The Wednesday after Exaudi Sunday
Posted on June 4, 2025 by under
Scripture: Ezekiel 11:14-20 (NKJV)
11:14 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 15 “Son of man, your brethren, your relatives, your countrymen, and all the house of Israel in its entirety, are those about whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Get far away from the Lord; this land has been given to us as a possession.’ 16 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.”’ 17 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’ 18 And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there. 19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
Devotion
Yesterday we heard Isaiah preach of the impending doom of exile that awaited the unrepentant Israelites. He also preached a message of hope to those who would remain faithful, as well as to new converts among the Gentiles. By historical contrast, Ezekiel preached to a people who were already in exile. But interestingly, this writing from Ezekiel is quite similar to his predecessor of 150 years. Note the similar tone as the prophet records the words of God Himself: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.” The reward for their faithfulness would not only be God’s promised presence, but the exiles would return to restore Jerusalem to her proper place of worship. Those returning would form the core of the New Testament Church, continuing the line from which the Messiah would come.
God always promises forgiveness where there is repentance. Whether one be Jew or Gentile, it matters not. As David recorded n Psalm 51: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.”
Collect: Almighty, everlasting God, make us to have always a devout will toward Thee, and to serve Thy Majesty with a pure heart; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
