WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.840 Nancy: Welcome to immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:02.920 --> 00:00:04.410 day 200 and 76 00:00:04.692 --> 00:00:09.072 once again, a message came to me from the Lord, son of man. 00:00:09.552 --> 00:00:11.022 Give your people this message. 00:00:11.802 --> 00:00:15.582 When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose 00:00:15.582 --> 00:00:17.172 one of their own to be a watchman. 00:00:17.982 --> 00:00:22.242 When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. 00:00:23.082 --> 00:00:26.622 Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is 00:00:26.622 --> 00:00:27.822 their own fault if they die. 00:00:28.992 --> 00:00:33.582 They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. 00:00:34.452 --> 00:00:38.052 If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. 00:00:38.862 --> 00:00:43.062 But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn 00:00:43.062 --> 00:00:48.312 the people, he is responsible for their captivity, they will die in their sins. 00:00:48.972 --> 00:00:51.882 But I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths. 00:00:52.752 --> 00:00:58.332 Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. 00:00:59.202 --> 00:01:01.962 Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me. 00:01:02.682 --> 00:01:06.612 If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell 00:01:06.617 --> 00:01:10.992 them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins and I will 00:01:10.992 --> 00:01:13.062 hold you responsible for their deaths. 00:01:13.932 --> 00:01:19.302 But if you warn them to repent and they don't repent, they will die in their sins. 00:01:19.692 --> 00:01:21.612 But you will have saved yourself. 00:01:22.512 --> 00:01:25.812 Son of man give the people of Israel this message. 00:01:26.442 --> 00:01:29.622 You are saying, our sins are heavy upon us. 00:01:29.622 --> 00:01:31.152 We are wasting away. 00:01:31.422 --> 00:01:32.682 How can we survive? 00:01:33.882 --> 00:01:38.052 As surely as I live says the sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure 00:01:38.057 --> 00:01:39.582 in the death of wicked people. 00:01:39.862 --> 00:01:43.722 I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live, 00:01:44.322 --> 00:01:46.872 turn, turn from your wickedness. 00:01:46.872 --> 00:01:49.842 So people of Israel, why should you die? 00:01:50.802 --> 00:01:53.652 Son of man, give your people this message. 00:01:54.432 --> 00:01:58.482 The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn 00:01:58.482 --> 00:02:03.432 to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if 00:02:03.432 --> 00:02:05.502 they repent and turn from their sins. 00:02:06.642 --> 00:02:10.662 When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin 00:02:11.142 --> 00:02:15.372 expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their 00:02:15.372 --> 00:02:17.232 righteous acts will be remembered. 00:02:18.237 --> 00:02:20.427 I will destroy them for their sins. 00:02:20.757 --> 00:02:24.057 And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, 00:02:24.747 --> 00:02:27.777 but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right. 00:02:28.677 --> 00:02:32.787 For instance, they might give back a debtor security return what they 00:02:32.787 --> 00:02:37.717 have stolen and obey my life giving laws no longer doing what is evil. 00:02:38.617 --> 00:02:42.567 If they do this, then they will surely live and not die. 00:02:43.497 --> 00:02:46.107 None of their past sins will be brought up again. 00:02:46.467 --> 00:02:50.487 For, they have done what is just and right and they will surely live. 00:02:51.357 --> 00:02:55.977 Your people are saying the Lord isn't doing what's right, but it is they 00:02:55.977 --> 00:03:01.077 who are not doing what's right for, again, I say when righteous people 00:03:01.077 --> 00:03:05.577 turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die. 00:03:06.417 --> 00:03:09.837 But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is 00:03:09.837 --> 00:03:11.667 just and right, they will live. 00:03:12.792 --> 00:03:18.282 Oh, people of Israel, you are saying the Lord isn't doing what's right, but I 00:03:18.282 --> 00:03:20.802 judge each of you according to your deeds. 