Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.
For further study - Ezekiel 34:11-31
As we read the extended portion of our devotional for today there is one thought that is very evident, the Lord God is going to do something as it relates to the restoration of Israel and the setting up of the Davidic Kingdom.
We know this because the Lord God tells us what He is going to do and He makes it very clear not only what He is going to do, but also that He is the One who is speaking.
Between verses 11-29 the Lord repeats one phrase 18 times. The prominent phrase is, "I will", "I will" search out my sheep, verse 11. "I will" seek out my sheep, verse 12. "I will" gather them from the countries and bring them into their own land, verse 13. And "I will" feed them in a good pasture, verse 14.
I have only given you four of the eighteen "I will's" of the Lord. These "I will's" are promises of restoring a Jewish people to a nation called Israel. I've often said, if God's Word says something one time, I believe it and that settles it for me. Once God's Word says something eighteen times we must pay attention.
From Ezekiel 1-32 God gave the Jewish prophet, Ezekiel, a "message of retribution". From Ezekiel 33-48 the prophet's message is "restoration", restoring the Kingdom people, the Jewish people; and restoring the Kingdom practices.
Speaking of the Kingdom, the Lord confirms the promise of the yet to come Kingdom, in verses 23-25. The Lord, through Ezekiel, tells the Jews that King David will be resurrected and will become a "shepherd" over the Jewish people.
The Lord tells the reader that the resurrected David will be a "prince", mainly because Jesus Christ is the "King" during the coming Kingdom Period.
The Lord says that there will be a "covenant of peace" made between God and King David. David returns to be a "prince", a co-regent with Christ in the Temple that Jesus builds, Zechariah 6:12.
A spiritual application of these promises, to the Jewish people, for us as Christians, is what God does in the last days with King David. David was a flesh and blood character, a man of like passion, and yet the Lord God returns David to an important place of service during the Kingdom.
God has a plan for each of us. We must be prepared to do His will in our life once we determine what "His will" is for each of us.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for the opportunity to serve You. Please help me to be the servant that You want me to be, for Your glory.
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