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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 5: Daniel 2:24-49

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Daniel 2:24-49

Daniel tells and interprets King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The dream was of a large statue.  The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.  A rock then struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.  Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces. The wind swept them away. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

The interpretation: The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron.  Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle, and the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

God will then set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. It will crush all the other kingdoms, but it will endure forever.

King Nebuchadnezzar fell before Daniel and acknowledged God. Daniel was placed in a high position, as were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 5: Daniel 2:24-49

12a) Daniel approached Arioch and told him not to kill the wise men, for he would interpret the dream. Arioch told the king he had found an exile to interpret his dream. Arioch takes the credit here, whereas Daniel gives the credit all to God. Daniel tells the king that only God can interpret it. This shows Daniel’s faith in the One, True God.

b) I think this question is limitless. People take credit for their accomplishments and talents that only God could accomplish, from natural talents like singing to inventions and everyday accomplishments. I do this too when I think to myself I did something when really I didn’t.

13a) Earthly kingdoms all eventually fall and dissipate, just like earthly materials.

b) God’s earthly kingdom will endure forever.

14a) Jesus

b) King Nebuchadnezzar bowed before Daniel and acknowledged God as Lord over all. Similarly, every knee will bow before Jesus, and every tongue shall declare he is Lord.

c) When Jesus comes again, everything in the world will be set right. God is in complete control, and we are part of His plan. We can live with integrity, standing for what’s right. Hope is not in vain, God’s plan will prevail, and we can live with purpose.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 5: Daniel 2:24-49

I love how God just shows up when we least expect Him, but also when we ask. God swoops in to rescue His people (Daniel and others), and God makes sure everyone knows it was Him. So great!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 5: Daniel 2:24-49

Bible scholars believe that the three kingdoms mentioned here are: Persia (silver), Greece (bronze), and Rome (iron). Nebuchadnezzar was an absolute monarch. Those that came after him were not as powerful as him. And, the countries are of less power, as represented by their metals.

Jesus is the stone ( Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 8:14, Isaiah 28:16, and Zechariah 3:9)

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Daniel 2:24-49 details the revelation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretation, serving to glorify God by demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over human history.

The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:

  • Daniel Gives God the Glory: Before revealing the secret, Daniel makes it explicitly clear to the king that this wisdom comes not from any human, but from the “God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” This frames the entire event as a demonstration of God’s power, not Daniel’s.
  • The Statue of Worldly Kingdoms: The dream’s great statue—with its head of gold, chest of silver, belly of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay—represents a succession of powerful but ultimately temporary human empires. Each kingdom gives way to the next, with the final form being a divided and fragile mixture of strength and weakness.
  • The Stone and the Mountain: The stone “cut without human hands” represents God’s divine and eternal kingdom. It strikes the statue at its feet, utterly destroying all the human empires at once. The stone then grows into a mountain that fills the whole earth, symbolizing the final, unstoppable, and universal triumph of God’s kingdom over all human history.
  • The King’s Acknowledgment: Nebuchadnezzar’s reaction of falling prostrate and declaring Daniel’s God to be the “God of gods and Lord of kings” is the climax. The most powerful pagan monarch on earth is forced to acknowledge the supremacy of the God of the exiles.

In essence, the passage reveals that God is in complete control of history. Human empires, no matter how powerful, are temporary and will ultimately be swept away by the establishment of God’s eternal and divine kingdom.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 4: Daniel 2:1-23

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Daniel 2:1-23

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon kept having troubling dreams, and his team of magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers could not tell him his dream and/or interpret it. The king got so mad that he ordered all of the wise men to be put to death, including Daniel and his friends. Daniel found out they were to be executed and prayed to God to interpret the dream. God granted his wish.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 4: Daniel 2:1-23

9) King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon kept having troubling dreams, and his team of magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers could not tell him his dream and/or interpret it.

10) King Nebuchadnezzar failed to understand that no one can read minds except the God of Israel.

11a) Daniel again found out the problem and asked God for a solution. He is calm in the midst of a crisis. We should all take our time with dilemmas and ask God.

b) I can take my time and ask God for guidance. I can respond with poise, seek to fully understand the situation, involve others as a support group, pray about it, and express gratitude and praise for the resolution.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 4: Daniel 2:1-23

I love Daniel’s response. He approaches problems with solutions in mind and God at his back. So good!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 4: Daniel 2:1-23

Some scholars believe that King Nebuchadnezzar may not have remembered the dream entirely, but had only gotten an impression, which is why he wanted to be told the dream, too.

Fun Fact: Daniel 2:4-7:28 is written in Aramaic – not Hebrew. This is the only section of the Bible written in Aramaic, which was the language of the Babylonian Empire.

