Ezekiel speaks both against Mt Seir (Edom) and Israel. But Israel will be restored.
Ezekiel 35: Prophecy Against Mount Seir
1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 "Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it,
3 and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste.
4 I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the LORD.
5 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,
6 therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you.
7 I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation, and I will cut off from it all who come and go.
8 And I will fill its mountains with the slain. On your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those slain with the sword shall fall.
9 I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
10 "Because you said, 'These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them'---although the LORD was there---
11 therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you.
12 And you shall know that I am the LORD."I have heard all the revilings that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, 'They are laid desolate; they are given us to devour.'
13 And you magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and multiplied your words against me; I heard it.
14 Thus says the Lord GOD: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.
15 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.
Ezekiel 36: Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel
1 "And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD.
2 Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the enemy said of you, 'Aha!' and, 'The ancient heights have become our possession,'
3 therefore prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Precisely because they made you desolate and crushed you from all sides, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you became the talk and evil gossip of the people,
4 therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, the ravines and the valleys, the desolate wastes and the deserted cities, which have become a prey and derision to the rest of the nations all around,
5 therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Surely I have spoken in my hot jealousy against the rest of the nations and against all Edom, who gave my land to themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and utter contempt, that they might make its pasturelands a prey.
6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I have spoken in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered the reproach of the nations.
7 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I swear that the nations that are all around you shall themselves suffer reproach.
8 "But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home.
9 For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown.
10 And I will multiply people on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt.
11 And I will multiply on you man and beast, and they shall multiply and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
12 I will let people walk on you, even my people Israel. And they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no longer bereave them of children.
13 Thus says the Lord GOD: Because they say to you, 'You devour people, and you bereave your nation of children,'
14 therefore you shall no longer devour people and no longer bereave your nation of children, declares the Lord GOD.
15 And I will not let you hear anymore the reproach of the nations, and you shall no longer bear the disgrace of the peoples and no longer cause your nation to stumble, declares the Lord GOD."
The LORD's Concern for His Holy Name
16 The word of the LORD came to me:
17 "Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity.
18 So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood that they had shed in the land, for the idols with which they had defiled it.
19 I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. In accordance with their ways and their deeds I judged them.
20 But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that people said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD, and yet they had to go out of his land.'
21 But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.
I Will Put My Spirit Within You
22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It 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 among the nations to which you came.
23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.
25 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.
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
29 And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you.
30 I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations.
31 Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.
32 It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.
33 "Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt.
34 And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by.
35 And they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.'
36 Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the LORD; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it.
37 "Thus says the Lord GOD: This also I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: to increase their people like a flock.
38 Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
Things to think about…
1. Ezekiel 35 describes what will come upon Mount Seir, which is another name for Edom. Remember Edom (Esau) was Jacob’s brother. His descendants were the Edomites – the people of Seir. They fortified themselves in mountain hideouts – like those at Petra. They rejoiced when Jerusalem was destroyed in 586/7BC and helped the Babylonians in the siege. They even killed those who were escaping. Their time was coming. Like the city of Tyre, they thought Jerusalem’s downfall would be a good opportunity for them. But Seir would also be destroyed by the Babylonians – just as Tyre was. As Christians we should never rejoice in the downfall of others, even when they are enemies. Vengeance is not ours, but the Lords.
2. In Ezek 35:9 It says Mt Seir will be perpetually uninhabited. Such is the case for Petra and the surrounding areas. It has not been rebuilt. A wonderful testament to God’s word, as well as being a tourist attraction to those who travel to Israel and Jordan.
3. The two nations that are spoken about in Ezek 35:10 are Samaria and Judah. God had given these to Esau’s brother Jacob, but Esau/Edom wanted these for himself. Esau was a fleshly man, he hated his birthright and cared nothing for the will of God or the people of God, even though they were blood relatives. The two twins Jacob and Esau had been fighting since they were in the womb and continue to fight to this day. What makes us part of the family of God? Is it by blood birth? No. Jesus asked, ‘who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ His response “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Mt 12:46-50. The house of God is filled with the rooms of those who do the Father’s will.