00:03:22.302 --> 00:03:27.702 On January 8th, during the 12th year of our captivity, a survivor from Jerusalem 00:03:27.702 --> 00:03:30.762 came to me and said the city has fallen. 00:03:31.192 --> 00:03:35.172 The previous evening, the Lord had taken hold of me and given me back 00:03:35.172 --> 00:03:40.152 my voice, so I was able to speak when this man arrived the next morning. 00:03:41.382 --> 00:03:46.482 Then this message came to me from the Lord Son of man, the scattered remnants 00:03:46.482 --> 00:03:48.822 of Israel living among the ruined cities. 00:03:48.822 --> 00:03:55.182 Keep saying, Abraham was only one man, yet he gained possession of the entire land. 00:03:55.992 --> 00:03:56.832 We are many. 00:03:57.372 --> 00:04:00.102 Surely the land has been given to us as a possession. 00:04:01.032 --> 00:04:04.992 So tell these people, this is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:04:05.637 --> 00:04:10.377 You eat meat with blood in it, you worship idols and you murder the innocent. 00:04:10.857 --> 00:04:17.307 Do you really think the land should be yours, murderers, idolaters, adulterers? 00:04:17.577 --> 00:04:21.627 Should the land belong to you, say to them, this is 00:04:21.632 --> 00:04:23.217 what the sovereign Lord says. 00:04:24.087 --> 00:04:28.497 As surely as I live, those living in the ruins will die by the sword, 00:04:29.247 --> 00:04:32.967 and I will send wild animals to eat those living in the open fields. 00:04:33.672 --> 00:04:37.032 Those hiding in the forts and caves will die of disease. 00:04:37.752 --> 00:04:41.472 I will completely destroy the land and demolish her pride. 00:04:42.102 --> 00:04:44.262 Her arrogant power will come to an end. 00:04:45.192 --> 00:04:48.582 The mountains of Israel will be so desolate that no one 00:04:48.582 --> 00:04:50.112 will even travel through them. 00:04:50.562 --> 00:04:54.342 When I have completely destroyed the land because of their detestable sins, 00:04:55.092 --> 00:04:57.342 then they will know that I am the Lord. 00:04:58.362 --> 00:05:02.892 Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you 00:05:02.892 --> 00:05:07.752 at the doors they say to each other, come on, let's go hear the prophet. 00:05:07.752 --> 00:05:09.162 Tell us what the Lord is saying. 00:05:09.912 --> 00:05:14.022 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. 00:05:14.342 --> 00:05:19.032 They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. 00:05:19.752 --> 00:05:24.492 Their mouths are full of lustful words and their hearts seek only after money. 00:05:25.212 --> 00:05:27.012 You are very entertaining to them. 00:05:27.612 --> 00:05:31.722 Like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays 00:05:31.722 --> 00:05:33.432 fine music on an instrument. 00:05:34.452 --> 00:05:37.182 They hear what you say, but they don't act on it. 00:05:38.232 --> 00:05:43.272 But when all these terrible things happen to them, as they certainly will, then they 00:05:43.272 --> 00:05:45.612 will know a prophet has been among them. 00:05:47.472 --> 00:05:52.812 Then this message came to me from the Lord Son of Man prophesy against 00:05:52.812 --> 00:05:54.942 the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. 00:05:55.887 --> 00:05:58.137 Give them this message from the sovereign Lord. 00:05:59.337 --> 00:06:03.717 What sorrow awaits you, shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks, 00:06:04.437 --> 00:06:06.327 shouldn't shepherds feed their sheep. 00:06:07.197 --> 00:06:10.857 You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, 00:06:11.517 --> 00:06:13.317 but you let your flocks starve. 00:06:14.247 --> 00:06:15.897 You have not taken care of the weak. 00:06:16.497 --> 00:06:19.377 You have not tended the sick or bound up the injured. 00:06:20.097 --> 00:06:24.477 You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. 00:06:25.122 --> 00:06:28.722 Instead you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty. 00:06:29.772 --> 00:06:33.102 So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd, and they are 00:06:33.102 --> 00:06:35.262 easy prey for any wild animal. 