The wise men knew only God could answer the King’s dilemma. They aimed to show the king’s request was unreasonable, not that they were incompetent in their jobs.

It takes time to listen to God, so Daniel asked for time.

Daniel involves his companions in his prayers. After all, life and death were at stake here, so all the power of prayer was needed!

God answers, and Daniel praises. What we all need to do!

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Daniel 2:1-23 establishes a crisis that contrasts the failure of human wisdom with the supreme power and wisdom of the God of Israel.

The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:

  • The King’s Impossible Test: King Nebuchadnezzar’s demand that his wise men reveal both his forgotten dream and its meaning is a literary device designed to prove their impotence. It demonstrates that the world’s most acclaimed wisdom and magic are powerless to access divine secrets, leading to a death sentence for all, including Daniel and his friends.
  • Daniel’s Response of Faith: Faced with execution, Daniel doesn’t panic. He tactfully requests time and immediately turns to his friends for prayer. This act shows that his confidence is not in his own ability but in the mercy of the “God of heaven” to reveal the mystery. His approach is one of faithful dependence, not human ingenuity.
  • God as the Revealer of Secrets: The climax of this section is Daniel’s prayer of praise after receiving the vision. He declares that God alone possesses all wisdom and power, changes the course of history (“sets up and deposes kings”), and reveals “deep and hidden things.”

In essence, this passage masterfully sets the stage by showing the complete failure of Babylon’s spiritual and intellectual elite, creating a vacuum that only the God of the exiles can fill. It establishes that what is about to be revealed comes not from human skill but directly from the one true God who controls history.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 3: Daniel 1:8-21

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Daniel 1:8-21

Daniel did not want to defile himself by eating the royal food and wine. He asked the chief official who showed Daniel favor (thanks to God) to just feed him and his friends vegetables and water to see if their health suffered. Their health did not suffer.

God gave all the knowledge to Daniel and his three friends. Daniel could understand visions and dreams. They entered the king of Babylon’s service, and they were better than all of the king’s magicians and enchanters.

Daniel stayed in the king’s service until the first year of King Cyrus.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 3: Daniel 1:8-21

6a) The royal food and wine would defile him.
b) He negotiated with the royal official who was in charge of them by proposing a test just to see if his plan would work.
7a) Followers of Christ can work within ungodly systems by adopting a framework of faithful presence, which involves a set of principles and practices modeled by Daniel and his friends in Babylon. Know your non-negotiables, excel in your work, work in non-antagonist ways, and don’t violate God’s principles. We all can shine God’s light simply by working within the system but following God’s rules always.
b) God rewards those who stand firm in Him. He protects them and provides for them. You grow deeper in your faith with God. You strengthen your character. You can have inner peace. You can be a witness for God.
8 ) Unsure if there was ever anything big, but I won’t do things that I believe are wrong, such as take advantage of other people and the like.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 3: Daniel 1:8-21

Great example set by Daniel of how you can compromise around society when society’s rules are asking you to break God’s commands.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 3: Daniel 1:8-21

Some may say that the food was a little thing. However, making compromises on God’s “little things” will eventually lead to compromising God’s big things. We have to stay true to ALL of God’s words and commands, not just some of them or those we deem little.

Note that the first sin was the eating of forbidden fruit. Daniel probably had Adam and Eve in mind with his decision here.

The food and drink offered by the Babylonians most likely did not follow the Old Testament rules of the food they could eat. It could have been food that had been sacrificed to the Babylonian gods.

Daniel took a risk here by defying the Babylonian king’s orders. He could have faced death because of this decision.

Note how Daniel rebelled: he rebelled with respect. He offered a compromise that took into consideration the royal official.

Because of their loyalty to God, He blessed them.

We can still be faithful to God despite our circumstances.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Daniel 1:8-21 narrates the first crucial test of faith in response to the assimilation program detailed in the opening verses. This passage demonstrates a powerful theme of principled resistance and divine vindication.

  1. The Resolve: The conflict begins with Daniel’s personal resolution (“he resolved in his heart”) not to defile himself with the king’s rich food and wine. This act is the first pushback against the empire’s attempt to erase his covenant identity. Importantly, his resistance is characterized by wisdom and tact; he respectfully requests an exemption and proposes a test rather than making a defiant scene.
  2. The Intervention: The narrative repeatedly emphasizes God’s hidden hand. It is “God [who] gave Daniel favor” with the official (v. 9) and later “God [who] gave them learning and skill” (v. 17). Daniel’s success is not attributed to his own charm or intellect but to God’s active intervention on behalf of those who honor Him.
  3. The Result: Daniel’s faithfulness is publicly vindicated in two ways. First, after a ten-day test on a simple diet of vegetables and water, he and his friends appear healthier than those eating the king’s luxurious food. Second, at the end of their three-year education, they are examined by King Nebuchadnezzar himself and found to be “ten times better” than all the wise men in his kingdom. This proves that faithfulness to God is not a hindrance to excelling in a secular world, but is in fact the source of superior wisdom and health.

