(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see why)
Focus Question:
What is God’s ultimate mark on you?
Intro:
Pop Quiz! One of the lines we’ve heard over and over in the book of Ezekiel is a variation of “then they will know that I am the Lord.” And this would sound arrogant, of course, if He didn’t deserve it, but a perfectly good and just Creator who sends His Son on a rescue mission because we misused our free will does deserve it. “Then they or you will know that I am the Lord” appears more times in Ezekiel than everywhere else in the Bible combined — 67 of about 88 times.
But can you guess which book of the Bible is second? Exodus.
Our focus question today has to do with that phrase…When God says “then you will know that I am the Lord,” what is the ultimate version of that? What is God’s ultimate mark on you?
New Testament segment:
Most of us can imagine a time when, after some cliff-hanger of a game, there’s that awesome sense of relief that comes with victory. And that, my friends, is what happens today in Revelation 19…we hear the end of the section about the destruction of the prostitute and Babylon and the beginning of the section the final victory, judgment, and restoration.
Passage: Revelation 19
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 21
Words: ~478
I’ve always been amazed that John, this utter stud and leader in the early church, was so overwhelmed that he fell on his face to worship an angel. He’d have known better, but he was caught up in the moment. But did you notice the angel’s response? What do you think an evil angel — a demon would do? Yup.
Old Testament segment:
Today in Ezekiel we hear of one of the most dramatic visions in the whole book (IMHO). Along the way it’ll answer our focus question, too — What is the ultimate mark of God demonstrating “they will know that I am the Lord?”
Passage: Ezekiel 36:16-37:14
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 35
Words: ~1022
13 You will know that I am the Lord, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it. This is the declaration of the Lord.’ ” Eze 37:13–14, CSB
So what’s the ultimate mark? The fact that God’s plan in eternity past was not to make bad people good, but to make dead people live.
Wisdom segment:
Today we’re going to close out our time with just knocking down some Proverbs. We pick up where we left off yesterday in a section that, broadly speaking, is about dealing with difficult people.
Passage: Proverbs 26:6-12
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 35
Words: ~556
The bottom line:
God is good. And given that we are not perfectly so, and His perfect justice would mean consequences for our sin no matter how great or small, the beautiful thing about His promise is not that He makes bad people good, but to make dead people live. “I have spoken, and I will do it.” And this is why we prepare ourselves to give people reasons for the hope.
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 969–970.
(2) Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).
(3) Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, The Big Book of Bible Difficulties: Clear and Concise Answers from Genesis to Revelation, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1992), 250-251.