God's Great Promises to Israel

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Ezekiel 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

God is talking to Israel. When we study the Bible we need to be careful to get the context. Say to the house of Israel. God is about to do things but not for Israel but for His own reputation.

Ezekiel 36:23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

Israel had done things to harm God's reputation. God was tired of the lost, the heathen, thinking that He was a bad God or that He had mistreated His people.

Ezekiel 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

God had cast His people out of their land. They had been living in exile. Now God is going to move to bring them home.

Ezekiel 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

God promises to clean them up. He wanted to get them away from their false gods, their idols.

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

God promised to give Israel a new heart. He would take out the stony heart and give them a heart of flesh. Notice the context. This promise is to Israel. Israel is a nation, not the church.

Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

God promised to give them His spirit. He promises to cause Israel to do right and obey God. Something supernatural is going to happen. God is going to make a great move in Israel.

Ezekiel 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

God is going to give them their land again. He had sent them into exile and captivity. Now God is bringing them back. They will be back in their land. God will be their God. Now remember that we are talking about a nation, that had a land. They were exiled and now they are back.

Ezekiel 36:29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

God will save them from their uncleanness. He will increase their harvest and be sure that they eat.

I wanted to share this with you to challenge you not to read a verse without getting the context. It will save you a lot of heartache and misunderstandings.