The passage concludes with the statement that Daniel “was there until the first year of King Cyrus,” a powerful note of hope signifying that his faithfulness allowed him to endure and outlast the entire Babylonian empire, living to see the dawn of its dissolution.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 2: Daniel 1:1-7

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Daniel 1:1-7

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem and took Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. 

The king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians and then to enter the king’s service.

Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 2: Daniel 1:1-7

3a) The priests and the people were unfaithful to God, followed the detestable practices of the atheist nations around them, and defiled the temple of the Lord. They refused to obey God. The people ignored the prophets sent by God to warn His people to turn back to Him, so God sent the king of Babylon against them.
b) The young men were from the royal family and the nobility without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well-informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.
4) They gave the men new names in order to assimilate them into the Babylonian culture and hoped to eradicate their connection to their people and to their God. They wanted to indoctrinate them with Babylonian ways.
5a) Their religion, their culture, their heritage.
b) My God defines my identity.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 2: Daniel 1:1-7

Great reminder of how God uses punishments in order to bring His people back to Him, which can explain the lessons in our lives, too.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 3, Day 2: Daniel 1:1-7

We’ll find Daniel in the sixth century B.C. To put this is perspective with the rest of the world’s history, some events that occurred include:

  • The Mayans were at their height in the New World
  • The Greeks were in charge of the known world
  • Aesop was writing his fables
  • Confucius and Buddha were influencing their respective corners of the world

Jehoiakim was placed on the throne by the Pharaoh in Egypt.

Nebuchadnezzar is the king of Babylon at this time.

Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar because they were loyal to Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar had just defeated the Egyptians in a war.

These invasions began in 607 B.C. and lasted till 587 B.C.

Jehoiakim, Ezekiel, and many others were taken to Babylon at this time. This was because the Israelites were not observing the Sabbaths (Leviticus 25:1-7 and 26:2-35), and they were worshipping foreign gods.

In ancient times, the rich ate much better than the poor.

The Name Changes

  • Daniel (God is my judge) was changed to Belteshazzar (Bel protects). Bel is the chief Babylonian god.
  • Hananiah (Yahweh is gracious) was changed to Shadrach (Commanded by Aku). Aku was the moon god.
  • Mishael (Who is like God?) was changed to Meshach (Who is like Aku).
  • Azariah (Yahweh is my helper) was changed to Abednego (Servant of Nebu). Nebu was the god of wisdom.

The first half of the book of Daniel mirrors the second half in a chiastic manner. The beginning and end feature dreams. Then, we find Daniel in a predicament, and in the middle, Daniel interprets a dream and handwriting.

The theme of Daniel is the encouragement of God’s people. In the midst of hardship and circumstances beyond your control, stand firm with the Lord.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

  1. A World of Divine Sovereignty: On the surface, Daniel 1:1-7 narrates a catastrophic defeat: Jerusalem is conquered by Babylon, and sacred vessels from God’s Temple are taken as tribute to a pagan god. However, the narrator immediately reframes this disaster by stating, “the Lord gave Jehoiakim into his hand.” This crucial phrase establishes the book’s foundational theme: God is sovereign even in the defeat and exile of His people. History is not random; God is using Babylon as His instrument of judgment.
  2. A Strategy of Cultural Assimilation: The passage then details Babylon’s systematic attempt to absorb and neutralize the best of Judah’s youth. This is a calculated, multi-pronged assault on their identity: they are physically displaced, intellectually re-educated in Chaldean literature, made dependent on the king’s food, and finally, their Hebrew names (which honor God) are replaced with Babylonian names that honor pagan deities.

In essence, these verses create the central tension for the book of Daniel: a powerful empire methodically attempts to erase the faith and identity of God’s people, while the narrative simultaneously affirms that the God who allowed their exile is still fully in control, setting the stage for a conflict between allegiance to an earthly king and faithfulness to the sovereign God.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 5: Ezekiel 37:15-28

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezekiel 37:15-28

God promises to bring together His people (Judah and Israel) into one land, one nation, with one king. They will be God’s people, and He will be their God.

David will be king over them. They will keep God’s decrees. They will live forever in the land God gives them. God will make an everlasting covenant with His people.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 5: Ezekiel 37:15-28

11a) God told Ezekiel to take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.’  Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.

b) It illustrates how God promises to bring together His people (Judah and Israel) into one land, one nation, with one king.

12) The covenant of peace and our eternal salvation that God is speaking about that will be everlasting is the New Covenant granted to us by our belief in Christ. Jesus is an ancestor from the line of David.

