“Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God”‘” (Ezek 11:17-20).
Even while God’s glory was departing from the first temple (Ezek 10:4, 18; 11:23), we are given another prophetic reminder that His judgment of Israel is not final. The words of Ezekiel’s prophecy, namely, the regathering of Israel out of exile and the provision of a new heart to obey God, are drawn directly from Deuteronomy 30 (see vv. 1–6).
Whenever I wrestle with my flesh and struggle to follow God’s commandments, I remember that it is not by might, nor by the power of the flesh, but through the power of God’s Spirit.
In the midst of judgment, God’s grace shines brightest. As my beloved mentor, John Sailhamer, once said, the prophet is using all the blackness of Israel’s sin as a background to paint the light. And oh, how bright this light shines for all who, by faith, receive the new heart God promised. Through the New Covenant, God’s people are not only forgiven but also enabled by God to obey. In the words of Ezekiel, “I will give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes” (Ezek 11:20). In the words of Moses, “God will circumcise your heart … to love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul” (Deut 30:6).
Here lies an anchor for the soul and incredible encouragement. Whenever I wrestle with my flesh and struggle to follow God’s commandments, I remember that it is not by might, nor by the power of the flesh, but through the power of God’s Spirit. So in these moments of frustration and despair, I remind God of His promise to give me both the desire and the power to obey Him.
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil 2:13).
