Tag: Ladies Bible Study

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Read Ezekiel 43-45

Questions to Consider

1. Review your notes from our last lesson and be reminded of the things that lead into, and set the stage for, this week’s passage.

2. Read chapters 43-45.

Consider last week’s lesson. Does this passage seem to be a “near” prophecy (for Ezekiel’s immediate audience) or a “far” prophecy (for an audience far in the future), or both? Why?

Look up all the cross-references to the book of Revelation. In what ways does this passage in Ezekiel seem similar to the themes in Revelation?

3. Why would it have been meaningful to Ezekiel and the exiles to hear about the glory of the Lord returning to the temple (43:5, 44:4- Hint: use your cross-references.)?

Examine 43:10-11. Why would hearing Ezekiel describe the temple cause Israel to be ashamed of her sin? (10) If Israel was not ashamed of her sin, was Ezekiel to disclose the design, arrangement, etc., of the temple to her? Why? Explain why it is appropriate for God’s people to be ashamed when they have sinned.

4. Who is “the prince”? (44:3- Hint: use your cross-references. Who is “my servant, David“?) Considering that in 45:22, the prince makes a sin offering for both himself and the people, can the prince be Jesus?

How did the Levites sin, and what were the consequences for their sin? (44:9-14). How does this passage demonstrate that, though God forgives repentant sinners, He does not always remove the consequences of our sin?

How were the Levitical priests obedient to the Lord, and what were the consequences for their obedience? (44:15-31). How does this passage demonstrate that God blesses or rewards us when we obey Him?

Explain how God rewards our obedience with the blessings of (44:15-16):

• coming near to Him
• ministering to Him
• standing before Him
• making offerings to Him
• entering His sanctuary
• approaching His table
• keeping His charge

What does it mean for us as Christians that Christ is our inheritance? That Christ is our possession? (44:28) Examine 44:29-45:8a. How does the priests sharing in the offering that is made to God, and the apportioning of the land to the Lord, the priests, and the prince, point ahead to the concept that Christians are joint heirs with Christ?

5. Carefully examine 45:17 and compare the prince providing these offerings to the offerings the Prince of Peace has provided.

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Homework

• Read my article Guilt and Shame: Burden or Blessing?

• Think back over a time of obedience or disobedience to God in your life. What were the consequences of your disobedience? The rewards of drawing nearer to God for your obedience? What did you learn from the consequences of your obedience or disobedience? Take some time to thank God for the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of obedience.

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Suggested Memory Verse

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

Read Ezekiel 40-42

Questions to Consider

1. Review your notes from our last lesson and be reminded of the things that lead into, and set the stage for, this week’s passage.

2. Read chapters 40-42.

3. What is your initial reaction when you read a passage like this one that seems irrelevant or inapplicable to you? Sometimes when we read Bible passages like this – blueprints, genealogies, censuses, inventories, etc. – we approach them with a very “me-centered” attitude. “Why do I need to read this? What am I supposed to get out of this? How is this supposed to apply to my life?” Consider this: is it possible that God didn’t write these passages for you – at least not in the way you might be thinking? That maybe He put these passages in Scripture for another reason? What are your thoughts about that? What could some of those “other reasons” be?

Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Explain how chapters 40-42 could be profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, or training in righteousness. Explain how it could help make the man of God complete or equip him for good works.

4. Using your footnotes and cross references, how long is a “long cubit / a cubit and a handbreadth”? (40:5) Pick a room, feature, or item in this passage for which measurements are given in cubits, and convert the measurements to English (i.e. feet/inches) or metric measurements.

5. Compare this vision of the temple to Ezekiel’s earlier vision of the temple in chapters 8-11 (lessons 5 & 6- links above). What are some similarities and differences you note? Through the comparison and contrast of the first and second visions of the temple, what do you think God might be trying to communicate to His exiled people with this second vision?

6. What can you learn from this passage about the nature and character of God, and His care for His people? Explain how God’s specificity about how His house was to be built points to His specificity about how He is to be worshiped. Is it OK with God if we approach Him in worship in any old way we choose? How does this passage undergird the regulative principle of worship?

7. Since the temple described in chapters 40-42 has never been built, theologians have speculated on when, if, and under what circumstances it might be built in the future. Check out the following resources to study this further:

Ezekiel Sees a New Temple at Ligonier

What is the significance of Ezekiel’s temple? at Got Questions

Ezekiel’s Temple at Grace Community Church

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Homework

• Your “And you/they shall know that I am the Lord” list is complete as of our last lesson. The final use of this phrase in the book of Ezekiel is in chapter 39. Review your list. What did you learn about God, His people, etc., from making this list? Why do you think God doesn’t use this phrase in chapters 40-42? For example, something like: “And they shall know that I am the Lord when they see this amazing temple.”?

• If you’re an artistic or architectural type, sketch out one of the rooms, architectural features, items, or decorative features mentioned in this passage. Then do an image search on Google for “Ezekiel’s temple,” “cherubim,” etc., to compare your drawings to other artists’ renderings.