13a) God will dwell with us forever. He will always be our God. He will make His people holy forever.

b) Christians can be role models to others of what God can do in their lives since He has done so much in the lives of His people. There is a different way to live than what culture says, and Christians can demonstrate this in their daily lives.

14) The knowledge that He is always with me, working for me and through me, and everything is for my good and will work for good. I also know that circumstances are temporal, but He and His promises are forever. I’ve learned that God loves us so much that He always cares for us, comforts us, and provides for us. He is always there when we need Him. Nothing is without His knowledge. He guides us and protects us always.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 5: Ezekiel 37:15-28

Great lesson on how God always watches over His people and works for good in their lives.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 5: Ezekiel 37:15-28

Ephraim refers to Israel here since Ephraim was the largest and most powerful tribe in the Northern Kingdom. We see this a couple of times in the Old Testament.

Despite the people having been scattered, they are all still God’s people. All would be restored.

Purity, cleansing, and relationship with God are all the result of the New Covenant.

Ezekiel had previously said David would be the king (Ezekiel 34:23-25).

While we can see Jesus in this passage, the clear reference is to David. We reason this because God would not have said David specifically if He hadn’t meant him.

That being said, God does seem to describe the New Covenant here with his reference of peace  (Ezekiel 34:25 and Isaiah 54:10), everlasting (Ezekiel 16:60, Isaiah 55:3, and Hebrews 13:20), and the multiplication of His people (Ezekiel 36:10-11).

The sanctuary is referring to the temple, as Ezekiel continues to outline in Ezekiel 40-48.

God is alive, and Israel is His people.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

This passage, centered on the prophetic sign-act of joining two sticks, succinctly outlines God’s plan for the complete political and spiritual restoration of Israel.

The analysis can be broken down into four key movements:

  1. The Sign-Act: God commands Ezekiel to take two sticks, one representing the southern kingdom of Judah and the other representing the northern kingdom of Joseph/Ephraim, and join them into a single stick. This physical act serves as a powerful, tangible symbol of the promise to come.
  2. The Promise of Reunification: The core message is the end of the centuries-long division of Israel. God Himself will gather His people from exile and reunite the two estranged kingdoms into one nation, permanently ending the political schism.
  3. The Restored Kingdom: This unified nation will be ruled by one king, identified as “my servant David,” signifying the restoration of the ideal Davidic monarchy. This unified kingdom will be characterized by spiritual purity (cleansing from idolatry) and obedience to God’s laws, all sealed by an everlasting “covenant of peace.”
  4. The Climax of Divine Presence: The ultimate goal and guarantee of this restoration is God setting His sanctuary (dwelling place) in their midst forever. This permanent, divine presence is the final seal on their security and serves as the ultimate witness to the surrounding nations that Yahweh is the one true God who has set Israel apart for Himself.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 4: Ezekiel 37:1-14

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezekiel 37:1-14

Ezekiel saw a valley of bones while in the Spirit of the Lord. The Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones to come back to life. He did as commanded, and the bones obeyed.

The Lord says these bones are the bones of the people of Israel. God will bring them back to Israel, so they will know He is God. He will breathe His Spirit in them so that they will live.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 4: Ezekiel 37:1-14

8 ) Ezekiel saw dry bones in a valley. His answer reveals that He knows that God can do anything He wants, and God knows everything.

9a) The Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones to come back to life. He did as commanded, and the bones obeyed. The bones came together. Tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin, but there was no breath in them.

b) The second time Ezekiel prophesied, the bones came to life fully with breath.

10a) The Lord says these bones are the bones of the people of Israel. God will bring them back to Israel, so they will know He is God. He will breathe His Spirit in them so that they will live.

b) What has God NOT done? Everything is from God. He has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams, and while I have my own problems and issues, He is the One behind it all.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 4: Ezekiel 37:1-14

I love this visual of God giving life to bones, like He gives us life via the Holy Spirit. So powerful!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 4: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Note that the bones were just lying around. This means they did not receive a proper burial, so the people who died were most likely disgraced.

This was a resurrection by God, a restoration of life. God’s words gave the bones life.

