered His righteous judgment. God would restore Israel spiritually through His Spirit and rebuild the nation in the land He had given them. He illustrated the reunification of the divided people and reiterated God’s certain promises to His people. The onlooking nations would know that God had done what only God could do. Ultimately, God’s promises point to His redemptive, regenerative work through His Spirit and His Son, humanity’s Savior. All believers, both Jews and Gentiles, rely on God’s life-giving power to overcome the deadness sin brings. Ultimately, God’s restorative work in a fallen world exalts His holy name.

Apply It

Christians enjoy lavish blessings as God’s children. Forgiveness of sin, fellowship with God, and Spiritempowered understanding of God’s truth continually bless believers. With faith in Christ, believers can live in this broken world with unwavering confidence that they will spend eternity free from sin in God’s presence forever. However, as we enjoy God’s undeserved compassion, unlimited grace, and abundant faithfulness, we need to do more than bask in our untold blessings. Ultimately, God uses both good and hard times to point us to Himself. When God focuses our attention on His greatness, He enables us to experience the very purpose for which we were created. For all eternity, God’s children will unite in untainted praise of our Savior, Shepherd, and Lord. Gratitude for God’s life-giving power in our lives motivates us to know Him and represent Him to the world. God’s glory matters more than the spiritual benefits we enjoy. How will you both relish God’s gracious blessings and give all the glory to Him?

Israel’s disregard for God profaned His holy name before a watching world. God called His chosen people to stand for Him before the nations. Christians today represent God to those around them. What do your family, friends, and neighbors learn about God by the way you think and live? Believers still struggle with sin and fail regularly. Yet God provides opportunities to display His glory to those who are watching. When we fail, we surrender ourselves before our great God. We know that everything we own and all we accomplish come from God’s own hand, not through our effort or intellect. God calls believers to face the future with calm assurance and steadfast faith. Our trials teach us to depend on Him; our victories allow us to humbly grow in gratitude and celebrate God’s faithfulness. Your Christian life is not just about you. God calls His children to live for Him and others. How will you allow God’s light to shine through your life? We do this not by achieving perfection but by gazing steadily at God and following Jesus step-by-step. God’s Spirit and life-giving power reveal Him to a watching world.

Deadness does not deter God, who gives life. Every human enters the world dead in sin.13 God’s chosen people were a dead nation subjected to His discipline because of their persistent sin. Humans live traumatized by fear of the physical death that awaits us all.14 But there is good news: God sent His Son, our Savior, to defeat sin, overcome death, and offer us eternal hope.15 Believers still struggle, but the indwelling Holy Spirit reveals lingering sin within us and infuses us with transforming new life through conviction, repentance, and joyful obedience.16 Without the Lord, we would have remained like dead bones scattered in a dark valley. However, when we seek Him, God brings His life to everything that is dead within us. God calls every believer to share the life-giving gospel in a sin-deadened world. How have you experienced God’s restorative life in places that were dead within you? Where will God send you to share His life-giving truth and offer hope to others?

1. Dead in sin: Genesis 3; Ephesians 2:1-3
2. Fear of death: Hebrews 2:14-15 (contextual to theme) (left as your original wording references “fear of the physical death”)
3. Hope in Christ: (per your original line “offer us eternal hope”)
4. Spirit’s work in believers: (per your original line “indwelling Holy Spirit reveals lingering sin…”)

• BSF – The Exile and ReturnDefault (Source Sans Pro)11AA
• Lesson 2 Passages
• EZEKIEL 36:16–37:28
• The LORD’s Concern for His Holy Name
• 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. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity. 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. 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. 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.’ 21 But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.
• I Will Put My Spirit Within You
• 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. 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. 24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
• 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.’ 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.
• 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.”
• The Valley of Dry Bones
• 37 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
• 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
• 11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”
• I Will Be Their God; They Shall Be My People
• 15 The word of the LORD came to me: 16 “Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 17 And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. 18 And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ 19 say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. 20 When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, 21 then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. 22 And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
• 24 “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. 25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”
• 1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 36:16–37:28.
• Ezekiel 36:16-23: The LORD’s Concern for His Holy Name
• 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. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity. 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. 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. 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.’ 21 But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.
• I Will Put My Spirit Within You
• 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. 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.”
• 1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 36:16–23.
• Ezekiel 36:22-23
• I Will Put My Spirit Within You
• 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. 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.”
• 1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 36:22–23.
• 2 Corinthians 5:20
• 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 5:20.
• Ezekiel 36:24-38
• 24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
• 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.’ 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.
• 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.”
• 1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 36:24–38.
• Ezekiel 36:24-30
• 24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 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. 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. 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. 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.
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 36:23–30.
• Ezekiel 36:31-32
• 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.
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 36:31–32.
• Romans 2:4
• 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 2:4.
• 2 Corinthians 7:10
• 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 7:10.
• Ezekiel 37:1-14
• 37 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
• 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
• 11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”
• 1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:1–14.
• Ezekiel 37:1-3
• 37 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.”
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:1–3.
• Ezekiel 37:4-8
• 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
• 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.
• 1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:4–8.
• Ezekiel 37:9-10
• 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:9–10.
• Ezekiel 37:11-14
• 11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:11–14.
• Ezekiel 37:15-28: I Will Be Their God; They Shall Be My People
• 15 The word of the LORD came to me: 16 “Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 17 And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. 18 And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ 19 say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. 20 When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, 21 then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. 22 And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
• 24 “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. 25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”
• 1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:15–28.
• Ezekiel 37:18-23
• 18 And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ 19 say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. 20 When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, 21 then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. 22 And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:18–23.
• Ezekiel 37:24-26
• 24 “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. 25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:24–26.
• 2 Samuel 7:12-16
• 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Sa 7:12–16.
• Jeremiah 50:5
• 5 They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.’
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Je 50:5.
• Matthew 1:1
• 1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 1:1.
• Ezekiel 37:27-28
• 27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”
• 11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 37:27–28.
• Ezekiel 36:16–37:28:   The Lord’s Concern for His Holy Name
• 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. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity. 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. 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. 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.’ ²¹ But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.
• I Will Put My Spirit Within You
• 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. 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. ²⁴ I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
• 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.’ 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.
• 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.”
• The Valley of Dry Bones
• 37 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. ² And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. ³ And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” ⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. ⁵ Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. ⁶ And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
• ⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. ⁸ And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. ⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
• ¹¹ Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³ And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. ¹⁴ And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
• I Will Be Their God; They Shall Be My People
• ¹⁵ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁶ “Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ ¹⁷ And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. ¹⁸ And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ ¹⁹ say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. ²⁰ When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, ²¹ then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. ²² And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. ²³ They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
• ²⁴ “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. ²⁵ They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. ²⁶ I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. ²⁷ My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ²⁸ Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” ¹
• ¹ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 36:16–37:28..