4. The Lord says he will restore the “mountains of Israel”, Ezek 36:6-8. Most of these mountains are in what is called the West Bank. But Israel is rebuilding in these areas. The nation of Israel is buying back parts of the West Bank of Jordan and the top part of the Dead Sea which formed part of the land given to Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. These words of Ezekiel are being fulfilled in our day as they have never been before. Ezekiel’s prophecies are happening in our day.
5. Have you ever been brought low and thought, what is the point of all of this? Why am I suffering, why am I going through a time of such intense grief and sorrow? The answer my dear friend is so the Lord can complete a full work in you so that in good time you will be lifted up. Israel was mocked and spoken against, but here in Ezek 36:1-15 we see she will be inhabited again, and the Lord will make her a place of promise and praise. Be encouraged that He is doing the same work in you.
6. Remember God is a HOLY God. It is all about His name and His praise. We are not the centre of it all despite what the media and the current spirit of the age tells us. In Ezek 36:16-21 we see again that the Lord could not sit on His hands and allow His people to shame Him through their rebellious activity. The same goes for those of us in Christ. We are to be holy as He is holy, 1Pet 1:16. Live lives that bring Him praise. If you cannot do this – please don’t say you are a Christian. Better to not say anything at all than bring dishonour upon His name.
7. There it is in Ezek 36:22, 23! The Lord does all things for His name and not ours. God is gathering His covenant people Israel back into their land as He has promised, but He is also gathering His church together. The fact that Israel is being brought back from all the surrounding nations in our day is a sign of the miraculous work of God and a testament to His unfailing love towards Israel. All for His name and His praise – Hallelujah!
8. Look at this gospel message here in Ezekiel, Ezek 36:26, 27. He will give His people a new heart and a new mind. Israel will finally see Yeshua “Jesus” as their true Messiah. The same is true for all His people, He will give us an abundance of blessing and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. One day all will look upon Israel and know He cares for His people and He keeps His promises to them. Do people look upon your life and see you being blessed with the Lord’s presence and blessing? In what ways is Christ being shown to your neighbours, friends and workmates. It should be clearly seen by what you say, who you are and what Christ is doing supernaturally.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “True love looks like this” – Reading John 16:1-20.
1. We would all say we trust in the Lord. But analyse what have you trusted in this year – perhaps your health, finances, stable employment. Have things worked out for you this year.
2. The relationship with the disciples was about to change. They would receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus would not be there in person. They were about to go into a season of sorrow. But their sorrow would turn to joy. What did Jesus mean?
3. The Holy Spirit will convince the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. Explain how this happens for us today?
4. True love tells the truth. The only real and living hope is found in Christ. Have you shown true love and Christ’s hope to others by being obedient to the Holy Spirt by telling others of sin, righteousness and judgement.
5. Pray for each other and the outreach of the gospel.
Prayer Points
1. AGM – 6th Nov after the service.
2. Carols service 18th December – Family fun Day afternoon/evening 3pm-7pm.
3. Christmas Day Service – on a Sunday this year.
4. Pray for the leadership of our country.
5. Pray for the people of Iran and Ukraine.
6. The right choice for a full time Youth and Young Adults Pastor to start Jan 2023 and the finances to support them.
7. Health of Ross Goltz
8. More young families and youth into the church.
9. Ministry leaders within the church.
10. Our One for Israel ministry.
11. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
12. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for the health return of some who have suffered with Covid.
2. More visitors at church on Sunday.
3. Some returning back to church after a while away.
4. Worship on Sunday – thankyou Suzy, Gina, Ashley. Bec on Words and Doug on sound. Thankyou. Fi, Suzy and Maddison in café always do a stellar job. Thankyou for those who welcomed at the door.
5. All those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Members Meeting – AGM 6th November after the service.
2. Carols service – 18th Dec 3pm to 7pm.
3. Christmas Day service – 9am Dec 25th.
4. Remember to check your duty rosters.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
6. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