We can be reborn with God’s words, too.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 is about God’s promised restoration of Israel. God was referring to the restoration of His people from Babylon and Assyria, but many believe it speaks to the Second Coming, too.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezekiel 37:1-14 presents the powerful vision of the Valley of Dry Bones to deliver a message of radical hope to a despairing Israel. The analysis breaks down as follows:

  1. The Problem: The vision begins with a scene of utter death and hopelessness—a valley full of bones that are “very dry,” signifying a long-dead state. God explicitly identifies these bones as “the whole house of Israel,” who are in exile, saying, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.”
  2. The Process: God demonstrates His power through a two-stage restoration, commanding the prophet to participate. First, Ezekiel prophesies, and a physical reassembly occurs: a rattling sound, bones coming together, and the appearance of sinews, flesh, and skin. However, this creates an army of lifeless bodies. The second stage requires a prophecy to the “breath” (or Spirit), which comes and animates the bodies, bringing them to life as a vast army.
  3. The Promise: The vision is not about individual, literal resurrection but is a potent metaphor for national and spiritual restoration. God promises to reverse Israel’s “death” in exile. He will “open your graves,” bring His people back to the land of Israel, and, most importantly, put His Spirit in them, causing them to live.

In essence, the passage is God’s dramatic answer to Israel’s hopelessness, demonstrating that no situation is beyond His power to restore. He can bring back His people from a state of national death, renewing them both physically (returning them to the land) and spiritually (indwelling them with His Spirit).

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 3: Ezekiel 36:24-38

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezekiel 36:24-38

Ezekiel then relays God’s promises to His people. God will bring them back home, cleanse them from their sins, give them a new spirit and flesh, and He will give them the Holy Spirit within. They will be His people, and God will be their God. They will prosper because of God’s desire to keep His name holy.

God will restore His people so that all (the Israelites and the other nations) will know He is God.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 3: Ezekiel 36:24-38

5a) God will bring them back home, cleanse them from their sins, give them a new spirit and flesh, and He will give them the Holy Spirit within. He will ensure they are abundant.

b) When Jesus died, all believers received the Holy Spirit as their guide in this world.

The promises in Ezekiel 36:24-30 are considered by Christians to be a foundational Old Testament preview of the spiritual realities of the New Covenant, which is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The passage provides a rich blueprint for what happens in the heart of every person who experiences salvation.

How Ezekiel’s Promises Relate to Salvation in Christ

The prophecy in Ezekiel moves beyond a mere physical restoration of national Israel to describe a deep, internal, and spiritual transformation that directly parallels Christian salvation:

  1. Gathering and Cleansing (vv. 24-25):
    • Ezekiel’s Promise: God will gather His people from the nations and cleanse them from their sin (“sprinkle clean water on you”).
    • Salvation in Christ: In Christ, God gathers people from every nation, tribe, and tongue into one body, the Church (Revelation 5:9). This spiritual gathering rescues us from the “domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13). The cleansing is fulfilled not by literal water but by the blood of Christ, which “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Salvation brings complete forgiveness and justification, declaring us clean before God.
  2. A New Heart and Spirit (v. 26):
    • Ezekiel’s Promise: God will perform a divine “heart transplant,” removing the unresponsive “heart of stone” and providing a living, receptive “heart of flesh.”
    • Salvation in Christ: This is a perfect description of regeneration, or being “born again” (John 3:3-7). Before salvation, the human heart is described as “hardened” and unresponsive to God. Through Christ, we are made a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17), with new desires and the ability to love and respond to God.
  3. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (v. 27):
    • Ezekiel’s Promise: God will put His own Spirit within His people, which will cause them to walk in His ways and obey His laws.
    • Salvation in Christ: This is a hallmark of the New Covenant. Upon salvation, every believer is sealed with and indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Spirit is the agent of sanctification; He empowers believers from the inside out to live a life that pleases God (Galatians 5:16, 22-23). Obedience is no longer a matter of external rule-following but the fruit of the Spirit’s internal work.
  4. Restored Relationship and Provision (vv. 28-30):
    • Ezekiel’s Promise: The covenant relationship will be restored (“you shall be my people, and I will be your God”), and God will provide for and deliver His people.
    • Salvation in Christ: Through Christ, we are adopted as children of God (Galatians 4:4-7) and enter into this restored covenant relationship. The promise of provision is fulfilled in Christ, who supplies all our spiritual needs and grants us an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:3, Philippians 4:19).

Other Scripture That Comes to Mind

The themes in Ezekiel 36 echo throughout the New Testament. Here are some of the most prominent connections:

  • The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34): This is the most direct parallel. Jeremiah prophesies a New Covenant where God says, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” This is precisely the “new heart” and internal law that Ezekiel describes. The book of Hebrews quotes this passage extensively to explain Christ’s work (Hebrews 8:8-12).
  • Regeneration and Cleansing (Titus 3:5): Paul explicitly connects cleansing and spiritual renewal: “…he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
  • The Heart of Stone and Flesh (2 Corinthians 3:3): Paul uses the same imagery as Ezekiel: “And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
  • The Necessity of the New Birth (John 3:3-7): Jesus’ famous conversation with Nicodemus about being “born again” by “water and the Spirit” directly reflects Ezekiel’s prophecy of being cleansed by water and given a new Spirit.
  • The Indwelling Spirit as a Source of Life (Romans 8:9-11): “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you… If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

6) Grief over our sin can help us not to sin again and to repent, turn to Jesus, and live our fullest lives. It makes us humble, knowing all is by the grace of God, and this grief is profitable because it leads to a deeper gratitude, a more passionate worship, and a greater love for the God who saved us not because we were good, but because He is gracious.