BSF – The Exile and ReturnDefault (Source Sans Pro)11AA

Group Bible Study Summary – Lesson 2

Date: September 23, 2025

Topic: Ezekiel 36–37

1. Opening & Welcome

• Session began with prayer, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to study God’s Word and seeking His guidance.
• Participants welcomed; new/returning members (Stephen, Les, Obed) introduced themselves.
• Administrative note: some technical clarification for users with “iPhone4” and “owner” labels. Proper names shared and updated for group clarity.

2. Main Topics Discussed

A. Lessons from Ezekiel 1–2 (Review)

Key Takeaways:

• Importance of obedience and speaking God’s Word without preoccupation with outcomes—relying on the Holy Spirit.
• Ezekiel’s humility: falling prostrate in God’s presence, a reminder of proper posture before God and others seeking Christ.
• God’s call evokes reverence, obedience, and faith.

B. Ezekiel 36:16–23 — God’s Wrath and Mercy

God’s Wrath:

• God scattered Israel into exile for idolatry and profaning His name.
• Surrounding nations misjudged God, questioning His care or power—yet His discipline proved His care.

Appeal to God’s Mercy:

• Parallel to Moses’ intercession after the golden calf incident—concern for God’s reputation among the nations.
• God intervened to protect the holiness of His name, not Israel’s merit (“for the sake of my holy name” — vv.21–22).

Application—Representing God Today:

• Christians as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20).
• Gracious speech and conduct (Col. 4:6; Matt. 5:16) reflect God’s character.
• Ambassadors act on behalf of the one who sends them.
• Social media and daily life are platforms of witness; missteps (cursing, gossip, hypocrisy) bring reproach to God’s name.

C. Ezekiel 36:24–38 — God’s Unconditional Promises

Physical & Spiritual Blessings Promised:

• Regathering of the people (v.24)
• Cleansing from impurity (v.25)
• New heart and new spirit (v.26)
• Indwelling Spirit (v.27)
• Abundant harvest, removal of famine (vv.29–30)
• Restoration of the land (vv.33–36)

Nature of the Promises:

• Entirely unconditional—marked by repeated “I will.”
• Spiritual parallels to salvation: cleansing, new birth, Spirit dwelling.
• Cross-references: Jer. 31:31–33; Eph. 5:25–27; John 3:3,16; Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5; Rom. 8:9–11; Rev. 21:3; 2 Cor. 5:17.

Discussion—Israel and the Church:

• Some see literal fulfillment still pending (return of Israel).
• Others see fulfillment in Christ—Jews and Gentiles united in one people of God.

God’s Initiative & Repentance:

• Rom. 2:4—God’s kindness leads to repentance.
• v.32: shame intended to drive genuine repentance.
• 2 Cor. 7:10—godly sorrow vs. worldly regret.

D. Ezekiel 37 — The Valley of Dry Bones

The Vision:

• Valley filled with very dry bones = Israel’s hopelessness.
• God asks if bones can live; Ezekiel defers: “O Lord God, you know.”

The Restoration:

• Ezekiel prophesies: bones join, flesh covers, yet no life until God sends His breath.
• Parallels Genesis creation: life given by God’s breath.
• Symbolizes God’s power to bring life and hope.

Interpretation & Parallels:

• God revives what seems hopeless.
• Promise of restoration for Israel.
• Historical echoes: God’s mercy to nations like Nineveh.

E. Ezekiel 37:15–28 — The Two Sticks & Reunification

Symbolic Act:

• Ezekiel joins two sticks (Israel & Judah) into one.
• Prophecy of reunification under one king—Messianic (Christ).

Discussion:

• Debate: literal fulfillment in Israel vs. spiritual reality in the Church.
• God’s faithfulness despite human failure; He sanctifies His people.

Ultimate Fulfillment:

• God’s covenant of peace, dwelling with His people forever.
• NT echoes: 1 Peter 2:9 (royal priesthood).

3. Applications & Reflections

• Practical Impact: Being “ambassadors” demands care in conduct, speech, and online presence.
• Testimonies: Deliverance from addiction, God’s providence, struggles in parenting, faithful witness.
• Encouragement: God brings hope even in hopeless valleys.

4. Extended Discussion Topics

A. The Nature of God’s Glory & Our Witness

• God acts chiefly for His name’s glory.
• Our failings dishonor Him, yet He defends His name.

B. Suffering, Perseverance & Hope

• Suffering refines believers and draws them nearer.
• Discipline is rooted in God’s love.

C. The Charlie Kirk Assassination (Recent Event)

• Became a platform for faith witness.
• Reminder: God uses imperfect people—avoid hagiography.

D. Spiritual Warfare in Ministry

• Obed and team experiencing hardship, viewed as spiritual attack.
• Calls for prayer and perseverance.

