Putting the Spirit Within You
August 11, 2022
Commentary
God promised to restore Israel not only physically, but spiritually. To accomplish this, God would give them a new heart for following Him and put his spirit within them to transform them and empower them to do His will (vv. 25-30). Again the new covenant was promised, ultimately to be fulfilled in Christ. No matter how impure your life is right now, God offers you a fresh start. You can have your sins washed away, receive a new heart for God, and have His Spirit within you. Why try to patch up you old life when you can have a new one? God said His people should be ashamed of their sins (v. 32). The people had become so calloused that they had lost all sensitivity to sin. First they had to remember their sins (vv. 31-32), then be sorry for them, and finally repent.
In contrast to the desolation that characterized so much of Israel’s past history, her future in the Kingdom will have the beauty and splendor compared to the Garden of Eden (vv. 33-36). What a testimony this will be to the nations of God’s grace and power shown to Israel (vv. 33-37)! The flock of Jerusalem has reference to the sacrificial animals used. These numbered into the millions over the years. Israel’s flocks of fathers, mothers, and children will become numerous.
As we examine our lives, we may find that we too have lost our sensitivity to certain sins. But if we compare ourselves against God’s standards of right and wrong we will be ashamed. To regain sensitivity we must recognize our sin for what it is, be sorry for it, and ask God for forgiveness.
Application
I want to be sensitive to any sin that may creep into my life. I am so thankful that His mercy has been extended to include me and all I have to do is come to Him in genuine repentance.
Ezekiel 36:26– 38 (NET)
26 I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative, and you will obey my statutes and carefully observe my regulations. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave to your fathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and multiply it; I will not bring a famine on you. 30 I will multiply the fruit of the trees and the produce of the fields, so that you will never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil behavior and your deeds that were not good; you will loathe yourselves on account of your sins and your abominable deeds. 32 Understand that it is not for your sake I am about to act, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and embarrassed by your behavior, O house of Israel.
33 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will populate the cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be plowed, instead of being desolate in the sight of everyone who passes by. 35 They will say, “This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; the ruined, desolate, and destroyed cities are now fortified and inhabited.” 36 Then the nations that remain around you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruins and replanted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken—and I will do it!’
37 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will allow the house of Israel to ask me to do this for them: I will multiply their people like sheep. 38 Like the sheep for offerings, like the sheep of Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”