7) I hope others see God in me when they look at me and see His goodness and glory. God has provided for me, protected me, comforted me, and guided me when I’ve needed it. He has turned me towards Him. And, Jesus has saved me for all of eternity, a true gift from God. The result is more appreciation for God and hopefully more converts to Jesus.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 3: Ezekiel 36:24-38

God promises to bring His people back to their land and cleanse them spiritually (via the New Covenant). He will give them a new nature, along with the Holy Spirit. God will bless the land. This work would be a powerful testimony to the nations around Israel of God’s absolute power.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

This passage is a divine promise of Israel’s complete restoration, moving from physical return to deep spiritual renewal. It can be analyzed in three succinct parts:

  1. The Action: Radical Regeneration. God promises a multi-faceted restoration initiated entirely by Him. It begins with a physical gathering of His people from the nations back to their own land. This is immediately followed by a profound spiritual cleansing (“I will sprinkle clean water on you”) that purges them from the filth of their idolatry. The core of the promise is a divine “heart transplant”: God will remove their unresponsive “heart of stone” and give them a living “heart of flesh,” enabling them to obey. He will put His own Spirit within them, creating an internal transformation that leads to obedience not by force, but by a changed nature.
  2. The Result: National & Agricultural Renewal. The internal, spiritual renewal of the people has a direct, visible impact on their external world. The once desolate and ruined land will be cultivated and become astonishingly fruitful, compared to the “Garden of Eden.” The population will multiply, and the ruined cities will be rebuilt and inhabited. This external prosperity serves as undeniable public evidence of God’s miraculous intervention.
  3. The Motivation: God’s Reputation and Israel’s Repentance. The ultimate purpose of this grand restoration is twofold. Primarily, it is for the sake of God’s holy name (as established in the previous verses), so the nations will see His power and know that He is the LORD. Secondarily, the memory of their past sins, contrasted with God’s incredible blessing, will cause the people of Israel to feel a deep sense of shame and self-loathing. This God-given prosperity will not lead to pride, but to a lasting, humble repentance.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 2: Ezekiel 36:16-23

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezekiel 36:16-23

Ezekiel tells the Israelites the word of the Lord. He says that the people were unclean, worshipped idols, and shed blood in the land. Therefore, they faced God’s wrath. God dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; they were judged according to their conduct and their actions. God is punishing His people because they have defiled His name. He will show the nations that He is holy so that they will know He is the Lord.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 2: Ezekiel 36:16-23

3a) They defiled the land by their conduct and actions. The people were unclean, worshipped idols, and shed blood in the land. They defiled God’s holy name. Therefore, God dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; they were judged according to their conduct and their actions. God is punishing His people because they have defiled His name. He will show the nations that He is holy so that they will know He is the Lord.

b) Other people said, “These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.” This observation and belief by the other nations was a profound profanation of God’s name because it implied a critical failure on God’s part.

The core of the profanation lay in the perception that the God of Israel was either powerless to protect His own chosen people or that He was unfaithful to the covenant He had made with them. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the fate of a people was directly linked to the power of their deity. A victorious nation had a strong god, while a conquered and exiled people had a weak or non-existent one.

Therefore, when the nations saw Israel, who were known as “the people of the LORD,” driven from their promised land, they concluded one of two things:

  • God’s Weakness: They reasoned that the gods of the conquering nations, such as Babylon, were superior in strength to the God of Israel. In their eyes, if the LORD were truly all-powerful, He would not have allowed His own people to be defeated and displaced.
  • God’s Unfaithfulness: Alternatively, they may have seen the exile as a sign that the LORD had abandoned His people, breaking the covenant promises to protect and preserve them in their land. This painted God as unreliable and untrustworthy.