00:06:35.892 --> 00:06:39.012 They have wandered through all the mountains and all the hills 00:06:39.432 --> 00:06:43.782 across the face of the earth, yet no one has gone to search for them. 00:06:44.862 --> 00:06:49.812 Therefore, you shepherds hear the word of the Lord, as surely as 00:06:49.812 --> 00:06:51.672 I live, says the sovereign Lord. 00:06:52.002 --> 00:06:56.532 You abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal, 00:06:57.192 --> 00:07:00.552 and though you were my shepherds, you didn't search for my sheep when 00:07:00.552 --> 00:07:05.532 they were lost, you took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve. 00:07:06.672 --> 00:07:09.822 Therefore, you shepherds hear the word of the Lord. 00:07:10.512 --> 00:07:12.702 This is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:07:13.512 --> 00:07:18.132 I now consider these shepherds my enemies and I will hold them responsible 00:07:18.137 --> 00:07:19.632 for what has happened to my flock. 00:07:20.937 --> 00:07:24.297 I will take away their right to feed the flock and I will stop 00:07:24.297 --> 00:07:25.977 them from feeding themselves. 00:07:26.727 --> 00:07:29.157 I will rescue my flock from their mouths. 00:07:29.517 --> 00:07:35.097 The sheep will no longer be their prey for this is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:07:36.057 --> 00:07:38.997 I myself will search and find my sheep. 00:07:40.047 --> 00:07:42.957 I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. 00:07:43.737 --> 00:07:46.947 I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were 00:07:46.947 --> 00:07:49.317 scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 00:07:50.517 --> 00:07:53.517 I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from 00:07:53.517 --> 00:07:55.227 among the peoples and nations. 00:07:55.857 --> 00:07:59.727 I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in 00:07:59.732 --> 00:08:01.377 all the places where people live. 00:08:02.487 --> 00:08:07.287 Yes, I will give them good pasture land on the high hills of Israel. 00:08:08.397 --> 00:08:11.997 There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in 00:08:11.997 --> 00:08:13.767 the lush pastures of the hills. 00:08:14.457 --> 00:08:19.227 I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace. 00:08:19.632 --> 00:08:21.042 Says the sovereign Lord. 00:08:21.732 --> 00:08:26.652 I will search for my lost ones who strayed away and I will bring them safely home. 00:08:26.652 --> 00:08:27.102 Again. 00:08:28.062 --> 00:08:32.172 I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak, but I will 00:08:32.172 --> 00:08:34.602 destroy those who are fat and powerful. 00:08:35.232 --> 00:08:38.892 I will feed them, yes, feed them justice. 00:08:40.002 --> 00:08:45.012 And as for you, my flock, this is what the sovereign Lord says to his people. 00:08:45.792 --> 00:08:48.642 I will judge between one animal of the flock and another. 00:08:49.242 --> 00:08:51.192 Separating the sheep from the goats. 00:08:52.272 --> 00:08:56.082 Isn't it enough for you to keep the best of the pastures for yourselves? 00:08:56.652 --> 00:08:59.022 Must you also t trample down the rest? 00:09:00.012 --> 00:09:03.402 Isn't it enough for you to drink clear water for yourselves? 00:09:04.152 --> 00:09:06.582 Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 00:09:07.692 --> 00:09:09.492 Why must my flock eat what you have? 00:09:09.492 --> 00:09:11.892 Trampled down and drink water? 00:09:11.892 --> 00:09:12.912 You have fouled. 00:09:14.292 --> 00:09:16.272 Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:09:17.727 --> 00:09:22.977 I will surely judge between the fat sheep and the scrawny sheep for you. 00:09:22.977 --> 00:09:27.867 Fat sheep pushed and butted and crowded my sick and hungry flock until 00:09:27.867 --> 00:09:29.847 you scattered them to distant lands. 00:09:30.807 --> 00:09:34.857 So I will rescue my flock and they will no longer be abused. 00:09:35.817 --> 00:09:39.627 I will judge between one animal of a flock and another, and I 00:09:39.627 --> 00:09:41.517 will set over them one shepherd. 