• Read my article God’s Not Like “Whatever, Dude,” About The Way He’s Approached in Worship

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Suggested Memory Verse

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Read Ezekiel 38-39

Questions to Consider

1. Review your notes from our last lesson and be reminded of the things that lead into, and set the stage for, this week’s passage.

2. Using a good Bible map of your choosing, attempt to locate all of the geographical places mentioned in 38-39. Where were each of these places in relation to Israel?

3. Read chapters 38-39.

In your own words, summarize the events that take place in these two chapters. Use your cross-references to help you gain better understanding.

Are 38-39 a “near” prophecy (something that will happen right away to Ezekiel’s original audience) or a “far” prophecy (something that will happen far in the future, perhaps at the second coming of Christ, or in eternity), or a bit of both? Have any/all of these events taken place yet? Cite the verses that back up your answers.

4. What can we learn about the nature and character of God from this passage?

5. Once you feel like you have a good handle on this passage, you might wish to examine these resources for a little more insight:

What are Gog and Magog? at Got Questions

Who are Meshech and Tubal in the Bible? at Got Questions

Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 in the Geneva Study Bible

Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 in John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 in Matthew Henry’s Commentary

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Homework

• Add 38:23, 39:6,7,22,28 to your “And you/they shall know that I am the Lord” list. Write down who will know that He is the Lord, what will cause them to know He is the Lord, and why God wants them to know He is the Lord.

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Suggested Memory Verse

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Read Ezekiel 35-37

Questions to Consider

1. Review your notes from our last lesson and be reminded of the things that lead into, and set the stage for, this week’s passage.

2. Using a good Bible map of your choosing, attempt to locate all of the geographical places mentioned in 35-37. Where were each of these places in relation to Israel?

3. Read chapter 35. Explain why God is exercising judgment against Mount Seir and Edom. (Don’t forget to use your cross references.) How might you use a passage like chapter 35 to help explain God’s justice and judgment to a friend who believes in the false teaching of universalism– that God just forgives everyone and lets them into Heaven when they die?

4. Read chapter 36. Why does God tell Ezekiel to prophesy to mountains in chapters 35-36 instead of people? What is God explaining to Israel in 36:1-7?

When God told Israel He was judging the pagan nations around them, what should Israel’s response have been? One day, God will pour out His wrath on those who have persecuted His church. How should we, as Christians, respond to Him when He does?

How do 36: 5 and 6 help you to understand the concept of God’s holy jealousy?

How does 36:8-15 paint a picture of God forgiving His people?

If God is God, and the truth about His nature and character is eventually going to win out anyway, why is He concerned for the reputation of His name in 36:16-21? Why does God care what pagans think of Him?

We’ve learned in previous studies that “therefore” (36:22) acts as a pivot point, or “hinge” verse connecting what comes before it with what comes after it. Which two concepts does 36:22 connect?

Why (6:22,32) is God choosing to act the way he describes in 6:22-38? Is it fair and biblical to say that everything God does, He does first and foremost for His own glory, and secondarily for the good of the people involved? Why or why not? How does it benefit people when God acts on behalf of His own glory?

Compare God’s actions and posture toward Israel in 6:22-38 to God’s actions and posture toward Christians as He goes about the work of saving sinners. How does God save people? Why does God save people? What are the results of God saving people?

Explain the differences between “you shall know that I am the Lord” in chapter 35 and “you shall know that I am the Lord” in chapter 36. How is knowing that God is the Lord by experiencing His wrath for your unrepentant sin and rebellion different from knowing God is the Lord by experiencing His forgiveness of sin when you repent?

5. Read chapter 37. Explain how the valley of dry bones (37:1-14) is a dramatization of the promises God made to Israel in 36:22-38.

Compare 37:1-14 with these passages, and explain how the valley of dry bones points ahead to salvation in Christ. Imagine you’re Ezekiel. You’ve just gone through the valley of dry bones experience, and God transports you ahead in time to watch and listen as Jesus raises Lazarus. How does the latter event give you a more fully-orbed understanding of the former?

Is 37:15-28 a “near” prophecy (something that will happen right away Ezekiel’s original audience) or a “far” prophecy (something that will happen far in the future, perhaps in eternity), or a bit of both? Cite the verses that back up your answer.

Have all of the things in 37:15-28 happened already? What is the significance of God’s use of the words “forever” and “forevermore”? (37:25-27) Who is “My servant David”? (37:24-25)

What does 37:15-28 make you look forward to in eternity?

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Homework

• Add 35:4,9,12,15, 36:11,23,36,38, 37:6,13,14,28 to your “And you/they shall know that I am the Lord” list. Write down who will know that He is the Lord, what will cause them to know He is the Lord, and why God wants them to know He is the Lord.

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Suggested Memory Verse

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Catch Up Week

I’m out of pocket this week, so you get a catch up week!

Catch up on any lessons you might be behind on, go back and do any of the homework you may not have had time for, review your memory verses, or if you’re already caught up, you could even read ahead in Ezekiel a little. It’s your week to use as you see fit.

Unless something unexpected happens, I am planning for us to finish up Ezekiel before Thanksgiving. (After that, there will be no weekly Bible study until after the holidays, so if one catch up week won’t do it, you’ll still have plenty of time to finish at your own pace.)