This international mockery directly challenged the character and reputation of God. His “name,” which in Hebrew thought represents the totality of a person’s character and attributes, was being dragged through the mud. The very people who were meant to be a testimony to His greatness and power had, through their sin and subsequent punishment, become a source of ridicule against Him.

c) God’s response in the subsequent verses of Ezekiel 36 makes it clear that His primary motivation for restoring Israel was not for their own sake, as they were undeserving due to their defilement of the land with idolatry and bloodshed. Instead, God acted “for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations.” He would bring them back to their land and cleanse them to demonstrate His holiness and power to the onlooking nations, so that “the nations will know that I am the LORD.” The restoration of Israel would serve as a powerful vindication of His name, proving that He is a faithful and sovereign God who is able to fulfill His promises and protect His people.
4a) When others see Christians sin, some think that God is not powerful enough to stop their sin (even though we all sin no matter what since we are fallen). They may think what’s the use of following God if you are still a sinner. People see Christians as hypocrites and God as powerless to change those who follow Him. Christians can judge others, which is harmful to others and turn them away from Christianity.
b) I am inspired to be a better person to please God and be better than I am. I want to not be as selfish and to do God’s will more. It inspires me to take on the daily battles of life to change and more more towards God.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 2: Ezekiel 36:16-23

I love the emphasis of how our behavior can (and does) affect how others view God. It’s so crucial for us to set a good example so that other may know Him, too!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 2, Day 2: Ezekiel 36:16-23

Disobedience to God was like a defilement of the land. Therefore, they were judged and scattered among the nations.

This exile was seen by the other nations as God rejecting His people. God wanted to be seen as the only God. So, when Israel would turn to Him again, it would honor God.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezekiel 36:16-23 diagnoses the theological crisis caused by Israel’s exile. The passage lays out a clear chain of events:

  1. Israel’s Sin: The people defiled their land with idolatry and bloodshed.
  2. God’s Judgment: As a just consequence, God scattered them among the nations.
  3. God’s Name Profaned: The surrounding nations, observing the exiled Israelites, mocked God’s reputation. They essentially said, “These are the LORD’s people, yet He was too weak or unfaithful to keep them in His own land.” This conclusion, drawn from Israel’s punishment, dishonored God’s name.
  4. God’s Motivation: God declares He will act to restore Israel, but not for their sake, as they are undeserving. He will act entirely for the sake of His own holy name—to vindicate His reputation.

The central point is that God’s honor is paramount. His future restoration of Israel will serve as a definitive, public demonstration of His sovereign power and faithfulness, compelling the very nations who scorned Him to recognize His true identity as the LORD.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 1, Day 5: Ezekiel 2:3-10

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezekiel 2:3-10

God sends Ezekiel to the Israelites to deliver His messages. He tells Ezekiel to not be afraid of the people and to speak His words. Ezekiel then sees a scroll in God’s hands. Words of lament, mourning, and woe are written on it.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 1, Day 5: Ezekiel 2:3-10

12) To the Israelites

13a) He tells Ezekiel that many will not listen. They may say terrible things. They are rebellious.

b) God tells Ezekiel not to be afraid of their reactions and to eat what he gives him (aka words to say). By telling Ezekiel that they may not listen, this helps Ezekiel not worry about how the message is received, but instead to just deliver the message. Also, by God appearing to Ezekiel personally, this strengthens Ezekiel’s faith by knowing that it is God calling him.

14) We all should remember that we are not responsible for whether people receive the word of God and turn to Him. God is the one who will turn their hearts. All we have to do is deliver the Good News. We are guided by the Holy Spirit and will know what to say. I am encouraged to pray to the Lord to put people in my life whom I am supposed to share Him with. And, I know God will give me the strength to do so.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 1, Day 5: Ezekiel 2:3-10

Great lesson on the real challenges believers face in bringing the Good News to the world.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 1, Day 5: Ezekiel 2:3-10

Note: Ezekiel is speaking to both the nations of Judah and Israel here. Apart from God, the Israelites are just another heathen nation.

The people are repeatedly called “rebellious.” Not exactly good in God’s eyes.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says,” is repeated in the book of Ezekiel. This is to say that Ezekiel is bringing God’s message, not his own, to the people.

Rejection can hurt, but God tells Ezekiel to ignore it.

We are to receive God’s word as if we are eating it: take it completely in.

Note: this may or may not be God’s hands. It could be the cherubims’. The text just says “a hand.”

The message was complete since both sides of the scroll were written on (traditionally, at this time, only one side would be written on).

Note that we have a much more cheerful message to bring to people (the news of Jesus Christ). Ezekiel just had to tell the people to turn to God or face His wrath.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezekiel 2:3-10 details the core of the prophet’s difficult commission, defining his audience, his required attitude, and the content of his message.

The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:

  • The Rebellious Audience: God explicitly warns Ezekiel that he is being sent to the people of Israel, who are described as an obstinate, stubborn, and rebellious nation. This sets the expectation that his mission will be met with resistance. The goal is not necessarily to achieve success, but to ensure that a prophet of the LORD has spoken, leaving the people without excuse.
  • The Call to Fearlessness: God commands Ezekiel not to be afraid of the people or their hostile words, comparing them to thorns, briers, and scorpions. This highlights the dangerous and painful nature of the prophetic task and emphasizes that the prophet’s courage must come from his divine mandate, not the promise of a positive reception.
  • The Eaten Scroll: Ezekiel is given a scroll to eat, which is covered on both sides with “words of lament and mourning and woe.” This powerful symbolic act reveals two key truths:
    1. Internalization: The prophet must completely absorb and digest God’s message, making it a part of his very being before he can proclaim it to others.
    2. Content: The initial message is not one of comfort, but of unavoidable and severe judgment due to the people’s rebellion.