5. Action Items

Prayer Requests:

• Les: healing after knee surgery.
• Obed: comfort for cousin’s family, business challenges, outreach team’s protection.
• George: wisdom in business transition.
• Wayward children: Peter, Craig, others longing for salvation.
• Jeremy: friends/family battling severe illness.

Encouragement for Outreach:

• Prayer covering for Obed and ministry team.
• Reminder: all members called as faithful ambassadors.

6. Concluding Prayer

Peter closed in thanksgiving for God’s Word, faithfulness, and grace. All prayer requests lifted for God’s intervention, healing, and continued growth.

7. Closing Remarks

• Unity affirmed: differences do not divide—our bond is Christ.
• Reminder: God works for His glory and our good.
• Next Meeting: Continue in God’s Word; bring testimony and prayer updates.

• BSF – The Exile and ReturnDefault (Source Sans Pro)11AA
• BSF Lesson 2: Detailed Summary: Bible Study Fellowship Lecture on Ezekiel 36 & 37
• Speaker: Holly Roberts, Executive Director of Bible Study Fellowship
• Date of Lecture: Not precisely specified (reference to ongoing series, presumed recent)
• Reference Date: September 28, 2025
• Introduction
• Speaker Greeting: Holly Roberts introduces herself as the Executive Director of BSF.
• Topic Introduction: The focus is on Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37.
• Opening Illustration: Holly asks listeners what comes to mind with the word “bones,” moving from everyday associations (museums, food, art) to the symbolic meaning of death.
• Main Premise: The vision of dry bones in Ezekiel is astonishing because, while humans see bones as the end of life, God can bring life from death, both physically and spiritually (regeneration).
• Main Topics Discussed
• 1. The Ubiquity of Sin and Death
• Human Experience with Death: Bones as a symbol of death, irreversible by human power.
• Sin in the World: Everything—people, families, nations—is marred and devastated by sin.
• Hopelessness: Life often feels like “walking among dry bones,” situations that seem unredeemable.
• 2. God’s Restorative Power
• Theme: God specializes in bringing life and hope into dead situations.
• Regeneration: Central to Scripture is the concept that God can bring spiritual (and physical) life where there was death.
• Study Series Context: BSF’s study titled “Exile and Return,” focused on Judah (southern kingdom).
• The current lesson is the second week spent in Ezekiel—last week emphasized God’s glory, this week God’s restorative power.
• 3. Division One: Ezekiel 36:16–38 — The Restored Land
• a. The Problem: A Defiled Land
• Historical Context:
• The people of Israel defiled their land through behaviors akin to deep ritual uncleanness (idolatry, child sacrifice, bloodshed).
• Psalms 106:35–39 is cited as a parallel explanation.
• God’s Grief: Every bloodstain represents a story, a person, and an act of rebellion.
• Divine Patience: God warned Israel for centuries before sending them into exile.
• Public Perception: Outsiders saw Israel’s exile as God’s failure, but in reality, it revealed Israel’s sin and God’s justice.
• b. Exile as Grace
• Nature of Exile: Exile is not God’s impotence but Israel’s insolence. Exile is presented as grace—God chooses banishment, not annihilation.
• c. The “I Will” Promises
• Restoration Promised:
• God repeatedly states “I will…” (e.g., I will take you from the nations, I will bring you back to your land, I will cleanse you, I will give you a new heart and spirit, I will move you to follow).
• Regeneration Over Relocation: Physical return is not enough; the people need internal transformation—a new heart and spirit.
• Sin is a universal problem, dating back to Eden.
• Human effort (good deeds, trying harder) can’t solve it—only God’s action (regeneration) can.
• d. The Nature of Restoration
• Transformation: God will change inner being (thoughts, motivations).
• Outcome: The land will be restored to Eden-like perfection; God’s glory will be evident, nations will know God restored Israel.
• Purpose: Restoration is for God’s glory—not Israel’s self-congratulation.
• 4. Personal and Universal Relevance of the Message
• Sin and Brokenness: Speaker identifies that we all contribute to, and are affected by, sin.
• Reluctance to Share: Sin’s effect includes isolation and loss of trust, making sharing our pain difficult.
• Yet, God’s Promise: God restores what sin ruins.
• Application: Encourages listeners to ask how God’s restorative ability brings them hope amid personal devastation.
• Promises for All Believers: The “I will” promises in Ezekiel—though to Israel—are paralleled in New Testament promises.Example: Forgiveness and purification (1 John 1:9).
• 5. New Testament Connections
• God’s Power to Regenerate: Applies not just to literal Israelites, but to all who trust in Christ.
• 6. Division Two: Ezekiel 37 — The Restored Nation
• a. Vision of Dry Bones: Graphic Death, Glorious Life
• Ezekiel’s Experience: God places Ezekiel in a valley of dry bones, a symbol of utter hopelessness.
• God’s Question: “Can these bones live?”—a question highlighting God’s unique power.Ezekiel’s Response: Refuses to limit God; he answers, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
• Preaching to Bones: God tells Ezekiel to prophesy life over the bones; as he does, the bones come together, are covered with flesh, and come to life—regeneration in vivid imagery.
• b. Theological Significance
• Regeneration: This is not merely physical reanimation, but a symbol of spiritual renewal—a “resurrection” for the nation.
• Application: We are prone to declare situations hopeless, but God’s power is greater than human perception or limitation.
• c. Restoration of the Nation
• Historical Division: After Solomon’s death, the nation split (Israel/north, Judah/south), both eventually exiled.
• Promise of Reunion:
• Ezekiel 37:21–23: God will reunite divided kingdoms into one nation under one king.
• Verse 24: Reference to “My servant David will be king”—a Messianic anticipation, fulfilled in Jesus, the descendant of David.
• Eschatological Hope: The prophecy points beyond the near return from exile to a greater future fulfillment—restoration, ruling King, everlasting covenant.
• d. Final Promises: Presence and Peace
• Everlasting Covenant: God will dwell among the people, they will be His, and the nations will recognize His holiness.
• Restoration Scope: Not just political restoral, but a new way of living, a restored heart, unity, and God’s tangible dwelling.
• Extended Reflection & Application
