August 16
Lesson 11
A CALL FOR REPENTANCE
DEVOTIONAL READING: Hosea 14
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 18; Proverbs 21:2–15
EZEKIEL 18:1–13, 30–32
2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
10 If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,
12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
KEY VERSES
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
—Ezekiel 18:30, 31
GOD’S PROPHETS DEMAND JUSTICE
Unit 3: Advocates of Justice for All
LESSONS 9–13
LESSON AIMS
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Describe how God refuted the Israelites’ belief that they suffered unjustly for the sins of earlier generations.
2. Explain the importance of personal responsibility and culpability in the context of the new covenant of grace.
3. Identify an area of blame-shifting in his or her life and make a plan for change.
LESSON OUTLINE
Introduction
A. Pass the Blame
B. Lesson Background
I. Self-Delusion Exposed (EZEKIEL 18:1–4)
A. Proverb Used (vv. 1, 2)
B. Proverb Forbidden (vv. 3, 4)
Sour Grapes
II. Who Will Live? (EZEKIEL 18:5–9)
A. Example Introduced (v. 5)
B. Behavior Described (vv. 6–8)
C. Innocence Affirmed (v. 9)
III. Who Will Die? (EZEKIEL 18:10–13)
A. Counterexample Introduced (vv. 10, 11a)
B. Behavior Contrasted (vv. 11b–13a)
C. Guilt Affirmed (v. 13b)
IV. Choice Offered (EZEKIEL 18:30–32)
A. God’s Promise (v. 30a)
B. God’s Call (vv. 30b, 31)
A New Heart and a New Spirit
C. God’s Desires (v. 32)
Conclusion
A. The Community and the Individual
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
HOW TO SAY IT
Aramaic
Air-uh-may-ik.
Aesop
Ee-sop.
Babylon
Bab-uh-lun.
Babylonians
Bab-ih-low-nee-unz.
Ezekiel
Ee-zeek-ee-ul or Ee-zeek-yul.
Jehoiachin
Jeh-hoy-uh-kin.
Jehoiakim
Jeh-hoy-uh-kim.
Judah
Joo-duh.
Judea
Joo-dee-uh.
Zedekiah
Zed-uh-kye-uh.
Prohs, Aaron et al. “A Call for Repentance.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2014–2015. Ed. Ronald L. Nickelson and Jonathan Underwood. Vol. 62. Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2014. 427. Print.
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