Welcome to Day 2579 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Day 2579– Prophetic Literature – God’s Call to Repentance and Restoration – Ezekiel 34_22-24

Putnam Church Message – 03/02/2025

Sermon Series: Old Testament Orientation

Message 8: Prophetic Literature – God’s Call to Repentance and Restoration

Last week, we continued our Old Testament Orientation series and dove into  Historiography, Conquest, Kingdom, and Exile. We will also tie in how the ancient Israelites experienced and would have understood them.

This week and next, we move on to the books of prophecy in a message titled Prophetic Literature – God’s Call to Repentance and Restoration. Since it covers the same timeframe as the historical books, some of the information will be similar to the past two weeks, but from a prophet’s perspective.

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have spoken through Your prophets to call Your people back to You. As we explore Your prophetic Word today, open our hearts to understand Your call to repentance, Your warnings against idolatry, and Your promises of restoration. May we not harden our hearts as Israel once did, but instead turn toward You in faithfulness. May Your Spirit guide us as we learn from the voices of Your prophets. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction

Picture yourself living in ancient Israel during a time of great prosperity. Solomon was the King. The country was at peace, and the economy was good. The fields are full, the markets are bustling, and the temple stands tall in Jerusalem. Outwardly, everything seems well. But as you walk the streets, you see people bowing to the gods of other nations, offering incense to Baal, and engaging in corrupt business practices. You see leaders oppressing the poor, and despite the outward religious activity, you sense that something is deeply wrong. Then, a prophet appears in the city square. He lifts his voice and proclaims:

Isaiah 29:13 And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.

In other words, God is saying through Isaiah: You have turned to other gods, and judgment is coming! Repent and return to Yahweh before it is too late!”

How would you respond? Would you listen? Would you scoff? The prophets were sent by God during Israel’s most critical moments—calling the people to repentance, warning of coming judgment, and declaring a future restoration. Today, as we study prophetic literature, we must ask: Are we listening to God’s call today, or are we ignoring His voice like Israel once did?

The prophetic books—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets—carry a unified message: (Bulletin Insert)

1. The Prophets Warned of the Dangers of Worshipping Other Gods
2. Repentance Was the Only Path to Restoration
3. Judgment Came to Purify, Not Destroy
4. Hope Remained—The Promise of Restoration

Main Points

1. The Prophets Warned of the Dangers of Worshipping Other Gods

Introduction:

Imagine a king who loves his wife but also keeps other wives or concubines in his palace, giving them gifts and attention. Would she not feel betrayed? Would this not destroy the marriage?

Imagine a devoted husband who deeply loves his wife, yet she continues to pursue other lovers. She tells him she loves him, yet she secretly meets with others, betraying his trust. How could any marriage survive such a betrayal?

This is how God viewed Israel’s idolatry—not as a mere mistake, but as spiritual adultery. This is what Israel did to God—they claimed to worship Him but turned to other gods, breaking the covenant.

Expanded Narrative:

Israel did not reject Yahweh outright—they tried to worship Him alongside the gods of the nations. They thought they could have both. But Yahweh is a jealous God, and His covenant with Israel was exclusive. They sacrificed to Molech, Asherah, and Baal, even in Yahweh’s own temple.

• Isaiah condemned their idols, saying: “Who but a fool would make his own god—an idol that cannot help him one bit?” (Isaiah 44:10, NLT)
• Ezekiel saw the horror of idolatry firsthand. In a vision, he was taken into the temple and saw Israel’s leaders secretly worshipping foreign gods. (Ezekiel 8:12) Then the Lord said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying, ‘The Lord doesn’t see us; he has deserted our land!’”

Despite God’s warnings, the people refused to listen.

Object Lesson: The Cracked Water Jar

Hold up a beautiful water jar with a large crack in it.

• Ask: Can this jar hold water?
• Explain: Worshipping false gods is like a cracked jar—it looks useful but ultimately fails when put to the test.

Story/Illustration: The Counterfeit Currency

A merchant receives a gold coin but later discovers it is counterfeit—worthless. Similarly, false gods promise prosperity and protection, but they are frauds that lead to destruction. These false gods are most likely part of the group of created spiritual beings who turned against God in the unseen realm led by the evil one. They desire to be like the most high God.

Summary:

“Idolatry is not just about statues—it is about misplaced trust in the evil ones. Anything that takes God’s place in our hearts will eventually fail us.”

2. Repentance Was the Only Path to Restoration

Introduction:

Like the parable Jesus taught about the prodigal son, a father watches as his rebellious son wastes his inheritance and falls into poverty. The son has two choices—continue in misery or humble himself and return home.