• God’s Restorative Trajectory: From Eden’s loss, through exile, to the coming King, to Jesus’ finished work, to future fulfillment—a story of ongoing restoration.
• Cost of Redemption: About 600 years after Ezekiel’s prophecy, Jesus secured redemption, making spiritual regeneration possible for all.
• Already and Not Yet: While Jesus has paid for sin, full regathering and unification of Israel remains future.
• Further Hope: Jesus as “firstborn from the dead” signals broader resurrection and hope for full restoration.
• Parallel to Believers: The principle of God’s restorative power applies to all who trust in Christ—no situation is ultimately hopeless.
• Living Amid “Dry Bones”: Even in desperate situations (e.g., broken families, loss, despair), God’s power to bring life inspires hope and perseverance.
• Action Items
• Scripture Engagement:
• Listeners are encouraged to read and meditate on Ezekiel 36–37.
• Reflect personally: How does God’s ability to restore bring hope in my current situation?
• Hope Application:
• Consider areas of personal life that seem like “dry bones.”
• Apply trust in God’s power to those areas; refuse to declare situations hopeless.
• Community and Testimony:
• Be open to sharing stories of God’s restorative work with others, building trust and faith.
• Study Continuation:
• Prepare for the upcoming weeks’ studies on exile and return, focusing on how God’s promises are fulfilled.
• Follow-Up Points and Meetings
• Next in Series: The current lesson was the second of two foundational weeks in Ezekiel. The upcoming sessions will further explore the stories of exile and return for Judah.
• Ongoing BSF Resources: For more information and resources, participants are directed to bsfinternational.org.
• Implied Application Questions for Discussion/Future Lessons:
• How can we cultivate deeper confidence in God’s restorative power?
• What practical steps can we take when faced with “hopeless” circumstances?
• Summary Statement
• The lecture masterfully weaves historical, theological, and personal threads to highlight God’s unmatched power to restore what sin destroys. Through Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones and the promised future for Israel, Holly Roberts calls believers to fresh hope—grounded not in human effort, but in the unstoppable, regenerative work of God through Christ. No situation is beyond God’s restoration, and every current struggle sits within God’s grand story of redemption and new life.
• A Bible study lesson from the Fellowship People of the Promise series focuses on the Book of Ezekiel, especially the themes of exile, restoration, and hope. The material is structured as a multi-day guided study with questions and reflection prompts built around key passages from Ezekiel Chapters 36–37.
• Main Topics Discussed
• 1. Personal Application and Reflection
• The lesson starts by encouraging participants to relate Ezekiel’s experiences in exile to their own positions before God. They are prompted to consider how the teaching, notes, and lecture have enhanced their understanding and will affect their response to God.
• Reflection questions ask how truths from the materials encourage obedience and speaking on God’s behalf.
• 2. God’s Wrath, Reputation, and Faithfulness (Ezekiel 36:16–23)
• Participants read and reflect on Israel’s exile, the reasons for God’s wrath, and how the nations’ observations affected God’s reputation.
• Emphasis is placed on how sin among God’s people can lead to the desecration of God’s name, connecting this idea to passages like 2 Corinthians 5:20.
• 3. Restoration and Blessings (Ezekiel 36:24–38)
• Discussion centers on the physical and spiritual blessings promised to Israel (e.g., cleansing, renewal, fruitfulness).
• The study connects these promises to salvation in Christ, referencing relevant scriptures for support.
• There’s focus on the role of grief over sin, drawing on Romans 2:4 and 2 Corinthians 7:10, and discussion about how God’s intervention glorifies Him and extends grace.
• 4. The Valley of Dry Bones—Restoration and Hope (Ezekiel 37:1–14)
• An in-depth look at Ezekiel’s vision: describing the imagery of dry bones and its representation of Israel’s desolation.
• Questions probe the significance of God’s commands and the resulting miraculous restoration, culminating in the interpretation that God promises to restore and give life by His Spirit.
• Participants are invited to reflect on personal experiences of God’s unique work in their own lives.
• 5. Unity and Messianic Hope (Ezekiel 37:15–28)
• God’s command for Ezekiel’s visual prophecy (joining two sticks) is explored as a symbol of Israel’s reunification under a single king.
• The Messiah is foreshadowed; cross-references include 2 Samuel 7:12–16, Jeremiah 50:5, and Matthew 1:1, linking the prophecy to Jesus Christ.
• The hope contained in God’s enduring presence with His people and its role as a witness to the world is discussed.
• 6. Review and Personal Encouragement
• The study ends with a recap of Ezekiel 36:16—37:28, summarizing how God delivers from death by His Spirit for His own glory.
• Final questions encourage participants to note what truths have offered hope and encouragement and to review personal lessons learned in both the study and life.
• The week concludes with the instruction for group and administrative leaders that there is no homiletics assignment and a reminder to listen to the upcoming lecture.
• Key Dates/Scripture References
• September 28, 2025 (date of instructions)
• Ezekiel 36:16–37:28 (primary study passages)
• 2 Corinthians 5:20, Romans 2:4, 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Samuel 7:12–16, Jeremiah 50:5, Matthew 1:1 (supporting references)
• Action Items and Follow-Ups
• Engage with the scripture passages and reflection questions each day.
• Prepare to share insights and answers in fellowship or group settings.
• Listen to the prescribed lecture as the next step.
• No homiletics assignment for this week.
• This structured study invites participants to deeply engage with themes of judgment, restoration, and hope, and to personalize the lessons from Ezekiel’s prophecies in their walk with God.
• Detailed Summary: Bible Study Fellowship – People of the Promise: Exile and Return
• Lesson 2: Hope for the Hopeless
• Date: September 28, 2025
• Main Focus: God’s restorative power amid Israel’s exile, as foretold by Ezekiel, focusing on God’s glory, promise of spiritual and physical restoration, and the hope provided by His faithfulness.
• Main Topics Discussed
• 1. Understanding God’s Glory (Focus Verse: Ezekiel 36:36)
• Definition: God’s glory encompasses all His attributes, unveiled through His actions, creation, and lives transformed by Christ.
