God speaks through Ezekiel

Artwork: Sheila Hamil

Ezekiel was also one of God’s prophets and also a priest.

God also spoke to him through images and pictures.

Through him God tried to show us just how very ugly and serious sin is.

Even today we know that when a stone is thrown into water, a ripple spreads out.

This is just like the effect of sin, which touches the lives of others in a harmful, and sometimes very destructive way.

Ezekiel brings words of hope to Jews who are far away from their home, and who long to return.

He tells them God will favour them again, with these words:-

“ I shall cleanse you of all your defilement, and all your idols.

I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you.

I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies, and give you a heart of flesh instead.

I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws, and sincerely respect all I have instructed you to do.

You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors.

You shall be my people and I will be your God. (Ch 36. 25-29)

Make up a lively circle dance to the song opposite

41 God speaks through Ezekiel: Ezekiel 36. 24-28

(to the tune ‘Hokey Kokey’)

“New heart in!

Old heart out!

A heart of stone is

not what life’s about.

I’ll sprinkle water on you and you will be clean,

if you return to me.

If my people will be lowly (lowly)

I will help them to be holy (holy)

Let me say this very slowly (slowly)

KNEES BEND,

ARMS STRETCH

Ra Ra Ra!”

(instrumental)

“New Spirit in!

Old ways out!

In out, in out

that’s what life’s about.

Cleanse you from your idols

turn you right around!