Ezek 33:30-32
"As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
"As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
God tells the people through Ezekiel that the shepherds have not taken care of the flock and that He, Himself will tend His sheep as recorded in Psalm 23 and again in John 10. The shepherds have not searched for the lost or brought back the strays. They did not bind up the injured or strengthened the weak. A person could make many, many applications to the church today and shepherds of the flock who are acting only as hired hands.
In the millennial kingdom, David will be prince.
Ezek 34:23-24
I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.
Ezek 34:23-24
I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.
Another prophecy of the millennial kingdom is that there will be true peace.
Ezek 34:25
"'I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety.
"'I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety.
Ezek 34:28
They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid.
Wild beasts here have a literal (literal wild beasts) and a figurative (unbelievers) meaning.
They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid.
Wild beasts here have a literal (literal wild beasts) and a figurative (unbelievers) meaning.
Ezekiel once again pronounces judgment on Edom in chapter 35. These are the countries today that are east of Israel. Not much has changed, has it? These countries still want to claim Israel.
Another great promise for the millennium is this one.
Ezek 36:24-28
"'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
Ezek 36:24-28
"'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
All people will be moved to follow His decrees and His laws.
All these great promises for the millennium will of course follow on the heels of the cleansing of the earth by fire.
Ezek 36:35-36
They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'
They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'
There will be a replanting and the land will be made fresh and new with new growth. In order for there to be a replanting, there must first be a plowing.
The following verse reminds us of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
"I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."
We sometimes forget that the people before Jesus had little knowledge or experience with the Holy Spirit living within.
"I will show myself holy through you before their eyes."
Wow! How would it look for God to show Himself holy through each one of us?
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