Restoration and a promise. Exile and a hole in a wall. There’s a lot happening in Ezekiel 11 and 12! But what exactly does it all mean?
At this time, the Israelites were living a life marked by sin and corruption. Even though they had a promise from God, they couldn’t receive it because they were distant from the Lord (Ezekiel 11:15).
As I reread this story, it’s amazing that even when they were unable to take hold of what was the promise, God still walked beside them (v.16). Despite their sin and rebellion, in Ezekiel 11:19, God gives His people a new promise: He would ultimately bring them back from where they were scattered. In place of their shame and mistakes, He would give them a new heart and spirit.
“I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them.” —Ezekiel 11:19
Hearts of stone aren’t easily changed. This was the kind of transformation that only God could do. Before the transformation, there was an exile (Ezekiel 12:11–12). Even as believers, I think we all would prefer to skip over the pain of our mistakes and go straight to the good stuff. But God knew His people would finally recognize Him as Lord not in the good times, but in their captivity (Ezekiel 12:15).
I’m not sure about you, but I’ve made a lot of mistakes.
I’ve said and done things I wish I could take back, and I haven’t always been an example of Christ’s love to the people around me. I’ve desired, worked, and strived for things that were outside of God’s plan.
As sinful humans, our hearts often desire things that are not of God. But as we’re learning in Ezekiel, we can’t allow our heart and feelings to be our guide. When we wander off the path God has for us, He will often use what we experience to draw us closer to Himself.
Yet regardless of the mistakes we make, God’s promises still hold true. Forgiveness, hope, and a life of purpose are still available through His name. Are you or someone you know feeling distant from God’s presence and plan? The promises of God are still available to you.
This Lenten season, ask Him to give you a renewed heart and sense of His Spirit. It’s never too late, and you are never too far gone to start again.
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71 thoughts on "The Promise of Israel’s Restoration"
Lord I thank you for your forgiveness Lord!
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God goes from “inhabited cities will be destroyed, and the land will become dreadful “ to “ I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit”
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Thanks for the info, it was very helpful
Yes! Thank you for sharing as I needed to hear that
It’s so hard to change your heart and follow God’s will for your life in the beginning, but once you do and truly experience God’s loyalty it’s the most Humbling experience. I love the message that only He can transform these hardened hearts.
All too often I’m praying to skip to the good part but it struck me how there is so much to be learned about God and from God during the periods of exile. May we all be responsive to His voice in these times!
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Although this is the hardest book I have read so far, it has been very humbling. Proof that it is the living word because a lot of what is happening today happened with the Israelites all of those years ago. We put so many things before God. Money, phones, social media. And despite that, God still loves us and doesn’t leave us. I pray that I can continue to keep my focus on You, Lord.
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When I may feel alone, I am not, ever. Amen
I love that even when the Israelites were in captivity, God still had a plan to bring them back home. That reminds me of Romans 5:8, “..While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Another thing I find extremely important in Ezekiel is following God’s plan even when it is hard or others disagree. God told Ezekiel that people would not listen to him. We have to be able to discern God’s plans without judgment.
Oops I meant Matthew 13:16-17!
Gosh. This study has been keeping me humble. God is showing me through this study and this season that I truly am not righteous in my own strength. I realize I can be just like these men, who say, “This prophecy is for a distant time in the future.” I often believe that about His second coming. “The world is bad, but it could be much worse,” I think to myself. I don’t think we’re there yet. But who am I to say that? This could all go down very quickly. The Lord brought to mind Matthew 24, where Jesus says the days of days of the end will be shortened for the sake of the elect.
I read all of Matthew 24. The end could be near. I’m reminded to keep plowing, tilling, sowing, and watering. Stay faithful. Thank God for Matthew 12:16-17 that says we are blessed for our eyes and ears to see and know Him today! God, forgive me for my unbelief and help me stay in your love. I echo the prayer at the end, please renew my heart every day. Every moment. Thank you.
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Father, give me “a renewed heart and sense of” Your Spirit not just in this Lenten season but now and forever and ever!!! Bring my heart, soul, mind and spirit to focus on You in all that I do. When, not if, I stray, I know I will, refocus me to You and all that You have done. Lord I know I would be no where and no one without You. Allow me to know Your will and to follow it. Remind me when I start to falter that You are there to help me.
