Day 250—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and EZEKIEL’s prophecy.

    Day 250– Ezekiel 34 – 36 (Messages of comfort, hope, God’s grace and faithfulness to His promises)

Ezekiel 34. Prophecy against Israel’s past “shepherds” (kings, priests, prophets) who “fleeced” the sheep for personal gain. Wearing their wool and eating their fat, while the sheep were not fed, cared for, or gone after when they strayed. 

In contrast, Ezekiel shows the LORD as their good shepherd.  “I will seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they were scattered… And I will feed them with good pasture.  There, they will lie down in good grazing land, on rich pasture. I will seek the lost, I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. I will feed them in justice.”  (Sounds so much like Psalm 23!)

God promises to make a covenant of peace with them.  They will dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.  He will  send down showers in season – “showers of blessing.”

“You are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD.”

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Ezekiel 35. Although it’s not said, Ezekiel prophesies against Mount Seir (Edom) as though they were false shepherds, too.  “BECAUSE you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment, THEREFORE…..I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you because you did not hate bloodshed.”     

“AS you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, SO I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

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Ezekiel 36. Next, Ezekiel is to prophesy to the ancient land, “O mountains of Israel hear the word of the LORD.  Say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys….. You, O mountains of Israel shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home.

But, unless Israel (and we too) forget, this grace and mercy is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned. I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, and the nations will know that I am the LORD. 

“I will gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.

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.

I will give you a new heart,

A new spirit I will put within you.

I will remove the heart of stone… and give you a heart of flesh.

I will put my Spirit within you, cause you to walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules.

I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses.”