Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36: God gives a new heart

Begin in prayer

Before hearing God's promise of a new heart, let us bring Him the sins we cannot cleanse away. Ask the Lord to subdue our distractions, be present with our family and reveal Christ to us as we read Ezekiel 36.

and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.

Malachi 3:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us understand Your cleansing mercy and see Jesus, whose saving work gives guilty sinners hope. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God promises fruit and inhabited cities to Israel's mountains, while the nations that seized His land must bear their shame. The land will no longer devour people or bereave the nation. Israel's bloodshed and idols brought His wrath and scattering, and His name was profaned among the nations where they went. For His holy name, God will gather and cleanse them, replace their stone hearts and put His Spirit within them. His Spirit will cause obedience, and He will restore fruitful land. They will remember their evil and loathe themselves. Rebuilt cities and increasing people will make His work known, and He invites Israel to ask Him for these promises.

As you read Ezekiel 36, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God cleanses His people and gives them His Spirit, changing their hearts for the honor of His name.

The land's renewed fruitfulness answers the nations' claim to possess it, because God calls it His own and promises His people's return. Their exile had a moral cause, for bloodshed and idols defiled the land like impurity before Him. Yet their scattering also brought His name into contempt among nations that saw His people driven from His land. God says, “I don’t do this for your sake,” grounding the promised restoration in His concern for His holy name. Cleansing removes their defilement, and the changed heart answers the stubbornness that led them into it. A heart of flesh is living and responsive, and His indwelling Spirit causes the obedience His commands require. Remembering their evil and loathing themselves shows that His mercy produces shame for the sins He cleanses. The rebuilt cities and multiplying people will make His work recognizable even to the surrounding nations. His promise to be inquired of calls Israel to ask for the increase He has promised.

How does Ezekiel 36 show us that God cleanses His people and gives them His Spirit, changing their hearts for the honor of His name?

God defends His land against its enemies.

The nations have seized God's land and rejoiced over its ruin (verses 1 to 15). He makes them bear their shame. Israel's mountains will bear fruit, support returning people and no longer bereave the nation.

God cleanses His people for His name's sake.

Israel's bloodshed and idols brought God's wrath and scattering (verses 16 to 25). Their exile profaned His name among the nations. God gathers and cleanses them to show the holiness of His name.

God changes hearts and causes obedience.

God gives a new heart and puts His Spirit within His people (verses 26 to 38). He causes them to obey His statutes. They remember their evil and loathe themselves, while God rebuilds and fills their ruined cities.

Memorize

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

Ezekiel 36:26

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin can I not remove, and will I ask Jesus for a new heart?

The Lord gives this promise, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes”. The people who defiled His land need cleansing and a changed heart. God Himself gives what they need, showing the holiness of the name they profaned. His mercy brings shame for their old sins and a new course of obedience.

Jesus gave His life to cleanse His people from their sins. He died for them, bearing their guilt and suffering their punishment on the cross. His death completed their redemption, and His blood fully supplies the cleansing they need before God. He rose from the dead, and the living Savior gives His Spirit to those who belong to Him.

Please turn from your sin and believe in Jesus Christ. Every sinner who comes to Him receives forgiveness. Bring Him the hardness you cannot remove and ask for a new heart. His mercy gives repentant sinners reason to seek the changed life His Spirit works within them.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus died and rose to cleanse sinners and give them 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 cleansing mercy and the new heart He gives, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 Peter 1:2

Father, thank You for mercy that cleanses guilty people and changes hard hearts. Forgive our idols and disobedience, and help each one turn from sin and trust Jesus. Please give us new hearts and teach us by Your Spirit to walk in Your commands for the honor of Your name. Amen.