00:09:42.117 --> 00:09:46.497 My servant David, he will feed them and be a shepherd to them. 00:09:47.502 --> 00:09:51.552 I, the Lord will be their God and my servant David will 00:09:51.552 --> 00:09:53.262 be a prince among my people. 00:09:53.832 --> 00:09:56.022 I the Lord have spoken. 00:09:57.402 --> 00:10:01.062 I will make a covenant of peace with my people and drive away the 00:10:01.062 --> 00:10:02.862 dangerous animals from the land. 00:10:03.792 --> 00:10:07.782 Then they will be able to camp safely in the wildest places and 00:10:07.782 --> 00:10:09.582 sleep in the woods without fear. 00:10:10.542 --> 00:10:14.142 I will bless my people and their homes around my Holy Hill. 00:10:14.922 --> 00:10:18.072 In the proper season, I will send the showers they need. 00:10:19.122 --> 00:10:20.742 There will be showers of blessing. 00:10:21.492 --> 00:10:25.152 The orchards and fields of my people will yield bumper crops 00:10:25.422 --> 00:10:27.192 and everyone will live in safety. 00:10:28.182 --> 00:10:31.782 When I have broken their chains of slavery and rescued them from 00:10:31.782 --> 00:10:36.342 those who enslave them, then they will know that I am the Lord. 00:10:37.032 --> 00:10:40.812 They will no longer be prey for other nations and wild animals 00:10:40.812 --> 00:10:42.282 will no longer devour them. 00:10:43.092 --> 00:10:48.702 They will live in safety and no one will frighten them, and I will make 00:10:48.702 --> 00:10:50.952 their land famous for its crops. 00:10:51.552 --> 00:10:56.352 So my people will never again suffer from famines or the insults of foreign nations. 00:10:57.012 --> 00:10:57.702 In this way. 00:10:58.062 --> 00:11:03.072 They will know that I the Lord their God and with them, and they will know 00:11:03.072 --> 00:11:08.622 that they, the people of Israel are my people, says the sovereign Lord, you 00:11:08.622 --> 00:11:11.232 are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. 00:11:12.027 --> 00:11:15.327 You are my people and I am your God. 00:11:16.077 --> 00:11:20.637 I, the sovereign Lord, have spoken again. 00:11:20.642 --> 00:11:25.977 A message came to me from the Lord, son of man turn and face Mount ssr 00:11:26.277 --> 00:11:28.107 and prophesy against its people. 00:11:28.767 --> 00:11:33.507 Give them this message from the sovereign Lord, I am your enemy. 00:11:33.567 --> 00:11:34.707 Oh Mount seer. 00:11:34.977 --> 00:11:39.357 And I will raise my fist against you to destroy you completely. 00:11:40.137 --> 00:11:43.917 I will demolish your cities and make you desolate, then you 00:11:43.917 --> 00:11:46.047 will know that I am the Lord. 00:11:47.217 --> 00:11:50.817 Your eternal hatred for the people of Israel led you to butcher them when 00:11:50.822 --> 00:11:54.927 they were helpless, when I had already punished them for all their sins. 00:11:55.617 --> 00:12:00.177 As surely as I live says the sovereign Lord, since you show no 00:12:00.177 --> 00:12:04.227 distaste for blood, I will give you a blood bath of your own. 00:12:04.587 --> 00:12:05.847 Your turn has come. 00:12:06.657 --> 00:12:07.827 I will make Mount Sr. 00:12:07.827 --> 00:12:08.907 Utterly desolate. 00:12:08.907 --> 00:12:08.967 I. 00:12:09.282 --> 00:12:12.192 Killing off all who try to escape and any who return. 00:12:12.882 --> 00:12:14.952 I will fill your mountains with the dead. 00:12:15.582 --> 00:12:19.452 Your hills, your valleys, and your ravines will be filled with 00:12:19.457 --> 00:12:21.222 people slaughtered by the sword. 00:12:22.062 --> 00:12:23.982 I will make you desolate forever. 00:12:24.582 --> 00:12:26.562 Your cities will never be rebuilt. 00:12:27.282 --> 00:12:32.712 Then you will know that I am the Lord for you said the lands of 00:12:32.712 --> 00:12:34.902 Israel and Judah will be ours. 00:12:35.562 --> 00:12:37.272 We will take possession of them. 00:12:37.647 --> 00:12:38.517 What do we care? 00:12:38.517 --> 00:12:39.717 That the Lord is there. 00:12:40.677 --> 00:12:44.367 Therefore, as surely as I live says the sovereign Lord, I will pay 00:12:44.367 --> 00:12:46.407 back your angry deeds with my own. 00:12:47.277 --> 00:12:51.387 I will punish you for all your acts of anger, envy, and hatred, 00:12:52.017 --> 00:12:55.017 and I will make myself known to Israel by what I do to you. 00:12:56.007 --> 00:13:00.747 Then you will know that I, the Lord have heard every contemptuous word 00:13:00.747 --> 00:13:05.307 you spoke against the mountains of Israel for you said they are desolate. 