Expanded Narrative:

The prophets pleaded for Israel to return to Yahweh, but repentance was not just about words—it required action.

• Joel declared: “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” (Joel 2:12, NLT)
• Jeremiah told Israel: “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me.” (Jeremiah 15:19, NLT)

Object Lesson: The Compass

Hold up a compass.

• Ask: What happens if I ignore the compass and walk in the wrong direction?
• Explain: Repentance is like resetting a compass—it re-aligns us with God’s path.

Story/Illustration: The Ship Lost at Sea

If a captain of a cruise liner ignores his navigation instruments and drifts off course, the ship will end up in a different location than intended. Only by re-adjusting can he find his way home. In the same manner, Israel had drifted, and only repentance could bring them back.

Summary:

“Repentance is not just feeling sorry—it is making a U-turn and returning to God.”

3. Judgment Came to Purify, Not Destroy

Introduction:

A farmer sees weeds overtaking his field. If he does nothing, the whole crop will be ruined. To save the good wheat, he must burn away the weeds. With today’s modern technology on large farms, tractors with implements will scan the crop as the tractor moves through the field. When it detects weeds through a camera, it will zap the weeds with a laser while leaving the crops intact. It’s an amazing technology. In the same way, when we detect the weeds of sin cropping up in our lives, we need to zap it out before it takes over our lives.

Expanded Narrative:

God’s judgment on Israel—the destruction of Jerusalem and exile—was not meant to destroy them, but to purify them. To rid their lives of the weeds of worshipping other gods.

• Jeremiah wept for Jerusalem but affirmed God’s justice: “Though He brings grief, He will show compassion.” (Lamentations 3:31-32, NLT)
• Ezekiel saw the temple’s destruction, but also its future restoration.

Object Lesson: The Blacksmith’s Fire

Hold up a piece of metal and a sledgehammer

• Explain: Metal must be heated and hammered to remove impurities. God’s judgment was a refining fire for Israel. It was God’s forge to turn Israel into a useful tool. That tool was to bring all nations of the world back to God.

Story/Illustration: The Cracked Foundation

A house with a weak foundation must be torn down and rebuilt to ensure strength and longevity.

Summary:

“God’s discipline is never to destroy—it is to purify and restore.”

4. Hope Remained—The Promise of Restoration

Introduction:

There is a story that is told of when the remnant of Israel returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city that was destroyed by war, and a man found a lone grapevine that had not been destroyed. From the single surviving vine, he rebuilds an entire vineyard from it. That is what God did with Israel.

Expanded Narrative:

Even after the judgment, God promised restoration.

• You may be familiar with the prophecy of Ezekiel, who saw a vision of dry bones coming to life. ⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! ⁶ I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” (Ezekiel 37:5-6). We even learned a spiritual song called ‘Them Dry Bones.’
• Ezekiel prophesied a new king from David’s line—Jesus Christ. (Core Verse) Ezekiel 34:22-24 So I will rescue my flock, and they will no longer be abused. I will judge between one animal of the flock and another. ²³ And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them. ²⁴ And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among my people. I, the Lord, have spoken!

Key point: Ezekiel 34:22-24 is a prophecy about a future leader who will shepherd the people of Israel, drawing parallels to the ideal leadership of King David, but it was written long after David’s reign. (1000 bc)

Object Lesson: The Cut Branch

Show a cut branch and a new sprout. (Rubber Tree)

• Explain: Even after being cut, new life can emerge—just as God promised to restore Israel.

• It shows a cut branch with a new sprout, illustrating that God can bring new life and restoration even when we are broken.

Story/Illustration: The Rebuilt Cathedral

Just like Jerusalem when the remnant returned from exile and rebuilt Jerusalem, after World War II, cathedrals lay in ruins, but brick by brick, they were rebuilt. Israel’s story is one of restoration, not abandonment.

Summary:

“No matter how far we have fallen, God can restore us.”

Closing Section: Application & Takeaways

The message of the prophets is not just ancient history—it is a living call to us today. Just as Israel needed to listen, repent, and trust in God’s restoration, we must ask ourselves:

• Are we allowing idols or false gods to creep into our hearts?
• Are we living in true repentance, or do we just say the right words without real change?
• Are we recognizing that God’s discipline is for our purification and not our destruction?
• Are we trusting in God’s promise to restore what is broken in our lives?

To help us apply these truths, here are three practical takeaways that we can carry with us throughout this week.

