Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 343
11:12–12:4
E ze k iel
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inside it. I will judge you even to the borders of Israel, and you will know
that I am the Lord. For you have refused to obey my decrees and regula
tions; instead, you have copied the standards of the nations around you.”
While I was still prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah suddenly died.
Then I fell face down on the ground and cried out, “O Sovereign Lord,
are you going to kill everyone in Israel?”
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, the people
still left in Jerusalem are talking about you and your relatives and all the
people of Israel who are in exile. They are saying, ‘Those people are far
away from the Lord, so now he has given their land to us!’
“Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Al
though I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanc
tuary to you during your time in exile. I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather
you back from the nations where you have been scattered, and I will give
you the land of Israel once again.’
“When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace
of their vile images and detestable idols. And I will give them singleness of
heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stub
born heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my
decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be
their God. But as for those who long for vile images and detestable idols,
I will repay them fully for their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
Then the cherubim lifted their wings and rose into the air with their wheels
beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. Then
the glory of the Lord went up from the city and stopped above the moun
tain to the east.
Afterward the Spirit of God carried me back again to Babylonia, to the
people in exile there. And so ended the vision of my visit to Jerusalem. And
I told the exiles everything the Lord had shown me.
Again a message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, you live among
rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear.
For they are a rebellious people.
“So now, son of man, pretend you are being sent into exile. Pack the few
items an exile could carry, and leave your home to go somewhere else. Do
this right in front of the people so they can see you. For perhaps they will
pay attention to this, even though they are such rebels. Bring your baggage
outside during the day so they can watch you. Then in the evening, as
