Ezekiel 20:41–44

I have no words for all the turmoil in the world right now other than asking  God to have mercy. God alone is worthy of our praise!

So very thankful that Jesus took on the sins of the world and gives hope to those who believe in Him.

You live in a hard world, but you don’t have to live with a hard heart. Max Lucado

This week, my heart needed a replenishment story. To let me see and embrace that our best response (our best “weapon” if you will) is to let our heart do what it does best: to feel and hold the pain yes, and then to love, and care for, and gift grace (even recklessly) to those who can’t fight for themselves. Terry Hershey “Sabbath Moments”

Ezekiel 20:41–44

I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. 42 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. 43 And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. 44 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lord God.’ ” The New King James Version

The obedience and devotion of restored Israel is as pleasing to Yahweh as sacrifice. Yahweh is concerned with His reputation and wants the nations to see and acknowledge His sovereignty and holiness. Faithlife Study Bible

The future repentant, renewed, and regathered Israel will be characterized by: (1) a return to the land of Israel and an acceptable system of worship); (2) a revived, personal knowledge of its sovereign and faithful Lord; (3) a renunciation of former sins; and (4) a recognition that God’s grace governs the nation’s history of sin and salvation. My holy mountain is a reference made to the glorious central location for worship in Israel—Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. The NKJV Study Bible

There is no shaking off God’s dominion; and those who will not yield to the power of his grace, shall sink under the power of his wrath. But not one of God’s jewels shall be lost in the lumber of this world. He will bring the jews to the land of Israel again; and will give them true repentance. They will be overcome with his kindness: the more we know of God’s holiness, the more we see the hateful nature of sin. Those who remain unaffected amidst means of grace, and would live without Christ, like the world around them, may be sure it is the way to destruction. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Ezekiel 36:22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.

Ezekiel 36:23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.