00:13:05.847 --> 00:13:10.977 They have been given to us as food to eat and saying that you boasted proudly 00:13:10.977 --> 00:13:13.407 against me and I have heard it all. 00:13:14.367 --> 00:13:16.347 This is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:13:17.277 --> 00:13:19.887 The whole world will rejoice when I make you desolate. 00:13:20.607 --> 00:13:23.487 You rejoice at the desolation of Israel's territory. 00:13:23.877 --> 00:13:25.947 Now I will rejoice at yours. 00:13:26.487 --> 00:13:27.657 You will be wiped out. 00:13:28.137 --> 00:13:31.467 You people of Mount Sr and all who live in Edem. 00:13:32.037 --> 00:13:34.287 Then you will know that I am the Lord. 00:13:35.877 --> 00:13:39.027 Son of man prophesy to Israel's mountains. 00:13:39.507 --> 00:13:40.917 Give them this message. 00:13:41.967 --> 00:13:43.227 Oh, mountains of Israel. 00:13:43.347 --> 00:13:44.727 Hear the word of the Lord. 00:13:45.057 --> 00:13:47.157 This is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:13:47.997 --> 00:13:50.847 Your enemies have taunted you saying, aha. 00:13:51.327 --> 00:13:53.637 Now the ancient heights belong to us. 00:13:54.447 --> 00:13:57.357 Therefore, son of man, give the mountains of Israel this 00:13:57.362 --> 00:13:59.007 message from the sovereign Lord. 00:13:59.877 --> 00:14:02.427 Your enemies have attacked you from all directions. 00:14:02.757 --> 00:14:05.907 Making you the property of many nations and the object 00:14:05.907 --> 00:14:07.857 of much mocking and slander. 00:14:08.907 --> 00:14:12.957 Therefore, whole mountains of Israel hear the word of the sovereign Lord. 00:14:13.557 --> 00:14:18.777 He speaks to the hills and mountains, ravines and valleys, and to ruined 00:14:18.777 --> 00:14:22.497 wastes and long deserted cities that have been destroyed and 00:14:22.497 --> 00:14:24.297 mocked by the surrounding nations. 00:14:25.017 --> 00:14:31.347 This is what the sovereign Lord says, my jealous anger burns against these nations. 00:14:31.767 --> 00:14:35.487 Especially Edem because they have shown utter contempt for me 00:14:35.847 --> 00:14:40.407 by gleefully taking my land for themselves as plunder, therefore 00:14:40.827 --> 00:14:45.027 prophesy to the hills and mountains, the ravines and valleys of Israel. 00:14:45.777 --> 00:14:47.697 This is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:14:48.567 --> 00:14:52.827 I am furious that you have suffered shame before the surrounding nations. 00:14:53.547 --> 00:14:55.647 Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:14:56.652 --> 00:15:00.342 I have taken a solemn oath that those nations will soon have their own 00:15:00.342 --> 00:15:04.992 shame to endure, but the mountains of Israel will produce heavy crops 00:15:04.992 --> 00:15:09.132 of fruit for my people, for they will be coming home again soon. 00:15:09.822 --> 00:15:13.152 See, I care about you, and I will pay attention to you. 00:15:13.412 --> 00:15:17.652 Your ground will be plowed and your crops planted. 00:15:18.432 --> 00:15:22.722 I will greatly increase the population of Israel and the ruined cities will 00:15:22.722 --> 00:15:24.822 be rebuilt and filled with people. 00:15:25.572 --> 00:15:29.442 I will increase not only the people, but also your animals. 00:15:29.952 --> 00:15:31.572 Oh, mountains of Israel. 00:15:31.902 --> 00:15:34.482 I will bring people to live on you once again. 00:15:35.172 --> 00:15:38.982 I will make you even more prosperous than you were before then. 00:15:38.987 --> 00:15:41.202 You will know that I am the Lord. 00:15:41.982 --> 00:15:46.962 I will cause my people to walk on you once again and you will be their territory. 00:15:47.652 --> 00:15:50.322 You will never again rob them of their children. 