This Week’s Reading
This week’s reading included the last few chapters of Ezekiel. Today’s
lesson is taken from several articles found in the
“Word In LifeTM Study Bible.”
This Week’s Lesson
Today we’ll talk about God’sRevelation to Ezekiel pertaining to
leaders, the promise of God’s Spirit, the plans for a new Temple should cause self-examination. The New Jerusalem should increase the hope of being with God Forever.
Leaders Should Care
Ezekiel 34:1 NET The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to
them — to the shepherds:
Leaders Should Care
'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding
themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock?
Leaders Should Care
Much has been written in recent years about effective managers focusing on customers, markets,
trends, quality, succession, marketing, teamwork, and
commitment.
Leaders Should Care
These and other factors are important, sometimes vitally so.
But Ezekiel's prophecy concerning the leaders of Israel points out
one more critical factor:
Leaders Should Care
If the people being led are neglected or suffering, The qualifications to lead are in question. The "shepherds" of
Israel received a "performance review" from God, and it was not good.
Leaders Should Care
The leaders were spending most of their energies feeding themselves instead of the flock, and they were giving them nothing but leftovers.
Leaders Should Care
Not only were they neglecting the least powerful and most
vulnerable among the people-the weak, the sick, the broken, and
the refugees—but they were actually taking advantage of them.
Leaders Should Care
There was only one remedy for this situation—to remove the leaders
from leadership. God Himself would heal the hurting, restore the
scattered, and feed His flock.
Leaders Should Care
Centuries later, Jesus prescribed "shepherd leadership" for Peter.
(John 21:15-19) As the Good Shepherd, Jesus had modeled
this approach by laying down His life for His sheep.
Leaders Should Care
Security, safety, sufficient supply of necessities, and shared outcomes
—these are some of the essentials that good leaders provide for their followers.
Leaders Should Care
If we are in a position of leadership in our work, home, church, or
community, how well are we providing these essentials for the people
following us. In what ways could they be better served by us as leaders?
A New Spirit
Now we transition to something unknown in Old Testament times.
God’s gift of His Spirit.
A New Spirit
Ezekiel 36:26 NET I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit
within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give
you a heart of flesh.
A New Spirit
27 I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative and you will obey my statutes and carefully
observe my regulations.
A New Spirit
The prospect of God placing His own Spirit within His people to
help them walk in His ways was an exciting new development.
A New Spirit
The Holy Spirit inspired Old Testament believers to pursue
holiness, and from time to time He came upon certain leaders in a
way that gave them extraordinary power.
A New Spirit
But He was not a permanent resident in God's people as He is
today so Ezekiel's vision of an indwelling Spirit must have filled his listeners with anticipation.
A Time To Take Stock
Next God gives Ezekiel the plans for a rebuilding the Temple. This is intended to cause people to
To Take Stock of their lives.
A Time To Take Stock
Ezekiel 43:10 NET "As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, so that they will
be ashamed of their sins and measure the pattern.
A Time To Take Stock
11 When they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple,
its pattern, its exits and entrances, and its whole design
A Time To Take Stock
all its statutes, its entire design, and all its laws; write it all down in their sight, so that they may observe its
entire design and all its statutes and do them.
A Time To Take Stock
Times of great loss or suffering can provide a valuable opportunity for reflection and self-examination.
A Time To Take Stock
For example, the loss of a loved one often brings back vivid
memories that give insight into the meaning of the person's life.
A Time To Take Stock
In a similar way, Ezekiel's vision of the new temple appears to have been intended as a reminder of Solomon's temple, which had
been the center of Judah's spiritual life and cultural identity.
A Time To Take Stock
For centuries, that temple had stood as a powerful symbol of
God's abiding presence. Now it was gone.
A Time To Take Stock
Yet God did not leave His people without hope. Through Ezekiel, He told them that He had plans for an
entirely new temple.
A Time To Take Stock
He described these plans in the most exacting detail. What was
the point of this elaborate description?
A Time To Take Stock
It seems to have been meant to help the people rehearse their
failure as the people of God and to recognize how much they
needed His help.
A Time To Take Stock
In effect, they were to measure themselves with the same level of
precision with which God was designing the new temple.
A Time To Take Stock
The same principle applies to believers today. In our darkest
moments, in times of great loss or fear, God would have us pursue
insight and self-examination.
A Time To Take Stock
We can harness our thoughts and feelings as the exiles of Judah
were challenged to through Ezekiel's description of the
temple.
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
As the revelation to Ezekiel closes we find the plans for a New Jerusalem. It is in these plans all humans can base
their hope. We Will Be WithHIM FOREVER!
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
Ezekiel 48:30 NET "These are the exits of the city: On the north side, one and one-half miles by measure, 31 the gates of the city will be named
for the tribes of Israel;
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
there will be three gates to the north: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for
Levi. 32 On the east side, one and one-half miles in length,
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
there will be three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin,
and one gate for Dan. 33 On the south side, one and one-half miles
by measure,
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
there will be three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun. 34 On the west side, one and one-half
miles in length,
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
there will be three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali. 35 The circumference of the city will be six miles. The name of the city from that day forward will be:
'The LORD Is There.' "
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
Scripture gives us only the barest glimpses of what heaven will be
like. But one feature that we know for sure is that God will be there, and we will never be separated
from Him again.
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
With this bright vision of eternity, Ezekiel's book of prophecy draws
to a close.Just as the apostle John saw the New Jerusalem descending from
heaven.
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
so Ezekiel envisioned the day when the city of God would finally be made perfect and complete in every way. Both prophets saw
twelve gates facing the four corners of the earth,
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
an indication of accessibility for everyone. Inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, the gates suggest inclusion, restoration, and
fulfillment of all that God has promised His covenant people.
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
In John's vision, this image is strengthened by the fact that
these gates never shut.
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
The name of this ideal city is "THE LORD IS THERE." This is a fitting
climax, not only to the Book of Ezekiel, but to John's Revelation
and to the Bible itself.
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
It shows that a reversal has occurred during the course of history. Whereas Ezekiel had seen the Lord withdrawing
from His temple because of the people's wickedness, now He has returned to a new temple to live
among His people forever.
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
Likewise, whereas fellowship with God was cut off through the sin in
Eden, (Gen. 3:22-24) it is made permanent in the New Jerusalem.
(Rev. 21:3)
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
This is a strong hope we can look forward to with great anticipation.
Right now, we may sometimes feel distant from God, perhaps alone and confused and wondering whether He
even knows who we are.
The Lord Is There - FOREVER!
The assurance of Scripture is that someday we will no longer wonder
where God is; We Will Be With
HIM FOREVER!
In Closing…
As we close this lesson let us review. How are doing in leading others? Have
we joined Jesus in death through baptism for the remission of our sins
and the gift of The Holy Spirit?
In Closing…
Are we taking stock of our thoughts and actions, especially when we come around the Lord’s Table?
In Closing…
Are we longing for when we’ll be in the
City Of God with
Him Forever?