A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace

S4: Week 41 Day 2 – Going Deeper in Ezekiel 36:26-27

Date: October 7, 2025
Hosts: Beth, Alexa, and Sam

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Ezekiel 36:26-27 and explores how God’s promise to give His people a new heart and spirit reveals the depth of His plan for redemption. The hosts discuss how this Old Testament prophecy connects to the larger story of Scripture and ultimately points to Jesus. The conversation emphasizes God’s initiative in both judgment and hope, highlighting the transformation He brings through His Spirit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical and Scriptural Context

• Ezekiel’s Role:
  • Beth places Ezekiel within Israel’s storyline: a priest turned prophet during the Babylonian exile, speaking to a rebellious Judah (00:51).
  • “Ezekiel was a priest who was then appointed by God to also be a prophet. And so he was tasked with speaking God's word to the people of Judah as they were exiled in Babylon.” [Beth, 00:51]
• Nature of Israel’s Rebellion:
  • Israel likened to a rebellious teenager, repeatedly ignoring warnings until consequences fall (“exile is kind of like prison for God’s people”).
  • Both Northern and Southern Kingdoms have fallen into exile due to persistent sin (00:51–01:38).
• Hope Amid Judgment:
  • Even amidst prophetic words of judgment, God offers hope—a promise to change hearts:
  • “Surrounding these harsh words of judgment are messages of hope like the one that we're reading today. And so there is hope for this rebellious people. God was going to turn their hard hearts into soft hearts of flesh through his spirit that he's going to give them.” [Beth, 01:38]

2. Theological Significance of Ezekiel 36:26-27

• Total Transformation, Not Temporary Fixes:
  • God aims to cure, not just medicate, the deeper issue of sin (02:25).
  • “God is not interested in merely medicating the problem of sin. Instead, he wants to totally cure and eradicate it.” [Beth, 02:25]
• Sin’s Widespread Impact:
  • Referencing Romans 3:23, the episode reminds that all are affected by sin—if sin were wholly eradicated without mercy, none would survive.
  • “If he totally eradicates or destroys sin and everything it touches, we're all actually doomed. Think about Romans 3:23 we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory.” [Beth, 02:33]
• Hearts of Flesh - Flourishing, Not Robotic Obedience:
  • God’s transformative work gives people true life and flourishing—obedience becomes joyful, not forced:
  • “The removal of sin doesn't make us robots. It actually makes us into who we were always made to be, people who are fully alive with hearts of flesh.” [Beth, 02:51]
• Gift of the Spirit:
  • The Spirit is central to the promise—God enables His people to obey joyfully by His presence in them (02:58).

3. Connection to Christ and the Gospel

• Salvation Is Entirely God’s Work:
  • Sam emphasizes salvation is God’s initiative, enabling obedience by His Spirit, all because of Christ.
  • “We owe our entire salvation to God. He is the one who gives us new hearts and enables us to live obediently through the power of the Spirit.” [Sam, 03:30]
• Looking Ahead:
  • The hosts preview a continuing discussion, promising to explore Romans 8:1-4—an explicit New Testament connection—in the next episode.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Beth (on Israel’s exile):
  • “Exile is kind of like prison for God’s people... a large portion of Ezekiel’s message is informing Judah of why they are facing this judgment.” [Beth, 01:20]
• Beth (on God’s restoration):
  • “The removal of sin doesn't make us robots. It actually makes us into who we were always made to be, people who are fully alive with hearts of flesh.” [Beth, 02:51]
• Sam (on God’s initiative in salvation):
  • “Once again we see that we owe our entire salvation to God. He is the one who gives us new hearts and enables us to live obediently through the power of the Spirit.” [Sam, 03:30]

Important Timestamps

• 00:51 – Context of Ezekiel and Israel’s exile
• 01:38 – Hope within prophetic judgment
• 02:25–03:00 – God’s promise for total transformation and new hearts
• 03:30 – God’s role in our salvation through the Spirit and Christ
• 03:59 – Teaser for the next episode’s New Testament connection (Romans 8:1-4)

Tone & Invitation

The hosts speak with warmth and encouragement, inviting listeners to recognize both the severity of sin and the extraordinary hope in God’s promise. Their conversation is both accessible and theologically rich, aiming to grow love for Christ by seeing Him throughout Scripture.

Summary

This episode invites listeners to see Ezekiel 36:26-27 as a pivotal promise of hope given to a rebellious people, pointing to God’s ultimate plan in Christ. Through gentle, insightful teaching, the hosts explain the context, God’s intention to transform His people from the inside, and how this prepares the way for the gospel in the New Testament. The conversation urges reflection on God’s grace and looks forward to seeing the full picture as the week’s study continues.