Father, You know the needs of my sisters in Christ, watch over them. Watch over Finley and Monica and Chad and the medical staff tomorrow as she goes through yet another surgery. Be with all of the family, her sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles as the wait patiently to hear that the surgery went fine. Father, we are in a world of turmoil and war watch over us be with those suffering.
Lord, God most of all let Your will be done in our lives, guide us to Your ways. In Jesus name, Amen.
Sisters be blessed and remember you have a renewed heart for the Lord if you let Him in.
When in captivity, you don’t have ownership over anything, everything will be stripped off, taken away. Life in exile poses tremendous lack, if not a big crisis. In captivity/exile, truly people will be humbled, brought low, and shall return to God. May I learn this lesson and seek God before any kind of captivity hits. When we are with God, though surrendering ownership to HIM, He still allows us free will, He still blesses us with the desires of our hearts, with His good plan to prosper us, increase us, with the abundant life He promises, with the invitation to cast our cares upon Him and He will carry the burden for us, and give us rest. Though His training hurts, His trials hurt, but never as bad as captivity. May we choose God all day and every day.
@ Rebecca: praying for your son Brett for healing over the mental illness and your other children to come back to the Lord.
@Rhonda J : praying for your sister to know Jesus, your nieces and nephews to return to the Lord’s ways, may God heal your dad and cancel the lung cancer diagnosis.
@ Heidi praying for your family situation.
Great reminder today that God’s grace is still available and God’s promises are still all true.
Thank you @Searching for including me in those you were praying for yesterday. It was a tender day for my heart, feeling the loss of my husband and missing having him to share about life with, asking questions about how to repair something, receiving his wisdom about various subjects… I miss him being here. Some days are just harder and you made it better for me reading you were praying for me. I really had a sense of God letting me know that he sees me with your affirmation of praying for me. Thank you all for your many prayers. I likewise am praying for your requests. ❤️
How great is it that God gives us a new spirit and heart when we don’t deserve it?
Kelly (Neo), Shaena Elizabeth, and all who continue to pray thank you. Yesterday I came across Romans 8 in my Bible in One Year app and almost cried tears of relief and joy thinking of how great it is to be a child of God because of what Jesus has done. We are not living with shame and condemnation, amen! This reading today was amazing, j read the first part of the chapter of Matthew, Jesus said these words in the selection when people asked Him why He was teaching in parables. Angie and Heidi, praying for your husband and families. GramsieSue , continuing to pray for you and Steve.
Jennifer Loves Jesus, Amen!!
Sarah C. Keenan, I watched this last night and it really did break it down into an understandable and cleat overview for those struggling with this challenging yet very important book of Ezekiel. Thanks for sharing the link!
How sweet is it, that God is the one to give us a new heart. It’s not by our own works or doing but by the power of His Spirit. I find so much rest in this today.
Don’t you love it (do I, really, tho? :P) when God speaks to the same issue in multiple ways throughout your day? We have talked a lot about idolatry and identifying and rooting them out…I saw a clip yesterday from Matt Chandler (The Village Church in TX) that was quite the sucker punch. He said “All suffering exposes idols that we didn’t know were there. Right now, you, me, all of us, without even knowing it are putting hope in something that can’t bear the weight of it. {It tries to hold up our hope, but it’s tenuous and then a hard circumstance (illness, loss, someone cutting us off on the highway) comes and the whole thing collapses} God says “This is a gracious thing. A Beautiful thing. I am loving you in allowing you to endure this. I’m showing you that you’ve put your hope in things that can’t hold it. And I’m reminding you that I CAN.” (brackets to indicate my paraphrase)
Lord, please show me the places where I am putting my hope in something besides You.
