Renewing Scripture: Ezekiel – Part 1

Renewing Scripture: Ezekiel – Part 1

Renewing Scripture: Ezekiel - Part 1

Fall is a great time to focus on renewing our hearts and minds and the Major Prophets are a great place to find some renewing scripture!

The fourth of five books that make up the Major Prophets is Ezekiel. If you missed my Renewing Scripture posts for the other books make sure to check them out HERE!

I’m sharing some of the renewing scripture the Holy Spirit has been stirring my heart with as I read through each of the Major Prophets found in the Old Testament.

Ezekiel is a super deep, intense, drama-filled book packed with renewing scripture. When reading through this book we gain insight into God’s strength and holiness. It shows off God’s wonder-working skills in a powerful way. It also helps encourage and strengthen us as we continue to be faithful and put our hope in the ONE TRUE GOD.

Renewing Scripture: Ezekiel – Part 1

Time to fill up! Below you’ll find 10 scripture passages found in chapters 1-15 of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel lived what he preached, and we can walk in faith holding fast to the scripture found in this book!

Take your time reading through each one. Focus on God’s greatness. Fill your heart with His renewing words! Enjoy the journey – write them out, journal them, memorize them, dig in deeper if you want!

As you fill up, remember, God is always there and gives us the power to overcome sin. So, open your heart to receive God’s renewing strength, repent the sins that weigh heavy on your heart, and return to the One who loves you beyond measure.

It’s all about A HEART FILLED, friends!

Side Note – I’ve referenced all the verses using the NLT version, but I love exploring different translations so I encourage you to find your favorite translation for each. Delight in your search!

(1) Ezekiel 1:3

  • The presence of God is alive and strong!

The Lord gave this message to Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest, beside the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians, and he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him.

Ezekiel 1:3 (NLT)

(2) Ezekiel 1:27-28

  • Renew yourself with this verse – it’s overwhelming JOY and PEACE! Can you even imagine what this must have been like for Ezekiel?!? God is so, so HOLY!

“(27)From what appeared to be His waist up, He looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from His waist down, He looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. (28)All around Him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.”

Ezekiel 1:27-28 (NLT)

(3) Ezekiel 2:2

  • God does this for every single person that surrenders their life to Him. Once we are saved (John 3:16, Romans 6:23 & 10:8-10) the Holy Spirit moves right in, and we get 24/7 access! Renewal begins when we take the steps to listen carefully to God’s words. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, friends! (To read more on a life filled with the Holy Spirit check out Romans 8! It’s so, so good!)

The Spirit came into me as He spoke, and He set me on my feet. I listened carefully to His words.

Ezekiel 2:2 (NLT)

(4) Ezekiel 3:10

  • We Christians can spread the good news around just like Ezekiel. The words the Lord speaks to Ezekiel in this verse, He speaks to us too! Let God’s words sink deep into your hearts. Listen carefully to all He tells you. Then you can go out and tell others what He has done for you. It’s an amazing process only God can orchestrate. So, friends, open your Bibles, fill your hearts, and let God’s words sink deep!

“Then He added, ‘Son of man, let all My words sink deep into your heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself.

Ezekiel 3:10 (NLT)

(5) Ezekiel 6:8-10

  • Throughout the Bible we read about God’s people continually turning their hearts from Him and getting all cozy with sin (sin = missing the mark = broken relationship with God) Another important lesson we learn over and over again in the Bible is this: God KNOWS the hearts of His people. We can’t hide anything from Him. Lastly, the Bible shows us God’s character. He is holy, strong, merciful, forgiving, loving, caring, patient…and the list goes on and on! Three important things to remember as you dig into this scripture passage.
  • Ezekiel 6:8-10 is drenched with renewing! We see God’s overwhelming grace and mercy poured out upon the few that have changed their ways AND we see just HOW BIG God’s heart really is. Verse 8 shows us God’s all about grace and mercy! Sin separates us from God, but He’s there on the sidelines waiting for us to return, willing to forgive and forget. Verse 9, shows us God’s heart breaking because of the actions of His people – He cares and loves BIG! This is the kind of heart I want! How about you?? Then in verse 10, it wraps up with the infamous “they will know that I am the Lord” phrase we find repeated over and over again in the book of Ezekiel. Do you know the Lord the way this verse talks about? Do you REALLY know Him?

“(8)But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world. (9)Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember Me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins. (10)They will know that I alone am the Lord and that I was serious when I said I would bring this calamity on them.”

Ezekiel 6:8-10 (NLT)

(6) Ezekiel 11:5

  • See! God knows our every thought! A great renewing is needed frequently to keep our thoughts fixed on our Mighty and Magnificent God. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, friends.

“Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and told me to say, ‘This is what the Lord says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes into your minds.‘”

Ezekiel 11:5 (NLT)

(7) Ezekiel 11:16

  • God is our sanctuary! God knows the plans He has for us, and no matter where we are He is there too. He is our safe place and we can rest in His holy & sacred presence.

“Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.'”

Ezekiel 11:16 (NLT)

(8) Ezekiel 11:19-20

  • With salvation comes a new heart and a helper – the Holy Spirit!

“(19)And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, (20)so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 (NLT)

(9) Ezekiel 12:22-23

  • God’s timing is not ours, but while we wait we must be faithful and alert. What God promises will come to pass – in His time. Stay renewed!

“(22)Son of man, you’ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: ‘Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.’ (23)Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it.’ Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: ‘The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!‘”

Ezekiel 12:22-23 (NLT)

(10) Ezekiel 15:6

  • This verse compares the people to grapevines – useless. YIKES! How’s your walk with the Lord? Have you become useless, or are you serving Him wholeheartedly?

“And this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Jerusalem are like grapevines growing among the trees of the forest. Since they are useless, I have thrown them on the fire to be burned.

Ezekiel 15:6 (NLT)

Reading through Ezekiel was a journey! There’s a lot of metaphors to work through and God had Ezekiel lay on the drama thick with each and every story we find in this book.

Ezekiel is best known for the DRY BONES story found in chapter 37, but chapters 1-15 also include some pretty epic stories worth reading through. Chapter 3 includes the story of Ezekiel’s vision of eating a scroll sweet as honey. We also find in Chapter 3 God takes Ezekiel’s voice away and he’s only able to speak when God gives him a message! (Side note – He doesn’t get his voice back until chapter 33.) Chapter 4 includes the story of Ezekiel laying on his side for a VERY long period of time – I’m talking a tremendous act of grandeur, friends! Chapter 5 includes the story of Ezekiel shaving his head and beard with, of course, some theatrics mixed in. Each vision, message, and object lesson was presented for a reason, and God chose Ezekiel for the job.

There’s renewing treasure to be found in each and every wild and crazy story found in Ezekiel, so open your Bible and check them out for yourself.

The book of Ezekiel is filled with so much renewing goodness. I only scratched the surface with this list. If you haven’t read through the entire book, make sure to take time for that soon and check out my other posts in my Renewing Scripture series – the book of Daniel is coming soon!

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