Ezekiel 11:18-19
- Daniel Casseus
- Mar 3
- 4 min read
Ezekiel 11:18-19
“They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
This verse ranks as my absolute favorite; I would place it at number one on my list of beloved verses, while the others would follow closely in a tie for second place. The depth of its meaning resonates with me profoundly, and each time I reflect on it, I discover new layers of insight that enhance its significance in my life.
One of the primary reasons I deeply appreciate this verse is that it beautifully illustrates God's profound compassion for humanity. By reading the verses preceding this one, you can see God's heart for His people while ensuring that His word remains steadfast.
God was extremely harsh with the people, and in his distress, Ezekiel cried out to Him, pleading, "Are you really going to destroy all of them?" In response, God emphasized the importance of transformation, telling Ezekiel that they must abandon their old, sinful ways. Only by doing so could they be prepared to receive the new heart He had in store for them—a heart filled with compassion, righteousness, and a genuine desire to follow His commands. This call to repentance was essential for their spiritual renewal and future restoration.
It serves as a mirror, reflecting our true nature and revealing the depths of our innate wickedness. This doesn’t solely imply that we can harm others; rather, it emphasizes that we can also be destructive to ourselves. We often underestimate the extent of our own shortcomings and moral failings, and this verse confronts us with the uncomfortable truth about the duality of human nature—how we can be both the architects of our own downfall and a source of pain for those around us. This revelation encourages self-reflection and underscores the importance of seeking divine grace and understanding in our journey toward personal redemption.
Here is what the word of God says about us. it makes us aware of how much we truly need someone to save us from ourselves.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
These are just a small set of verses about who we are, and God tells us to put away those things. These are all how we truly are; if we examine ourselves honestly, We will see this to be true. This is who they were in the verses, but now, with your new heart, You will be able to follow my decrees.
Ezekiel 11:20-21
Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. [21] But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
Before God can transform us by removing our old selves and bringing forth a new creation, He made it clear what necessary steps He would take for our former nature to perish. This process is essential for us to be able to receive the new heart ❤️ that He promises. To me, this symbolizes the profound experience of being born again—just as Jesus came to offer us. The journey involves letting go of our past, embracing the new identity that God has in store for us, and opening our hearts to the transformative power of His love and grace. It’s a powerful reminder of the radical change that can happen when we accept His ways and allow Him to renew us from the inside out.
In Scripture, God promises to transform our inner being by granting us a unified heart, one that is entirely devoted to Him. He emphasizes His desire to replace our hardened hearts—the so-called "hearts of stone"—with hearts that are tender and receptive, described poetically as "hearts of flesh." This imagery conveys not just a physical transformation, but a profound spiritual renewal. It illustrates the beauty of the redemption that Jesus offers through His sacrifice on the cross.
Jesus reminds us of His essential role in this process, stating, "I must go so that the Helper can come." This Helper, the Holy Spirit, is sent to dwell within us. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial part in our spiritual journey, as He actively reminds us of the teachings of Jesus and guides us in living according to His will.
This concept of a unified heart symbolizes a renewed spirit, one fully aligned with God's purposes. The transformation from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh signifies the experience of being "born again," an essential step in the journey of faith. Through this rebirth, we are granted the ability to love, serve, and connect with God on a deeper level, reflecting the profound impact of His grace in our lives.
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