Praying for all situations and requests dear Shes. I have prayed for many years Ezekiel 36:26 over my family but never read the whole book of Ezekiel. I am learning so much and feeling His presence each day as I spend time with Him. Please pray for my son Brett, as he struggles with mental health,his purpose ,and has turned from God with a hardened heart. My other four children (all adults) were raised to know Jesus, but all five have lost their way and are caught in the lies the world offers. Please lift them all to come to His saving grace. Thank you!!!❤️
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This is beautiful. I have been feeling exiled lately. Things have been hard. I spent the last 5 days, in another state, with my almost 80 year old dad in the hospital. Although stressful and scary, I feel that God is restoring our family members – and me! There were no amazing words of proclamation, just love. My dad has COPD and requiring surgery was scary for all of us. My husband and I prayed for a gift of time. God not only answered but it seems that it will be quality time. He can breath much better. I have been desiring a “retreat” where I can spend time in Gods word. He gave me just that.
Ezekiel 11:19 “I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them.” What a beautiful verse. 20″They will be my people, and i will be their God.” I am so thankful that He is my God. Matthew 13:16-17 “Blessed are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but didn’t see them, to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.” Please Lord let my eyes see what you want me to see and to hear what you would have me hear. Cleanse my heart Lord.
SRT staff, thank you for the explanations in the study book, the overview of Ezekiel’s different visions and their meanings. Prayers for all the needs needing lifting.
God is always on time. I don’t feel distance from HIM. I know HE is with me. I too, have found myself desiring and striving for things that are most likely not in God’s plan. They are not bad things but as I’ve strived and desired I know deep down in my heart it’s not in it HIS plan. I rather be in HIS Will rather than mine. Even if it hurts. Because it does.
‘Integrity of heart.’ I want to carry that within my heart and soul as I walk through my days.
What a beautiful study today ♥️
What was asked of Ezekiel required strength, discipline, and obedience. He did not let his heart or feelings guide him. Rather, he stayed committed to fulfill the plans God had for him. May I walk with the same confidence!
I always forgot to acknowledge that God answer every question accordingly and He didn’t leave anything unanswered. I can apply that to my daily life to know I can ask God questions that isn’t based in unfaithfulness or to demean Gods entity. I love the fulfillment promise
Wow that’s amazing!!! I was telling my coworker ( I am beginning to share with Him what I am learning!!) about how my previous study entails how to love one another and this Lent study describe in His holy word how God first loved us. I am just reminded daily to not trust my faith to keep me near God but to trust and fully become dependent on God’s faithfulness to me to be near on the journey of sanctification. God has blessed me so much with His wisdom and His word give me knowledge to have true faith in what He says. I care to hold onto such and honor that with my life. Todays reading opened my eyes to know that God is so faithful to us and it hurts to know that I didn’t respect that enough to not turn to Him for comfort. I really wish I could have lived a better life devoted to Him but thankfully this is my reminder to that I can and will be near God from now on because I know what His word says clearly about certain things. My faith is based on the correct knowledge of who God always been.
The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, The house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’
“Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares a Sovereign LORD.’” Ezekiel 12:26-28
They were so complacent at His word! Basically like, “Nah, don’t worry about it; this message doesn’t apply to us. We don’t have to listen.”
I can’t help but feel that our own nation is sitting precariously with this same attitude, and we are on the precipice of God’s judgment. Pray for the hearts of our nation to be turned! Pray for revival!
Thank you Abby for this beautiful piece you shared today. God is so faithful.
Good Morning She’s!
This is such a relevant study for Lent, people living in sin, and the need for a Saviour! An old, unrelenting heart, which we all have had in sin, turning to God, and made anew. How amazing is that!
But God- Rich in Mercy
You came to save me,
Now I’m Alive – Big Daddy Weave “Alive”
If that doesn’t make your new heart sing with Joy!