00:15:51.432 --> 00:15:53.592 This is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:15:54.477 --> 00:15:59.187 The other nations taunt you saying Israel is a land that devours its 00:15:59.187 --> 00:16:04.467 own people and robs them of their children, but you will never again 00:16:04.467 --> 00:16:09.747 devour your people or rob them of their children, says the sovereign Lord. 00:16:10.407 --> 00:16:14.127 I will not let you hear those other nations insult you, and you 00:16:14.127 --> 00:16:15.927 will no longer be mocked by them. 00:16:16.827 --> 00:16:21.537 You will not be a land that causes its nation to fall, says the sovereign Lord. 00:16:23.052 --> 00:16:27.012 Then this further message came to me from the Lord Son of man. 00:16:27.492 --> 00:16:31.212 When the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled 00:16:31.212 --> 00:16:32.952 it by the evil way they lived. 00:16:33.732 --> 00:16:37.542 To me, their conduct was as unclean as a woman's menstrual cloth. 00:16:38.442 --> 00:16:41.592 They polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols. 00:16:42.012 --> 00:16:43.932 So I poured out my fury on them. 00:16:44.892 --> 00:16:49.032 I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived. 00:16:50.232 --> 00:16:53.562 But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on. 00:16:53.562 --> 00:17:00.312 My holy name for the nation, said, these are the people of the Lord, but he 00:17:00.312 --> 00:17:02.262 couldn't keep them safe in his own land. 00:17:03.312 --> 00:17:07.212 Then I was concerned for my holy name on which my people 00:17:07.212 --> 00:17:09.072 brought shame among the nations. 00:17:10.332 --> 00:17:14.022 Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the sovereign. 00:17:14.022 --> 00:17:18.882 Lord, I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. 00:17:19.917 --> 00:17:23.997 I am doing it to protect my holy name on which you brought shame while you 00:17:23.997 --> 00:17:25.677 were scattered among the nations. 00:17:26.517 --> 00:17:31.017 I will show how holy my great name is, the name on which you 00:17:31.017 --> 00:17:32.787 brought shame among the nations. 00:17:33.507 --> 00:17:38.217 And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes says the 00:17:38.217 --> 00:17:43.767 sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord for I will 00:17:43.767 --> 00:17:48.297 gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land. 00:17:49.467 --> 00:17:53.637 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean. 00:17:54.237 --> 00:17:58.947 Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 00:17:59.817 --> 00:18:03.837 And I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit in you. 00:18:04.527 --> 00:18:09.237 I will take out your stony stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive 00:18:09.237 --> 00:18:14.307 heart, and I will put my spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees 00:18:14.667 --> 00:18:17.127 and be careful to obey my regulations. 00:18:18.462 --> 00:18:23.082 You will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. 00:18:23.772 --> 00:18:27.762 You will be my people and I will be your God. 00:18:28.422 --> 00:18:30.672 I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior. 00:18:31.452 --> 00:18:36.102 I will give you good crops of grain, and I will send no more famines on the land. 00:18:36.472 --> 00:18:42.192 I will give you great harvests from your fruit trees and fields, and never again 00:18:42.192 --> 00:18:46.062 will the surrounding nations be able to scoff at your land for its famines. 00:18:47.592 --> 00:18:51.852 Then you will remember your past sins and despise yourselves for 00:18:51.852 --> 00:18:53.622 all the detestable things you did. 00:18:54.942 --> 00:19:00.162 But remember says the sovereign Lord, I am not doing this because you deserve it. 00:19:01.152 --> 00:19:06.102 Oh my people of Israel, you should be utterly ashamed of all you have done. 00:19:07.392 --> 00:19:11.922 This is what the sovereign Lord says when I cleanse you from your sins. 00:19:12.477 --> 00:19:16.377 I will repopulate your cities and the ruins will be rebuilt. 00:19:17.307 --> 00:19:21.027 The fields that used to lie empty and desolate in plain view of 00:19:21.027 --> 00:19:23.427 everyone will again be farmed. 00:19:24.447 --> 00:19:28.797 And when I bring you back, people will say, this former wasteland 00:19:28.797 --> 00:19:30.507 is now like the Garden of Eden. 00:19:31.047 --> 00:19:37.017 The abandoned and ruined cities now have strong walls and are filled with people. 