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NOVEMBER 14
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house
of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord
GOD: “In this too your fathers have blas-
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phemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me. When 20:37 pass under the rod. God used a shep-
I brought them into the land concerning which herd figure here, apt since He was their Great
I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, Shepherd (34:11–13; Jer. 23:5–8). As a shep-
and they saw all the high hills and all the thick herd, God brings His sheep home to their fold
trees, there they offered their sacrifices and (Jer. 33:13), has them file in, separating sheep
provoked Me with their offerings. There they from goats (Matt. 25), passing under His shep-
also sent up their sweet aroma and poured out herd’s rod to be noted and checked for injury.
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their drink offerings. Then I said to them, He will bring them into the bond of the New
‘What is this high place to which you go?’ So Covenant by giving them His Spirit with life
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its name is called Bamah to this day.” ’ There- (36:24–27; 37:14; 39:29).This is Israel’s final sal-
vation (Rom. 11:26–33).
fore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the
Lord GOD: “Are you defiling yourselves in the 20:39 If they persist in their stubborn idolatry,
manner of your fathers, and committing har- God will allow them to follow it to their doom.
lotry according to their abominations? For He would also rather have them as out-and-
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when you offer your gifts and make your sons out idolaters rather than hypocritical patroniz-
pass through the fire, you defile yourselves ers of His worship like they had been (Amos
with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I 5:21–26).
be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I
live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be
inquired of by you. What you have in your countries where you have been scattered; and
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mind shall never be, when you say, ‘We will be I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles.
42 Then you shall know that I am the LORD,
like the Gentiles, like the families in other
countries, serving wood and stone.’ when I bring you into the land of Israel, into
33 “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with the country for which I raised My hand in an
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a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and oath to give to your fathers. And there you
with fury poured out, I will rule over you. I shall remember your ways and all your doings
34
will bring you out from the peoples and gather with which you were defiled; and you shall
you out of the countries where you are scat- loathe yourselves in your own sight because
44
tered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched of all the evils that you have committed. Then
arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you shall know that I am the LORD, when I
35
you into the wilderness of the peoples, and have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not
there I will plead My case with you face to face. according to your wicked ways nor according
36 Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,”
the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will says the Lord GOD.’ ”
45 Furthermore the word of the LORD came to
plead My case with you,” says the Lord GOD.
46
37 “I will make you pass under the rod, and I me, saying, “Son of man, set your face toward
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will bring you into the bond of the covenant; I the south; preach against the south and proph-
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will purge the rebels from among you, and esy against the forest land, the South, and say
those who transgress against Me; I will bring to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the
them out of the country where they dwell, but LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I will
they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every
you will know that I am the LORD. green tree and every dry tree in you; the blaz-
39 “As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says ing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces
the Lord GOD: “Go, serve every one of you his from the south to the north shall be scorched
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idols—and hereafter—if you will not obey Me; by it. All flesh shall see that I, the LORD, have
but profane My holy name no more with your kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ”
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gifts and your idols. For on My holy moun- Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! They say of
tain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’ ”
the Lord GOD, “There all the house of Israel, Psalm 125:1–5
all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there I A Song of Ascents.
will accept them, and there I will require your
offerings and the firstfruits of your sacrifices,
together with all your holy things. I will T hose who trust in the LORD
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Are like Mount Zion,
accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you Which cannot be moved, but abides
out from the peoples and gather you out of the forever.
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