• Perspective: While people tend to view God’s actions through a personal lens (how He benefits us), the lesson emphasizes shifting the focus to what these actions reveal about God Himself.
• Significance:God’s glory is more important than the blessings we receive.
• All events, including both the salvation of sinners and the judgment of sin, display His glory.
• Historical Context: The exile of Israel demonstrates both God’s power and His commitment to His warnings and promises.
• Historical Setting:Israel’s exile due to persistent rejection of God: Northern Kingdom exiled to Assyria, Southern to Babylon.
• God continued to communicate with His people through prophets like Ezekiel (among the exiles) and Daniel (in the king’s palace).
• Ezekiel’s Role:Proclaimed God’s presence even in exile.
• Delivered messages of both judgment and restoration, setting the stage for hope during desperate times.
• 2. The Context for Ezekiel’s Message
• Significance: Israel’s struggle symbolized humanity’s wider spiritual plight—needing both physical and spiritual restoration, pointing ultimately to Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
• God’s Name and Glory Vindicated (vv. 16–23):Israel’s exile resulted directly from their persistent sin and idolatry, not circumstantial factors.
• More seriously, their disobedience dishonored God’s name before other nations.
• God’s actions for Israel were ultimately for the sake of His holy name, not because of Israel’s merit.
• Gracious Provisions for God’s People (vv. 24–38):Specific Promises:Regathering to their homeland.
• Cleansing from impurity and idolatry.
• Replacing stony hearts with hearts of flesh (paralleling Jeremiah 31:31–35).
• The indwelling of God’s Spirit to promote obedience.
• Restoration of the land’s fruitfulness.
• Vindication of God’s reputation among the nations.
• Spiritual renewal leading to genuine repentance and self-recognition of sin.
• Theological Note: These prophecies, partially fulfilled historically (such as after the exile and the founding of Israel in 1948), ultimately point to a greater spiritual restoration in the future, with continued debate on their fulfillment within the Church or modern Israel.
• 3. The Promise of Restoration (Ezekiel 36:16–38)
• Purpose: All blessings and restoration serve to declare God’s sovereignty and uphold His glory.
• The Vision:Ezekiel witnesses a valley of very dry bones—representing utter hopelessness and death.
• God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones; as he does, bones reassemble, are covered with flesh, and, after another prophecy, receive breath and become a living army.
• 4. Vision of Regeneration: The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1–14)
• Interpretation:
• Directly refers to the spiritual and national reviving of exiled Israel.
• Parallels the individual spiritual regeneration—people are spiritually dead in sin, only revived by the Spirit of God.
• Key Point: Only God can truly bring life from death; human efforts are insufficient without divine intervention.
• Illustration with Sticks:Two labeled sticks (Judah/Israel and Joseph/Ephraim) are joined together, symbolizing reclamation from division and dispersion into a united nation.
• 5. Promise of National Reunification and Everlasting Covenant (Ezekiel 37:15–28)
• Prophecy: After exile, Israel would be reunified and restored under one king—a descendant of David (ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ).
• Eternal Covenant: God foretells an everlasting covenant of peace, a united people, and God’s enduring, indwelling presence.
• Universal Message: The full restoration awaits ultimate fulfillment at Christ’s return.
• 6. Implications for Christian Life
• Doctrinal Emphasis: God’s redemptive work is not limited to national Israel but speaks to all believers—Jews and Gentiles—dead in sin, made alive by the Spirit through Christ.
• Practical Application:Christians possess forgiveness, fellowship, understanding, and confidence in God’s promises.
• Life’s blessings and hardships both serve to point believers to God’s glory, which supersedes personal benefit.
• Witness: Christian behavior reflects God’s character to others; the call is to humble dependence, grateful representation, and faithfulness in both struggle and victory.
• Purpose: All blessings, victories, and restoration are meant to glorify God, the ultimate aim of Christian life.
• 7. Hope Amid Hardship
• Ezekiel’s Relevance: The message of restoration, new life, and hope resonates for those worn down by sin and struggle, reinforcing that God’s power is undiminished by the deadness or despair in human situations.
• Role of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit continues to convict, renew, and restore, moving believers from spiritual death to vibrant new life.
• Action Items
• Reflect on personal areas of spiritual “deadness” and pray for God’s restorative power.
• Consider concrete ways to represent God’s glory in daily interactions, recognizing the watching “nations” (those around us).
• Share the life-giving gospel within one’s sphere of influence, offering hope especially to those in hopeless situations.
• Apply the lessons of humility, dependence, gratitude, and faithfulness in both trials and triumphs, living as witnesses to God’s glory.
• Follow-up Points
• Next Session: The group will reconvene next week to continue studying the prophetic and historical books detailing Israel’s return and the close of the Old Testament, with a particular focus on the interplay of God’s promises and their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.
• Further Reflection: Members are encouraged to track recurring themes of restoration, hope, and God’s glory, preparing to discuss practical implications for modern faith and community life in coming sessions.
• Key Dates & Verses Mentioned
• Focus Verse: Ezekiel 36:36
• Supporting Verses: Ezekiel 36:16–38, Ezekiel 37:1–28, Jeremiah 31:31–35, Romans 15:4, Romans 11:31–32
• Key Historical Date: 1948 (re-establishment of Israel)
• Next Meeting: Unspecified, but “next week”
• Summary Statement
• The lesson provided a comprehensive exploration of God’s glory, His commitment to restoring His people, and the deep hope available through His sovereign, faithful actions. The study encouraged reflection on personal spiritual deadness, highlighted the importance of representing God rightly to a watching world, and inspired renewed gratitude and purpose in Christian living, all in anticipation of God’s future fulfillment of His promises.