Dear Heidi, I know exactly how you feel. I have two nieces as well, that I have requested prayer for over the last year or so (and two unbelieving nephews in the same family). But it is my sister going through all the turmoil with them. They don’t recognize our God and living lives full of the world. I pray for them daily to see, yet I know they do not have ears to hear, and eyes to see. Yet, we can pray for them. Try to council and steer them toward the light. You never know when those seeds will be watered and grow. I pray for my sister, to turn away from the Mormon religion, and come home to Christ our Saviour. (It’s hard when we are both convinced we are following the correct path). Please if you could put that on your prayer list, my whole family. I’m sure all of us have this prayer request. We are in a fallen world- and it pains the heart. That great juxtaposition of the joy I felt above, and now the sorrow of the lost. Please Heavenly Father—Help us! We know we have been saved in You, Jesus, but we cry out to you for our loved ones. Help us be the light, guide us when we speak, give us wisdom. I will be with my sister and nieces this coming wkd, we are meeting at my dad’s for his birthday next week. He has had a new diagnosis of cancer in his lung, adding to all his other respiratory issues. I pray for his comfort and upcoming decisions that have to be made. In all these situations, I will keep my eyes pointed upward, He gives me strength and confidence.
Have a good day, and praying for all the request friends! -R
Blessed are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. – Matthew 13:16-17 – praise the Lord- we have eyes to see and ears to hear! Blessed be the name of the LORD!
“For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass.” Ezekiel 12:25 God always keeps His promises, what He says, will happen! Praising God for all the promises of His word, especially these few: I am cleansed by the blood of Jesus! (I John 1:7) I am sealed until of the day of redemption! (Ephesians 4:30)A new heaven and a new earth is coming! (Revelation 21:1-4)…these promises are a few, there are SO MUCH more! Thank you God that every promise in the Book is mine!
If you are struggling with anything today, or hurting – lean into God. He is our strength, our shield, our strong tower, our comforter – our “all in all”! Let His peace flow in you and through you. ❤️
Praying for all your requests today!
Morning! I have suffered with chronic migraines for the past 5 years that cause blurred vision, nausea, and vertigo. Light is my biggest trigger and I often have to shower in the dark. These symptoms are referred to as ‘aura’ and can often occur without any head pain. It might be worth looking into. I’ll keep her in my prayers ❤️ God has humbled me deeply through the pain of a chronic illness, and I am thankful everyday to be renewed in his strength. Lots of love
“God knew His people would finally recognize Him as Lord, not in the good times, but in captivity.” During the COVID lockdown, which felt a lot like captivity, I found the SRT community. It has helped me to draw into the Word daily and has given me a closer walk with Christ.
I long for complete restoration in You. Renew my spirit day by day. Draw me closer to You.
I know from my own life experiences that there were many times I felt “too far gone”. But the Lord never gave up on me and never stopped pursuing me. I struggled/still do struggle with the same sin patterns/chains but the Lord I feel is slowly providing healing/freedom. What a great reminder no matter what we are walking through that we are never too far gone from the Lord’s love, mercy, and grace. I pray for a renewed heart and sense of His Spirit that is more keen to His leading, and that I would have the trust to obey and walk in it – because His way IS freedom. I hope everyone has a blessed day! <3 Lifting up @Heidi's family situation, @Sarah D, @Victoria E, @Angie and her husband, @Dorothy and Finley, and any others I may have missed
Thank you for sharing! That was really helpful.
Prayer Update:
So my niece is back in rehab. This wasn’t a real, honest choice on her part. She was under the influence of something and the person who was giving her temporary housing said nope- you broke the agreement, you have to go- so she called the rehab facility bc she wasn’t thinking clearly and knew she had literally NOwhere else to go. Praying while she is there that God will again meet her and give her the courage and strength to work through the lifetime of issues that keeps leading to this. In addition to all of this- her younger sister (high school) feels like she has no anchors tethering her in because of a mother who recently shared with her of her infidelity while married to my brother (which we adults all knew about for years) and her decision to be with that man regardless of what anyone thinks or wants. This niece is understandably angry, confused, and kind of “done”, which is frightening to me. I can’t even get into the details of what an unreal mess this all is. I know God is there I knownHis enormous desire to be in the center of it with my nieces – but they’ve been taught such a legalistic concept of Christianity that nobody is turning to Him for peace or rescue. It aches me… please pray-
*For my brother to continue to have the emotional, physical, spiritual strength to lead and guide in the love of Christ
*For my oldest niece to find healing and relationship with her Savior and He literally saves her in this mess of addiction and pain she’s in
*For my middle niece to find her heart anchored to her Creator, Father who has promised to never break her trust or leave or disappoint or allow her to be vulnerable to any harm…
*For my ex SIL who I even struggle to believe is not beyond God’s saving (I KNOW in my head that’s not true, just speaking from how I feel from decades of experience with her legalism and hypocrisy…) Fact is God’s saving grace is here for exactly her- but only an absolute miracle would ever bring that to reality.
