Ezekiel prophesied at the time of Judah’s fall to the Babylonians nearly six centuries before Jesus’ birth. The Jewish people were forced into exile, living as slaves in a foreign land. The city of Jerusalem was ruined. The temple – that great symbol of God’s presence – was pillaged and destroyed. And all of it happened because of the people’s unfaithfulness.
Yet, God spoke hope into their desperation through Ezekiel: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations” (Ezekiel 36:25-30).
Their desolation would not be forever. God would one day do something they could never do: cleanse them from their sins. That alone is wonderful! Yet, He doesn’t stop there. He promises to completely change their hearts as He puts His own Holy Spirit within them. His Spirit will help them to be faithful, to be fruitful, and to show His glory to the world.
Because of Jesus’ death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection, that hope is now ours. As we see throughout the New Testament, our sins are washed away as we are united with Christ in baptism (Acts 22:16). Yet, God doesn’t stop there. He also gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit to lead us into a fruitful life (Galatians 5:22-25). Forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Baptized into death that we might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4). The washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). Our God not only forgives our wrong but helps us do right. Praise God!
Are you ready to learn more about how to live a Spirit-led life? Check our our new sermon series, “Living Water: Never Be Thirsty Again”.