BSF – The Exile and ReturnDefault (Source Sans Pro)11AA

BSF Lesson 2: Detailed Summary: Bible Study Fellowship Lecture on Ezekiel 36 & 37

Speaker: Holly Roberts, Executive Director of Bible Study Fellowship

Date of Lecture: Not precisely specified (reference to ongoing series, presumed recent)

Reference Date: September 28, 2025

Introduction

• Speaker Greeting: Holly Roberts introduces herself as the Executive Director of BSF.
• Topic Introduction: The focus is on Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37.
• Opening Illustration: Holly asks listeners what comes to mind with the word “bones,” moving from everyday associations (museums, food, art) to the symbolic meaning of death.
• Main Premise: The vision of dry bones in Ezekiel is astonishing because, while humans see bones as the end of life, God can bring life from death, both physically and spiritually (regeneration).

Main Topics Discussed

1. The Ubiquity of Sin and Death

• Human Experience with Death: Bones as a symbol of death, irreversible by human power.
• Sin in the World: Everything—people, families, nations—is marred and devastated by sin.
• Hopelessness: Life often feels like “walking among dry bones,” situations that seem unredeemable.

2. God’s Restorative Power

• Theme: God specializes in bringing life and hope into dead situations.
• Regeneration: Central to Scripture is the concept that God can bring spiritual (and physical) life where there was death.
• Study Series Context: BSF’s study titled “Exile and Return,” focused on Judah (southern kingdom).
• The current lesson is the second week spent in Ezekiel—last week emphasized God’s glory, this week God’s restorative power.

3. Division One: Ezekiel 36:16–38 — The Restored Land

a. The Problem: A Defiled Land

• Historical Context:
• The people of Israel defiled their land through behaviors akin to deep ritual uncleanness (idolatry, child sacrifice, bloodshed).
• Psalms 106:35–39 is cited as a parallel explanation.
• God’s Grief: Every bloodstain represents a story, a person, and an act of rebellion.
• Divine Patience: God warned Israel for centuries before sending them into exile.
• Public Perception: Outsiders saw Israel’s exile as God’s failure, but in reality, it revealed Israel’s sin and God’s justice.

b. Exile as Grace

• Nature of Exile: Exile is not God’s impotence but Israel’s insolence. Exile is presented as grace—God chooses banishment, not annihilation.

c. The “I Will” Promises

• Restoration Promised:
• God repeatedly states “I will…” (e.g., I will take you from the nations, I will bring you back to your land, I will cleanse you, I will give you a new heart and spirit, I will move you to follow).
• Regeneration Over Relocation: Physical return is not enough; the people need internal transformation—a new heart and spirit.
• Sin is a universal problem, dating back to Eden.
• Human effort (good deeds, trying harder) can’t solve it—only God’s action (regeneration) can.

d. The Nature of Restoration

• Transformation: God will change inner being (thoughts, motivations).
• Outcome: The land will be restored to Eden-like perfection; God’s glory will be evident, nations will know God restored Israel.
• Purpose: Restoration is for God’s glory—not Israel’s self-congratulation.

4. Personal and Universal Relevance of the Message

• Sin and Brokenness: Speaker identifies that we all contribute to, and are affected by, sin.
• Reluctance to Share: Sin’s effect includes isolation and loss of trust, making sharing our pain difficult.
• Yet, God’s Promise: God restores what sin ruins.
• Application: Encourages listeners to ask how God’s restorative ability brings them hope amid personal devastation.
• Promises for All Believers: The “I will” promises in Ezekiel—though to Israel—are paralleled in New Testament promises.Example: Forgiveness and purification (1 John 1:9).

5. New Testament Connections

• God’s Power to Regenerate: Applies not just to literal Israelites, but to all who trust in Christ.

6. Division Two: Ezekiel 37 — The Restored Nation

a. Vision of Dry Bones: Graphic Death, Glorious Life

• Ezekiel’s Experience: God places Ezekiel in a valley of dry bones, a symbol of utter hopelessness.
• God’s Question: “Can these bones live?”—a question highlighting God’s unique power.Ezekiel’s Response: Refuses to limit God; he answers, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
• Preaching to Bones: God tells Ezekiel to prophesy life over the bones; as he does, the bones come together, are covered with flesh, and come to life—regeneration in vivid imagery.

b. Theological Significance

• Regeneration: This is not merely physical reanimation, but a symbol of spiritual renewal—a “resurrection” for the nation.
• Application: We are prone to declare situations hopeless, but God’s power is greater than human perception or limitation.

c. Restoration of the Nation

• Historical Division: After Solomon’s death, the nation split (Israel/north, Judah/south), both eventually exiled.
• Promise of Reunion:
• Ezekiel 37:21–23: God will reunite divided kingdoms into one nation under one king.
• Verse 24: Reference to “My servant David will be king”—a Messianic anticipation, fulfilled in Jesus, the descendant of David.
• Eschatological Hope: The prophecy points beyond the near return from exile to a greater future fulfillment—restoration, ruling King, everlasting covenant.

d. Final Promises: Presence and Peace

• Everlasting Covenant: God will dwell among the people, they will be His, and the nations will recognize His holiness.
• Restoration Scope: Not just political restoral, but a new way of living, a restored heart, unity, and God’s tangible dwelling.

