(We are continuing a study of significant New Covenant passages.)
·
Ezekiel 16:60-63:
o The
context for this is also interesting.
Ezek. 16 is an accounting of God’s dealing with Israel from her
beginning as a nation. God speaks of her
as a newborn, not cared for by her parents (16:1-14). So God took her, cared for her and made her
beautiful. But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your
fame (16:15-30). Her illicit
partners included Egypt who had enslaved her and Assyria and Babylon who took
her captive. In fact Judah was not so
much a harlot but an adulterous wife because she refused payment from her lovers (16:31-34). Therefore she will experience terrible
judgment (16:35-43), being like her mother the Hittite and worse than her
sisters Samaria and Sodom (16:44-59).
o But
then God says, Nevertheless! He will remember the covenant (Abrahamic)
made with her at the beginning and He will establish an everlasting covenant (owlam,
eternal). As Jeremiah pointed out, the
New covenant replaces the Old; they are not the same. One differences is that the New Covenant is
everlasting. All that has gone on before
will not keep God from this.
o Which
leads us to v63 which again, as with Jeremiah, indicates that the New Covenant
that enables Israel to know that I am the
LORD requires the provision for sin.
How can God remember their sins and iniquities no more? Only because He provides an atonement (Heb. kaphar, to atone, make reconciliation,
cover over with pitch). This term is, of
course, frequently used in the instructions for the altar and sacrificial
system. Israel knew this term, and to
God say through Ezekiel that He will provide this atonement is powerful. They should have understood that all the
animal sacrifices were pointing to the sacrifice God would provide.
·
Ezekiel 36:26-28:
o This
is similar to the previous passage, Ezek. 11:19-20. But note that the new spirit is My Spirit. That is powerful and truly wonderful. Jesus spoke of this in John 7:37-39 when He
said concerning those who believed in Him out
of his heart will flow rivers of living water. John says He
spoke concerning the Spirit whom they would receive, for at that time the Holy Spirit was not yet given because
Jesus was not yet glorified. He told
His disciples at the “Last Supper” of the Spirit, that He dwells with you and will be in you (Jn. 14:17). After His glorification, on the day of
Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit descended and the promise was
fulfilled in the Church. The remnant
today, which is in the Church, has experienced; but the day is coming when Israel
will experience this blessing as a nation.
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