Takeaway 1: Guard Your Heart from Idolatry

Expanded Narrative:

Many of us think of idolatry as something that belonged to ancient cultures—people bowing down to statues of gold, wood, or stone. The unfaithful Israelites believed that their gods inhabited the idols. They were representative of false gods. Most likely, they were the rebellious beings of the unseen realm who desired to control the nations. It is about loyalty to something or some entity other than Yahweh. Divided loyalty is alive today, and it often appears in ways we don’t expect.

For Israel, idolatry was subtle at first. They didn’t immediately abandon Yahweh—they simply added other gods alongside Him. At first, it was convenient, then it became comfortable, and eventually, it became habitual until they could no longer recognize the difference between Yahweh and the gods of the nations.

The same thing happens in our modern world.

• For some, idolatry is wealth. People pursue riches, believing money will bring security, but no matter how much they accumulate, it is never enough.
• For others, it is entertainment or social media. Hours are spent scrolling, watching, and consuming, but ultimately, it leaves their souls empty and restless.
• For some, it is relationships. They believe a person will give them fulfillment that only God can provide.
• For others, it is success. They chase promotions, achievements, and recognition, thinking their value comes from what they do rather than who they are in Christ.

Practical Example: The Cluttered House

Imagine a man who loves his home, but over time, he fills it with unnecessary clutter—furniture, trinkets, boxes of old belongings. At first, it seems harmless, but eventually, he finds himself tripping over things and running out of space. One day, he realizes his house is so full that his own family has no place to sit.

This happens when we fill our hearts with idols, when our loyalty is to something other than God, and there is no room left for God.

Application Question:

• What are the things in your life that may be taking the place of God?
• What can you clear out this week to make more room for Him?

Summary Statement:

“Idolatry is not just about bowing to statues or false gods — it is anything that takes up the space in our hearts that belongs to God alone.”

Takeaway 2: True Repentance Brings Transformation

Expanded Narrative:

Repentance is not just about saying, “I’m sorry.” It is about real change. The prophets didn’t just call Israel to confess their sins—they called them to turn around and walk in the opposite direction.

• Joel said:

“Don’t tear your clothing in grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate.” (Joel 2:13, NLT)

Repentance is about tearing our hearts, not just outward displays of regret.

Modern-Day Example: The Broken Friendship

Imagine two childhood friends who grew up together, but over the years, one betrays the other. The betrayer feels guilty and apologizes, but he continues to act the same way—speaking harshly, breaking promises, and being selfish.

His words mean nothing if his actions don’t change.

It is only when he proves through his actions that he has changed that their friendship can be truly restored.

Application Questions:

• Is there a habit in your life that you keep repenting for but never actually changing?
• What action steps can you take today to show true repentance?

Summary Statement:

“Repentance is not about feeling guilty—it is about changing direction and living differently.”

Takeaway 3: God’s Discipline Leads to Greater Restoration

Expanded Narrative:

Many times, when we experience suffering, setbacks, or hardships, we assume God is angry with us. Israel thought exile meant God had abandoned them, but in reality, it was a season of purification.

God loved them too much to leave them in their sin.

• Jeremiah wrote:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT)

Illustration: The Sculptor’s Chisel

A sculptor begins with a rough block of marble. To create a masterpiece, he must chisel away the unnecessary parts. Every strike of the hammer removes imperfections, revealing the beautiful image within.

This is what God’s discipline does in our lives. He removes the things that don’t belong to shape us into His masterpiece.

Practical Example:

• A man loses his job, but it forces him to trust God more deeply and spend more time with his family.
• A woman faces rejection, but it leads her to find her identity in Christ rather than in the approval of others.

Application Questions:

• Are you going through a season of struggle that might be God refining you?
• How can you trust God’s process instead of resisting it?

Summary Statement:

“God’s discipline is never to destroy—it is to shape us into something greater.”

Expanded Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, We come before You humbled by the words of Your prophets. Like Israel, we confess that we are prone to wander. We allow idols to take Your place, our loyalty to be divided, we say we repent but too often return to the same sins, and when we face Your discipline, we sometimes grow bitter instead of trusting in Your refining work.

Lord, search us and cleanse our hearts today. Remove anything that competes with You for our devotion. Give us strength to truly repent, to not just confess our sins, but to walk in a new direction.

We pray for those who are struggling under Your discipline—remind them that You are not punishing them but purifying them. May they feel Your loving hand shaping them into something more beautiful than they could imagine.

We thank You for Your promise of restoration—that no matter how far we have fallen, Your grace is greater than all our sins.

Lord, may we leave this place today with renewed hearts and a fresh desire to walk closely with You.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Next week, we will continue our Old Testament Orientation and expand on the prophetic books as we explore Prophecy, Idolatry, the Day of the Lord, Loyalty, and Messiah. Our core verse for next week is Jeremiah 23:5