Ezekiel

Ezekiel 11: God gives His people new hearts

Begin in prayer

Before hearing God's promise to scattered people, let us ask Him to deal with our stubborn hearts. Ask Him to quiet our hearts and be near our family, teaching us to recognize Christ as we read Ezekiel 11.

I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their good.

Jeremiah 32:39

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us understand Your promise and see Jesus, through whom sinners receive mercy and new life. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

In the vision, Ezekiel sees wicked counselors at the east gate of the LORD's house. God knows their thoughts and will bring them out to judge them for the slain filling the city. Pelatiah dies while Ezekiel prophesies, and he cries out about Israel's remnant. God promises to be a sanctuary to scattered people, gather them and give them the land. He will remove their stony hearts and give them hearts that obey, while those following detestable things face judgment. His glory leaves the city, and Ezekiel returns in vision to Chaldea to tell the captives what God has shown him.

As you read Ezekiel 11, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God gathers His scattered people and gives them hearts that will obey Him.

The counselors' picture of a cooking pot treats Jerusalem as a secure place for those inside its walls. God reverses their claim by calling the slain its meat and bringing the counselors outside to face judgment. His knowledge of their thoughts exposes the false confidence behind advice that ignores His commands. The inhabitants also claim that the scattered people are far from the LORD and that the land belongs to those remaining. God promises sanctuary to scattered people for a little while, answering the claim that exile means separation from His care. His gathering promise reaches beyond returning them to a place, because their hearts also need changing. A stony heart resists His commands, while the heart of flesh He gives responds in obedience. Their restored covenant life depends on this gift, and those whose hearts pursue detestable things still receive their own ways upon their heads.

How does Ezekiel 11 show us that God gathers His scattered people and gives them hearts that will obey Him?

God sees through the counsel of wicked leaders.

God knows what comes into the leaders' minds, and He names the slain they have multiplied (verses 1 to 12). The city will not protect them. He will bring them out and judge them at Israel's border.

God can be a sanctuary for scattered people.

Jerusalem's inhabitants have told the scattered people to go far from the LORD (verses 15 to 17). Yet God promises to be their sanctuary for a little while among the nations. His care reaches them where the city dwellers suppose they are far from Him.

God gives the heart that obeys Him.

God will give His gathered people one heart and a new spirit (verses 18 to 21). He replaces the stony heart with a heart of flesh so that they obey Him. Those who continue following detestable things will bear His judgment.

Memorize

I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you.

Ezekiel 11:19

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where does my stubborn heart need the changing mercy of Jesus?

The LORD promises His scattered people, “I will give them one heart.” The people need more than a return to their land. They need the Lord to remove the hardness that keeps them following detestable things. Obedience will grow from the heart He gives.

Jesus saves people who cannot cure their own sinful hearts. At the cross He died for His people, carrying their guilt and satisfying God's judgment against it. His saving work is finished and fully sufficient. He rose again, and He gives new life to those He saves.

Please turn from sin and believe in Jesus. Come to Him for the forgiveness He freely gives to repentant sinners. Ask the Lord to change your heart, so that you love His Word and want to obey Him. The promise directs needy people to God's power and mercy.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God gives new hearts, and Jesus died and rose to bring sinners forgiveness and new life. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His power to change stubborn hearts, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

James 1:18

Father, thank You for promising to give hearts that obey You. Forgive our stubborn sin, and help each one turn from it and believe in Jesus. Please give us hearts that love Your Word and teach us to obey You willingly at home and wherever we go. Amen.