*For my husband and I to know how to be a blessing, a part of healing, a support to them in the say God would lead us to be.
Thank you so so much so so much… I believe in His abilities to turn ashes into beauty and if ever a family has been a pile of ashes it’s now…
You are never too far gone to start again….love that line! The world and the enemy love to tell us we are lost causes, give up, you are too far gone….but God ❤️ I pray God removes our hearts of stone and gives us hearts of flesh on fire for Him. Praying for HEIDI you, your niece, her father and siblings ADRIENNE the WW community you serve, keep shining your light to them! VICTORIA E God is with you, cling to Him so the enemy has no way to get between you and his promises DOROTHY prayers for Finley o remain healthy for surgery tomorrow! And for strength for he parents ANGIE for your husband to find relief as he awaits surgery on 3/16, for you as you support him and for your coworkers heart to soften JESSICA TROWELL for your comparing mind to rest and recognize that you are no better or worse than others, you are beloved as you are ❤️ rest in that truth
Today’s reading reminds me of the garden of Eden. God preserved Adam and Eve by sending them out of the garden. He covered them with animal skins. In Ezekiel, He promised to give the remnant of Israel “integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them.” God promised to preserve Israel through the remnant and He promised to clothe them on the inside. From Pentecost on, through faith, we have the Holy Spirit within us so that we can walk in integrity of heart. God covers us with the shed blood of His Son. And He preserves us for all eternity. From the beginning to the end, God takes care of His own.
Lord Jesus, Father God, Holy Spirit, Thank you for this season of ash and rubble. My heart is both full and empty. Full of your mercy, empty of my own control. I lay down the weight I have tried to carry. Help me to stay slow, walking through Lenten reflections at Your pace. Staying in the posture of lamentation, yet knowing the full joy of salvation is building resilience in my days. Each day I wake, You give a sunrise with enough light to brighten the world. I see and hear You Lord. Thank you for eyes and ears tuned to Your truth. My King, my hope, my Zion in view. Help me to walk and talk for You today. Let my heart of flesh draw hearts of stone to You. May the ash and rubble of the news we hear about difficult times unfolding day after day draw Your people to seek Your loving embrace. Come Lord Jesus, come soon. Maranatha.
BUT GOD- a local pastor did a series on this at the beginning of Covid. We were all home and could “choose a pastor” each Sunday. We watched our own, but we also watched him. BUT GOD can be said through the entire Bible and my life. BUT GOD in His mercy…I want a short list like Churchmouse said. I want God to reveal to me the moment I sin. How busy our God will be! BUT GOD- He will forgive, He will love, He will give me a new heart and a new Spirit! One that only He can give. Definitely not of of my own doing. She’s, I pray for each of you today and for the needs shared and left unspoken!
Good morning sisters! Thankful for rainy days, and being awakened by birds chirping today. Excited for spring and the reminder of new life!! I had a counseling appointment this past Friday and it went really well. I’m feeling a little better at work, but I know it may take time. Praying the Lord would use counseling to help me manage anxiety and realize that it does not control my life. Thankful for Jesus who is always with us. Have a great day friends!
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Wow. This devotional had the words I needed to hear today. Dear God, please renew in me a heart of flesh and not of stone. Help me turn to You in full surrender and trust in all Your wonderful promises. Thank You for never leaving me! Amen.
Those 2 words: But God have been jumping out at me all this week, too. Ephesians 2:4- But God being rich in mercy…
Father, help me strike the balance between repentance and grace. Help me to remember that when I repent of the sins that I commit over and over again, frustrating myself, that You forgive me, and You give me a new heart to move forward. Help me to forgive myself and not get stuck in my sinfulness. Yet help me not to concentrate on the joy and the assurance of Your grace so much that I overlook a truly repentant heart. A new heart, a new Spirit, one surrendered completely to You. Thank You Jesus.
good idea!