Extended Reflection & Application

• God’s Restorative Trajectory: From Eden’s loss, through exile, to the coming King, to Jesus’ finished work, to future fulfillment—a story of ongoing restoration.
• Cost of Redemption: About 600 years after Ezekiel’s prophecy, Jesus secured redemption, making spiritual regeneration possible for all.
• Already and Not Yet: While Jesus has paid for sin, full regathering and unification of Israel remains future.
• Further Hope: Jesus as “firstborn from the dead” signals broader resurrection and hope for full restoration.
• Parallel to Believers: The principle of God’s restorative power applies to all who trust in Christ—no situation is ultimately hopeless.
• Living Amid “Dry Bones”: Even in desperate situations (e.g., broken families, loss, despair), God’s power to bring life inspires hope and perseverance.

Action Items

1. Scripture Engagement:

• Listeners are encouraged to read and meditate on Ezekiel 36–37.
• Reflect personally: How does God’s ability to restore bring hope in my current situation?

1. Hope Application:

• Consider areas of personal life that seem like “dry bones.”
• Apply trust in God’s power to those areas; refuse to declare situations hopeless.

1. Community and Testimony:

• Be open to sharing stories of God’s restorative work with others, building trust and faith.

1. Study Continuation:

• Prepare for the upcoming weeks’ studies on exile and return, focusing on how God’s promises are fulfilled.

Follow-Up Points and Meetings

• Next in Series: The current lesson was the second of two foundational weeks in Ezekiel. The upcoming sessions will further explore the stories of exile and return for Judah.
• Ongoing BSF Resources: For more information and resources, participants are directed to bsfinternational.org.
• Implied Application Questions for Discussion/Future Lessons:
• How can we cultivate deeper confidence in God’s restorative power?
• What practical steps can we take when faced with “hopeless” circumstances?

Summary Statement

The lecture masterfully weaves historical, theological, and personal threads to highlight God’s unmatched power to restore what sin destroys. Through Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones and the promised future for Israel, Holly Roberts calls believers to fresh hope—grounded not in human effort, but in the unstoppable, regenerative work of God through Christ. No situation is beyond God’s restoration, and every current struggle sits within God’s grand story of redemption and new life.

A Bible study lesson from the Fellowship People of the Promise series focuses on the Book of Ezekiel, especially the themes of exile, restoration, and hope. The material is structured as a multi-day guided study with questions and reflection prompts built around key passages from Ezekiel Chapters 36–37.

Main Topics Discussed

1. Personal Application and Reflection

• The lesson starts by encouraging participants to relate Ezekiel’s experiences in exile to their own positions before God. They are prompted to consider how the teaching, notes, and lecture have enhanced their understanding and will affect their response to God.
• Reflection questions ask how truths from the materials encourage obedience and speaking on God’s behalf.

2. God’s Wrath, Reputation, and Faithfulness (Ezekiel 36:16–23)

• Participants read and reflect on Israel’s exile, the reasons for God’s wrath, and how the nations’ observations affected God’s reputation.
• Emphasis is placed on how sin among God’s people can lead to the desecration of God’s name, connecting this idea to passages like 2 Corinthians 5:20.

3. Restoration and Blessings (Ezekiel 36:24–38)

• Discussion centers on the physical and spiritual blessings promised to Israel (e.g., cleansing, renewal, fruitfulness).
• The study connects these promises to salvation in Christ, referencing relevant scriptures for support.
• There’s focus on the role of grief over sin, drawing on Romans 2:4 and 2 Corinthians 7:10, and discussion about how God’s intervention glorifies Him and extends grace.

4. The Valley of Dry Bones—Restoration and Hope (Ezekiel 37:1–14)

• An in-depth look at Ezekiel’s vision: describing the imagery of dry bones and its representation of Israel’s desolation.
• Questions probe the significance of God’s commands and the resulting miraculous restoration, culminating in the interpretation that God promises to restore and give life by His Spirit.
• Participants are invited to reflect on personal experiences of God’s unique work in their own lives.

5. Unity and Messianic Hope (Ezekiel 37:15–28)

• God’s command for Ezekiel’s visual prophecy (joining two sticks) is explored as a symbol of Israel’s reunification under a single king.
• The Messiah is foreshadowed; cross-references include 2 Samuel 7:12–16, Jeremiah 50:5, and Matthew 1:1, linking the prophecy to Jesus Christ.
• The hope contained in God’s enduring presence with His people and its role as a witness to the world is discussed.

6. Review and Personal Encouragement

• The study ends with a recap of Ezekiel 36:16—37:28, summarizing how God delivers from death by His Spirit for His own glory.
• Final questions encourage participants to note what truths have offered hope and encouragement and to review personal lessons learned in both the study and life.
• The week concludes with the instruction for group and administrative leaders that there is no homiletics assignment and a reminder to listen to the upcoming lecture.

Key Dates/Scripture References

• September 28, 2025 (date of instructions)
• Ezekiel 36:16–37:28 (primary study passages)
• 2 Corinthians 5:20, Romans 2:4, 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Samuel 7:12–16, Jeremiah 50:5, Matthew 1:1 (supporting references)

Action Items and Follow-Ups

• Engage with the scripture passages and reflection questions each day.
• Prepare to share insights and answers in fellowship or group settings.
• Listen to the prescribed lecture as the next step.
• No homiletics assignment for this week.

This structured study invites participants to deeply engage with themes of judgment, restoration, and hope, and to personalize the lessons from Ezekiel’s prophecies in their walk with God.

Detailed Summary: Bible Study Fellowship – People of the Promise: Exile and Return

Lesson 2: Hope for the Hopeless

Date: September 28, 2025

Main Focus: God’s restorative power amid Israel’s exile, as foretold by Ezekiel, focusing on God’s glory, promise of spiritual and physical restoration, and the hope provided by His faithfulness.