00:19:38.097 --> 00:19:41.187 Then the surrounding nations that survive will know that I. 00:19:41.787 --> 00:19:48.387 The Lord have rebuilt the ruins and replanted the wasteland for I the Lord 00:19:48.387 --> 00:19:51.327 have spoken and I will do what I say. 00:19:52.677 --> 00:19:54.537 This is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:19:55.467 --> 00:20:00.447 I am ready to hear Israel's prayers and to increase their numbers like a flock. 00:20:00.677 --> 00:20:05.067 They will be as numerous as the sacred flocks that filled Jerusalem 00:20:05.067 --> 00:20:07.047 streets at the time of her festivals. 00:20:08.232 --> 00:20:12.822 The ruined cities will be crowded with people once more and everyone 00:20:12.822 --> 00:20:15.282 will know that I am the Lord. 00:20:17.172 --> 00:20:20.892 The Lord took hold of me and I was carried away by the spirit of the 00:20:20.892 --> 00:20:23.502 Lord to a valley filled with bones. 00:20:23.852 --> 00:20:28.332 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. 00:20:29.142 --> 00:20:33.552 They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 00:20:34.512 --> 00:20:40.377 Then he asked me, Son of man, can these bones become living people again? 00:20:41.427 --> 00:20:43.137 Oh, sovereign Lord I replied. 00:20:43.497 --> 00:20:45.357 You alone know the answer to that. 00:20:46.317 --> 00:20:52.017 Then he said to me, speak a prophetic message to these bones and say dry bones. 00:20:52.197 --> 00:20:53.727 Listen to the word of the Lord. 00:20:54.297 --> 00:20:56.277 This is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:20:56.727 --> 00:21:00.447 Look, I'm going to put breath into you and make you live again. 00:21:01.227 --> 00:21:04.677 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. 00:21:05.427 --> 00:21:08.637 I will put breath into you and you will come to life. 00:21:09.567 --> 00:21:12.087 Then you will know that I am the Lord. 00:21:13.017 --> 00:21:15.687 So I spoke this message just as he told me. 00:21:16.407 --> 00:21:20.427 Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. 00:21:21.057 --> 00:21:24.237 The bones of each body came together and attached to 00:21:24.237 --> 00:21:26.157 themselves as complete skeletons. 00:21:27.027 --> 00:21:32.262 Then as I watched muscles and flesh formed over the bones, Then skin 00:21:32.262 --> 00:21:35.982 formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. 00:21:37.062 --> 00:21:41.622 Then he said to me, speak a prophetic message to the winds son of man. 00:21:42.282 --> 00:21:46.992 Speak a prophetic message and say, this is what the sovereign Lord says, 00:21:47.472 --> 00:21:50.682 come oh breath from the four winds. 00:21:51.162 --> 00:21:54.312 Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again. 00:21:55.542 --> 00:21:59.742 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. 00:22:00.372 --> 00:22:04.692 They all came to life and stood up on their feet, a great army. 00:22:05.742 --> 00:22:10.992 Then he said to me, son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. 00:22:11.442 --> 00:22:15.252 They're saying, we have become old dry bones. 00:22:15.342 --> 00:22:16.752 All hope is gone. 00:22:17.382 --> 00:22:18.852 Our nation is finished. 00:22:19.242 --> 00:22:23.052 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, this is what the sovereign 00:22:23.052 --> 00:22:25.452 Lord says, oh my people. 00:22:25.782 --> 00:22:29.562 I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. 00:22:30.507 --> 00:22:34.617 Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel when this happens, all my 00:22:34.617 --> 00:22:37.377 people, you will know that I am the Lord. 00:22:38.217 --> 00:22:41.367 I will put my spirit in you and you will live again and 00:22:41.367 --> 00:22:43.497 return home to your own land. 00:22:44.427 --> 00:22:49.767 Then you will know that I, the Lord have spoken and I have done what I said. 00:22:50.547 --> 00:22:53.247 Yes, the Lord has spoken. 00:22:54.927 --> 00:22:57.807 This concludes today's immerse reading experience. 00:22:57.927 --> 00:22:59.157 Thank you for joining us.