Praying for you ANGIE & your husband and for Finley (DOROTHY).
I’m going to try some of the podcasts recommended in addition to SRT podcast for more understanding of these visions.
The scattering and bringing the people back to Israel – my Bible history knowledge isn’t strong enough to know/remember whether this happened at some point before Christ was born (and then scattered again?) but definitely happened after WWII when the nation of Israel as we know it was declared independent in 1948 and boundaries were fought for to regain a small portion of their promised land.
New ❤️ new spirit!! Thank you God!!
New ❤️ new spirit!!
Thank you sisters for your prayers for my husband. I thank God for good doctors and their ability to help. When God’s hands created him, he made this part of his body different, knowing one day he would need these surgeries. We thank God for the good He will bring from it. The pain right now is difficult. Today is the first day that he cannot even take Ibuprofen to help. I believe it is the prayers of God’s people interceding that will either miraculously dull the pain, or give him the strength to endure it, and use it for good.
I did not answer the bully’s email. I prayed, pretty much all day, that when I did answer I would have genuine words of grace and peace, not anger or even fake niceness to irritate her. And, when the contact was finally made, my spirit was filled with Jesus and genuine grace. There is a meeting today but I know that the Holy Spirit will give me the words. I will not worry or stress. I will rest in the opportunity to be a light for Jesus in this situation. Instead of looking at it as a burden I must bear, I will chose to be thankful. Jesus is what matters…for me, for her…for everyone. New hearts, eyes to see, and ears to hear and oh Lord, submitted hearts to follow.
Thank you sisters as I read through the posts, I pray for you. It is a blessing to share your journeys. Be blessed.
I found this overview video from The Bible Project to be really helpful. It’s a good recap of the first 11 chapters. http://bibleproject.com/videos/ezekiel-1-33
There are many things standing out and that I appreciate that we’re shared! Abby wrote: This Lenten season, ask Him to give you a renewed heart and sense of His Spirit. It’s never too late, and you are never too far gone to start again. This is beautiful!
Thank You, Jesus!
Because of Jesus, we are even able to approach the Holy God and ask this. Another thing that I heard Racheal say on the podcast was that she needed God to change her stoney heart. She would mess this up on her own. (I definitely agree that I would too.) I heard their guest say that for us to even care about lent and the Cross, is all grace too. I appreciate what Tina said above too. I think Churchmouse said the other day to keep our list short. In other words, repent immediately or each day. I know I need to repent everyday! We can also ask for God to reveal a sin we didn’t realize. I’m thankful for the verse that says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness! I definitely want integrity of heart and a new spirit! May God take everything in me that isn’t pleasing to Him. I need to repent and pray. I don’t want to keep saying and doing things that are a stench to Him. I want to lead others to Him and not away. Obviously, on my own, I can’t.
Thanks to all that share and help me and others!
Thank You God that I have a new heart, one that acknowledges You as Lord. May I reflect Your integrity and goodness to those around me.
VICTORIA E – praying you keep your eyes on Jesus.
DOROTHY – praying for Finley
ANGIE – my husband has had 3 hip replacements [first one was redone]. Praying you can be an encouragement to your husband in the waiting. A little like childbirth-pain increases then the reward.
Lord forgive me and renew my heart!
Amen Tina amen
Oh my goodness ABBY FLYNN, i could write volumes on my mistakes, I am with you, through ALL I have said , done and continue to do..
I AM STILL A CHILD OF GOD..
We are still beloved of the Most High God..
Isn’t that awesome?
Isn’t that amazing?
That is something we may sometimes struggle with, because we are of this world, now..and whilst here on earth..
BUT GOD.
He is always ready to give us integrity of heart and put a new spirit within us .. when we turn to Him. When we return to Him wholeheartedly, with no agenda, repentant, and most importantly, when we realise that life done on our own, on our own terms, and without God, will distance us from the One whose promises of goodness, of mercy, of grace, of everlasting love.. are always available..
BUT GOD..
AMEN.
Wrapping you all in love and prayers from across the pond..❤