The Lord will restore Israel

Ezekiel  Chapter 36

Ezekiel carries the message to the people that they had been the object of much mocking and attacking, but now the Lord's anger is on fire against the nations, especially Edom, because they showed contempt for the Lord and for taking his land as plunder. But he has sworn an oath to let them have a turn at suffering shame. And the mountains of Israel will be lush and produce crops and prepare for the people's return. For the Lord will make his people back to live and be more prosperous than they were before.

And the Lord promises that Israel will never again devour their own people or bereave their nation. He will not allow foreign nations to sneer at her. But he reminds the people that once they had defiled their own land by evil deeds and filthy conduct. And so he scattered them to many lands to punish them for these deeds. Now he brings them back, not because they deserve it, but because he is going to protect his holy name. Then the nations will know he is the Lord.

The Lord speaks of cleansing the people of their behavior and giving them great harvests. And the people will remember their past sins and be ashamed. So he will cleanse them and rebuild all the cities and the land will be like Eden's garden once again. Then the Lord said he would be ready to listen to Israel's prayers for these blessings and grant them their requests.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Why did God want to protect his holy name among the nations of the world? He was concerned about his people but also the whole world. Because if his people remained in sin and were permanently destroyed by enemies, it would lead nations to believe that their pagan gods were more powerful than Israel's God. We are charged with that same responsibility today. How do we represent our God to the rest of the world? We must show that he is the one, true God.

 God told people to be ashamed of their sins, but in order to do this, they had to remember their sins and repent.
In our days, don't we often find we have lost our sensitivity to certain sins? But if we are to be Christians, we must live up to his standard and be ashamed of ourselves. Only then can we recognize our sins and work to repent and ask his forgiveness.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson Hunter who has been brought home, but needs counseling badly.

Pray for Garry and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.And for Garry’s wife Nancy who recently had a kidney transplant and is now experiencing some complications.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Arlene’s niece Denise.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and who recently underwent major surgery.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our farmers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought. Pray for us consumers who will face higher grocery prices and the poor who won’t be able to adjust what little budget they have. Pray for our nation’s teachers who face danger trying to protect our children from gunmen and pray for the children in these dire circumstances.