Main Topics Discussed

1. Understanding God’s Glory (Focus Verse: Ezekiel 36:36)

• Definition: God’s glory encompasses all His attributes, unveiled through His actions, creation, and lives transformed by Christ.
• Perspective: While people tend to view God’s actions through a personal lens (how He benefits us), the lesson emphasizes shifting the focus to what these actions reveal about God Himself.
• Significance:God’s glory is more important than the blessings we receive.
• All events, including both the salvation of sinners and the judgment of sin, display His glory.
• Historical Context: The exile of Israel demonstrates both God’s power and His commitment to His warnings and promises.
• Historical Setting:Israel’s exile due to persistent rejection of God: Northern Kingdom exiled to Assyria, Southern to Babylon.
• God continued to communicate with His people through prophets like Ezekiel (among the exiles) and Daniel (in the king’s palace).
• Ezekiel’s Role:Proclaimed God’s presence even in exile.
• Delivered messages of both judgment and restoration, setting the stage for hope during desperate times.

2. The Context for Ezekiel’s Message

• Significance: Israel’s struggle symbolized humanity’s wider spiritual plight—needing both physical and spiritual restoration, pointing ultimately to Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
• God’s Name and Glory Vindicated (vv. 16–23):Israel’s exile resulted directly from their persistent sin and idolatry, not circumstantial factors.
• More seriously, their disobedience dishonored God’s name before other nations.
• God’s actions for Israel were ultimately for the sake of His holy name, not because of Israel’s merit.
• Gracious Provisions for God’s People (vv. 24–38):Specific Promises:Regathering to their homeland.
• Cleansing from impurity and idolatry.
• Replacing stony hearts with hearts of flesh (paralleling Jeremiah 31:31–35).
• The indwelling of God’s Spirit to promote obedience.
• Restoration of the land’s fruitfulness.
• Vindication of God’s reputation among the nations.
• Spiritual renewal leading to genuine repentance and self-recognition of sin.
• Theological Note: These prophecies, partially fulfilled historically (such as after the exile and the founding of Israel in 1948), ultimately point to a greater spiritual restoration in the future, with continued debate on their fulfillment within the Church or modern Israel.

3. The Promise of Restoration (Ezekiel 36:16–38)

• Purpose: All blessings and restoration serve to declare God’s sovereignty and uphold His glory.
• The Vision:Ezekiel witnesses a valley of very dry bones—representing utter hopelessness and death.
• God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones; as he does, bones reassemble, are covered with flesh, and, after another prophecy, receive breath and become a living army.

4. Vision of Regeneration: The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1–14)

• Interpretation:
• Directly refers to the spiritual and national reviving of exiled Israel.
• Parallels the individual spiritual regeneration—people are spiritually dead in sin, only revived by the Spirit of God.
• Key Point: Only God can truly bring life from death; human efforts are insufficient without divine intervention.
• Illustration with Sticks:Two labeled sticks (Judah/Israel and Joseph/Ephraim) are joined together, symbolizing reclamation from division and dispersion into a united nation.

5. Promise of National Reunification and Everlasting Covenant (Ezekiel 37:15–28)

• Prophecy: After exile, Israel would be reunified and restored under one king—a descendant of David (ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ).
• Eternal Covenant: God foretells an everlasting covenant of peace, a united people, and God’s enduring, indwelling presence.
• Universal Message: The full restoration awaits ultimate fulfillment at Christ’s return.

6. Implications for Christian Life

• Doctrinal Emphasis: God’s redemptive work is not limited to national Israel but speaks to all believers—Jews and Gentiles—dead in sin, made alive by the Spirit through Christ.
• Practical Application:Christians possess forgiveness, fellowship, understanding, and confidence in God’s promises.
• Life’s blessings and hardships both serve to point believers to God’s glory, which supersedes personal benefit.
• Witness: Christian behavior reflects God’s character to others; the call is to humble dependence, grateful representation, and faithfulness in both struggle and victory.
• Purpose: All blessings, victories, and restoration are meant to glorify God, the ultimate aim of Christian life.

7. Hope Amid Hardship

• Ezekiel’s Relevance: The message of restoration, new life, and hope resonates for those worn down by sin and struggle, reinforcing that God’s power is undiminished by the deadness or despair in human situations.
• Role of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit continues to convict, renew, and restore, moving believers from spiritual death to vibrant new life.

Action Items

1. Reflect on personal areas of spiritual “deadness” and pray for God’s restorative power.
2. Consider concrete ways to represent God’s glory in daily interactions, recognizing the watching “nations” (those around us).
3. Share the life-giving gospel within one’s sphere of influence, offering hope especially to those in hopeless situations.
4. Apply the lessons of humility, dependence, gratitude, and faithfulness in both trials and triumphs, living as witnesses to God’s glory.

Follow-up Points

• Next Session: The group will reconvene next week to continue studying the prophetic and historical books detailing Israel’s return and the close of the Old Testament, with a particular focus on the interplay of God’s promises and their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.
• Further Reflection: Members are encouraged to track recurring themes of restoration, hope, and God’s glory, preparing to discuss practical implications for modern faith and community life in coming sessions.

Key Dates & Verses Mentioned

• Focus Verse: Ezekiel 36:36
• Supporting Verses: Ezekiel 36:16–38, Ezekiel 37:1–28, Jeremiah 31:31–35, Romans 15:4, Romans 11:31–32
• Key Historical Date: 1948 (re-establishment of Israel)
• Next Meeting: Unspecified, but “next week”

Summary Statement

The lesson provided a comprehensive exploration of God’s glory, His commitment to restoring His people, and the deep hope available through His sovereign, faithful actions. The study encouraged reflection on personal spiritual deadness, highlighted the importance of representing God rightly to a watching world, and inspired renewed gratitude and purpose in Christian living, all in anticipation of God’s future fulfillment of His promises.