Ezekiel 41:5

November 29, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Then he measured the wall of the temple, six cubits thick, and the breadth of the side chambers, four cubits, all around the temple.” (Ezekiel 41:5)

Like chapter 40 – but only more – this chapter is filled with specific details of a Jewish temple. It can be easy to lose interest because … who really cares how thick a wall is? Or, how wide is a room?

Since God showed Ezekiel these blueprints and told him to declare this information to the house of Israel (40:4), we need to guard our hearts so that we do not dismiss this information as irrelevant to us.

This vision occurred while the Jews were in Babylon, and Jerusalem had been destroyed. We know the vision wasn’t of the then currently destroyed temple. Apparently, it was of a future temple. When the Jews returned to Israel, they restored Solomon’s temple, which differed from Ezekiel’s vision. In about 20 BC, Herod began a significant remodeling and expansion of the Temple Mount. The outcome of his project also differed from Ezekiel’s vision. So, we can conclude that there remains yet another temple to be built.

Since this temple has yet to be built, we should watch its construction. I’m not certain whether it is earthly or heavenly, though. Let’s keep watching.

Father, help me to anticipate the future with excitement. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Faith, Israel, Jerusalem, Old Testament, Prophecy, Restoring Israel, Temple Mount

Ezekiel 37:3-6

November 25, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“And he said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ And I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’ Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 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.’” (Ezekiel 37:3-6)

This is the fairly well-known vision of the valley of dry bones. God used the imagery of dry bones being restored to life to communicate to Ezekiel what God saw as Israel’s future.

My thoughts are drawn to God’s involvement in this scenario. These dry bones cannot seek restoration. They are long dead. But God insisted on their new life by telling Ezekiel to prophecy over them. Note that Ezekiel’s prophecy didn’t bring the bones to life. It was the spirit of God that would give them life. Additionally, God was restoring life to them so that they would know that He is the Lord.

There is something greater than being alive, and that is knowing the Lord. Jeremiah put it this way, “But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬)

Father, please help me to know you better each day. Help me to live in a way that shouts, “I know the Lord.” Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Old Testament, Restoring Israel

Ezekiel 36:26-27

November 24, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“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. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (36‬:‭26‬-‭27‬)

This is a beautiful promise from God who continues to aim toward restoration. This same picture of regeneration was used back in chapter 11:

“And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
(‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭11‬:‭19‬-‭20‬)

Notice the focus on a renewed heart, resulting in changed behavior. After the Bathsheba incident, David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬) Our struggle in the flesh begins in the heart: “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” (Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬)

Father, thank you for this reminder of 1) your desire to restore people for your name’s sake, and 2) my need to focus on my heart. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, heart matters, Old Testament, Restoring Israel

Ezekiel 35:5-6

November 23, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment, therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you. (Ezekiel 35:5-6)

These are the kinds of verses that make me very cautious in how I view and behave toward Israel. As previously mentioned, it’s become socially acceptable – even encouraged – to criticize Israel in the extreme. The more public and extreme, the better. Look at the clipped section above. In 5-6, God says He is punishing Edom because they “cherished perpetual enmity with Israel.”

Let’s go back in history. The Edomites are the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s firstborn twin brother. However, Esau traded his birthright for some stew … and the fight was on when he realized what he had done. In the end, the brothers separated. Esau went east and became the Edomites. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, and his descendants became Israel.

Then, during their Exodus trip to the Promised Land, the Edomites forbade Israel’s safe passage, causing them to take a lengthy detour.

Later, both King Saul and King David battled with them, with David finally subduing them. This subduing reminds me of the kid who was forced to sit by his mother even though he didn’t want to sit. He told her, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside!” The Edomites remained bitter in their hearts.

When Babylon came calling, Edom sided with them against Judah. Here’s how Obadiah describes it: “Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress.” (Obadiah‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭12‬) “Do not gloat, rejoice, or boast” at Judah’s suffering.

Verse 6 (see above) says that God will hammer Edom because of their heart toward Judah. Remember, God is giving Judah her biggest punishment at this time, and He does not allow others to celebrate that in any way. Yikes!

Father, help me be faithful toward those to whom you remain faithful. Help me also not to hold on to offense, but to release offenses into your care. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Obadiah, Old Testament, Prophecy, Restoring Israel

Ezekiel 34:2-3, 11-13

November 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.” (Ezekiel 34:2-3)

“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country.” (Ezekiel 34:11‬-‭13‬)

In this chapter, the Lord turns his attention back to His people, the shepherds of Judah. Using the imagery of a shepherd, he rebukes those who cared for themselves rather than the sheep.

Israel was taken into exile because of their rebellion against the Lord. And those who were to care for their spiritual well-being were actually profiting themselves. This was akin to a shepherd eating all the sheep before they could reproduce. That’s not good for the shepherd or the sheep.

In the second part, the Lord offers great hope by saying he will fill the void of the wicked shepherds by hunting for the sheep himself and restoring them to their land. The Lord will not only find the scattered sheep,

Note the restorative language of 13-14 (and beyond). He will not only bring them out from among the peoples, but he will also restore them to their own land. Then, he will feed them. Why? Because he is the good shepherd.

“So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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. For this reason, the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.’” (John‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬-‭18‬)

Father, help me to see you as the supremely good shepherd who cares for his sheep. Help me to trust that all you do is good and right and for my good. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Israel, Old Testament, Restoring Israel
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