Ezekiel 20:42
Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I swore to give your fathers.
Then you will know
This phrase emphasizes the recurring theme in Ezekiel of recognizing God's sovereignty and divine authority. The Hebrew root for "know" is "yada," which implies an intimate, experiential knowledge rather than mere intellectual awareness. In the context of Ezekiel, this knowledge often comes through experiencing God's actions, whether in judgment or restoration. It is a call to acknowledge God's hand in the unfolding of history and His covenant relationship with His people.

that I am the LORD
The declaration "I am the LORD" is a profound assertion of God's identity and authority. The Hebrew name for God here is "YHWH," often rendered as "LORD" in English translations. This name is deeply connected to God's covenant with Israel, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. It is a reminder to the Israelites of who God is and His rightful place as the sovereign ruler over all creation.

when I bring you into the land of Israel
This phrase speaks to the promise of restoration and return from exile. Historically, the land of Israel is central to the identity and faith of the Jewish people, representing God's promise to Abraham and his descendants. The return to the land signifies not just a physical relocation but a spiritual renewal and fulfillment of God's covenant promises. It is a message of hope and assurance that despite the current circumstances, God will restore His people.

the land I swore to give your fathers
This refers to the Abrahamic covenant, where God promised the land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants. The phrase underscores God's faithfulness to His promises, despite the unfaithfulness of His people. It is a reminder of the historical and spiritual significance of the land, which is not just a geographical location but a symbol of God's enduring covenant and blessing.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who reveals Himself through His actions and faithfulness to His promises.

2. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are being reminded of God's faithfulness and their own history of rebellion.

3. The Land of Israel
The Promised Land, a central element of God's covenant with the patriarchs, representing God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.

4. The Fathers (Patriarchs)
Refers to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to whom God originally made the promise of the land.

5. The Covenant
The solemn agreement between God and the Israelites, emphasizing God's commitment to His people and their obligation to obey Him.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness
God's promises are sure and steadfast. Just as He fulfilled His promise to bring Israel into the land, He will fulfill His promises to us today.

The Importance of Remembrance
Remembering God's past faithfulness strengthens our faith and trust in His future promises.

Covenant Relationship
Our relationship with God is based on His covenant, which requires our obedience and faithfulness in response to His grace.

Hope in Restoration
Even in times of exile or spiritual dryness, God promises restoration and renewal for those who turn back to Him.

Identity and Purpose
Understanding our identity as God's people helps us live with purpose, knowing we are part of His redemptive plan.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the promise of God bringing Israel into the land of their fathers encourage you in your personal walk with God?

2. In what ways can you actively remember and celebrate God's faithfulness in your life, similar to how Israel was called to remember?

3. How does understanding the covenant relationship between God and Israel help you appreciate your own relationship with God through Christ?

4. What areas of your life feel like "exile," and how can the promise of restoration in Ezekiel 20:42 give you hope?

5. How can you live out your identity as part of God's people in your daily life, reflecting His faithfulness and promises to those around you?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 12:7 and Genesis 15:18
These passages recount God's original promise to Abraham regarding the land, establishing the foundation for the promise reiterated in Ezekiel 20:42.

Exodus 6:8
God reassures Moses of His promise to bring the Israelites into the land, highlighting His faithfulness despite their circumstances.

Deuteronomy 30:3-5
This passage speaks of God's promise to restore Israel to their land after exile, echoing the themes of return and restoration found in Ezekiel 20:42.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
The promise of a new covenant, which complements the restoration theme by emphasizing a renewed relationship with God.
Judicial DiscriminationJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 20:33-44
The Gracious Restoration of the PeopleW. Jones Ezekiel 20:39-44
The Glorious RestorationJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 20:40-44
People
Ezekiel, Israelites, Jacob, Teman
Places
Babylon, Bamah, Egypt, Negeb
Topics
Bring, Bringing, Fathers, Forefathers, Ground, Lift, Lifted, Oath, Sware, Swore, Sworn, Uplifted
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 20:42

     8105   assurance, basis of

Ezekiel 20:1-44

     7348   defilement

Ezekiel 20:13-44

     8807   profanity

Ezekiel 20:41-42

     4207   land, divine gift

Library
Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be Moral.
1. Because all the reasons of this commandment are moral and perpetual; and God has bound us to the obedience of this commandment with more forcible reasons than to any of the rest--First, because he foresaw that irreligious men would either more carelessly neglect, or more boldly break this commandment than any other; secondly, because that in the practice of this commandment the keeping of all the other consists; which makes God so often complain that all his worship is neglected or overthrown,
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Manner of Covenanting.
Previous to an examination of the manner of engaging in the exercise of Covenanting, the consideration of God's procedure towards his people while performing the service seems to claim regard. Of the manner in which the great Supreme as God acts, as well as of Himself, our knowledge is limited. Yet though even of the effects on creatures of His doings we know little, we have reason to rejoice that, in His word He has informed us, and in His providence illustrated by that word, he has given us to
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Tithing
There are few subjects on which the Lord's own people are more astray than on the subject of giving. They profess to take the Bible as their own rule of faith and practice, and yet in the matter of Christian finance, the vast majority have utterly ignored its plain teachings and have tried every substitute the carnal mind could devise; therefore it is no wonder that the majority of Christian enterprises in the world today are handicapped and crippled through the lack of funds. Is our giving to be
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Covenanting Sanctioned by the Divine Example.
God's procedure when imitable forms a peculiar argument for duty. That is made known for many reasons; among which must stand this,--that it may be observed and followed as an example. That, being perfect, is a safe and necessary pattern to follow. The law of God proclaims what he wills men as well as angels to do. The purposes of God show what he has resolved to have accomplished. The constitutions of his moral subjects intimate that he has provided that his will shall be voluntarily accomplished
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close.
The first important part of the Old Testament put together as a whole was the Pentateuch, or rather, the five books of Moses and Joshua. This was preceded by smaller documents, which one or more redactors embodied in it. The earliest things committed to writing were probably the ten words proceeding from Moses himself, afterwards enlarged into the ten commandments which exist at present in two recensions (Exod. xx., Deut. v.) It is true that we have the oldest form of the decalogue from the Jehovist
Samuel Davidson—The Canon of the Bible

A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox.
[In the Prospectus of our Publication it was stated, that one discourse, at least, would be given in each number. A strict adherence to this arrangement, however, it is found, would exclude from our pages some of the most talented discourses of our early Divines; and it is therefore deemed expedient to depart from it as occasion may require. The following Sermon will occupy two numbers, and we hope, that from its intrinsic value, its historical interest, and the illustrious name of its author, it
John Knox—The Pulpit Of The Reformation, Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

The Covenant of Works
Q-12: I proceed to the next question, WHAT SPECIAL ACT OF PROVIDENCE DID GOD EXERCISE TOWARDS MAN IN THE ESTATE WHEREIN HE WAS CREATED? A: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge upon pain of death. For this, consult with Gen 2:16, 17: And the Lord commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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