In essence, this passage establishes Ezekiel’s ministry as one of courageous faithfulness. He is called to internalize and deliver a painful message of judgment to a hard-hearted people, regardless of their response.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 1, Day 4: Ezekiel 1:22-2:2

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezekiel 1:22-2:2

Ezekiel continues his vision, seeing a vault spread out over the living creatures. He describes their wings, which sounded like the voice of the Almighty. He describes God on his throne above the living creatures. He was radiant and appeared like glowing metal and fire. He fell facedown upon seeing the glory of God.

God told him to stand so that He could speak to him.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 1, Day 4: Ezekiel 1:22-2:2

9) Ezekiel continues his vision, seeing a vault spread out over the living creatures. He describes their wings, which sounded like the voice of the Almighty. He describes God on his throne above the living creatures. He was radiant and appeared like glowing metal and fire.

10) He fell facedown upon seeing the glory of God. He was overwhelmed by God’s holiness and glory and felt unworthy to be in God’s presence. He is completely surrendering to God.

11a) He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”

b) The Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

c) Psalm 24:4 says that the one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god can stand before God. Philippians 3:9 says that those who have faith in Christ’s cleansing blood (who have been made righteous) can stand before God. Jesus cleanses us and allows us to be with God!

d) Truthfully, how have I not? God is responsible for everything in my life. He is always working to bring me to His path.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 1, Day 4: Ezekiel 1:22-2:2

It just reminds me of Mercy Me’s classic song, I Can Only Imagine. I can’t wait for this moment!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 1, Day 4: Ezekiel 1:22-2:2

Ezekiel first describes God’s voice and then God’s likeness. It was held by the Jewish people that God could not ever be fully expressed, or it was blasphemy. God defies human description.

We’ve seen four colors in Ezekiel 1:

  1. Beryl or emerald green (Ezekiel 1:16)
  2. Clear crystal (Ezekiel 1:22)
  3. Sapphire blue (Ezekiel 1:26)
  4. Golden-brown amber (Ezekiel 1:27)

We see God’s power and radiance (red and yellow), His promise to all of humanity (rainbow), and God everywhere

God exists outside of the temple, seen clearly here, and super important in that time period to be made known.

Ezekiel humbly surrenders when he falls on his face.

Fun Fact: God calls Ezekiel “son of man” 93 times. This is the first time.

Jesus refers to himself as “Son of Man” 80 times in the Gospels. This refers to Jesus being the Messiah. Here, when Ezekiel is addressed as “son of man,” it’s literal.

It is good to stand to receive the Word of the Lord.

The Spirit entering Ezekiel was the Holy Spirit here. Since this was before the gift of the Holy Spirit to all of humanity, this was a unique situation and entrance for Ezekiel when the Spirit entered with God’s words.

We see the Spirit lifting Ezekiel a lot in his book (Ezekiel 2:2, 3:14; 8:3; 11:1, 24; 37:1; 43:5).

Notice that God gives Ezekiel the power to stand to do His work. So God gives us the strength to do His calling upon our lives.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezekiel 1:22-2:2 describes the climax of the prophet’s inaugural vision, revealing God’s glorious presence and commissioning Ezekiel for his mission.

The interpretation of the key elements is as follows:

  • The Throne and the Divine Figure: Above the living creatures is a crystal platform, upon which rests a throne. On the throne is a figure with a human-like appearance, but composed of fire and brilliant light. This reveals God’s transcendent glory and ultimate authority as King, portraying Him in a form that is both relatable (human shape) and utterly divine (made of light and fire).
  • The Rainbow: The radiant glory surrounding the figure is compared to a rainbow. This is a powerful symbol of mercy and covenant faithfulness, recalling God’s promise to Noah. It tempers the vision’s terrifying power with an assurance of God’s enduring promise, even as He is about to pronounce judgment.
  • Ezekiel’s Response and Commission: Overwhelmed by the vision, Ezekiel falls on his face in humility. He is powerless until God’s Spirit enters him, raises him to his feet, and enables him to hear his divine call. This reveals that a prophet’s authority comes not from his own strength, but from being directly called and empowered by God.

In essence, this passage portrays a God of absolute and transcendent authority whose power is nevertheless bound by covenant mercy. It establishes that the prophetic word Ezekiel is about to speak originates from this awe-inspiring divine presence.

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