(2) Previous of such a future covenant (Deut 10:16; 30:6; Isa 42:6–7; 49:5–8; 55:3; 61:8)

No person had ever been a covenant. But it was told of the Servant that He Himself would be the covenant (cf. Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25).

b. The giving of the covenant

Its historical ratification was still future in Jeremiah’s day (Jer 50:5; cf. Isa 55:3; 61:8; Ezek 37:26).

c. Essence: The LORD would write His law on the heart (Jer 31:33) of and Judah (Jer 31:31) and put the fear of Him in their heart (Jer 32:39–40); this will result in a heart to know God (Jer 31:33–34) and whole-hearted8 turning toward Him (Jer 32:39–40) so that He will be their God and they will be His people (Jer 31:1, 33; 32:38). He will forgive their sins (Jer 31:34; 33:8) and gather them to live securely in the land of Israel (Jer 32:37, 41; 33:10–13, 16). A righteous descendant of will “execute righteousness and justice on the earth” (Jer 33:15), and Israel and Judah will acknowledge that their righteousness is the LORD Himself (Jer 33:16). The descendants of David and the descendants of Levi will be multiplied, and they will serve the LORD (Jer 30:9; 33:18, 21–22). What He does for Israel will reveal His joyful, praiseworthy, and glorious name to all the nations of the earth, imparting to them fear and trembling because of all the good that God does (Jer 33:9).

d. Sign:

It becomes whole, and fears, knows, obeys, and loves God (Jer 4:4; 9:25– 26; 24:7; 31:33–34; 32:39–40; cf. Lev 26:41; Deut 10:16; 30:6; Ezek 44:7). It is thus a new heart (cf. Ezek 18:31; 36:26).

Place of the sign: (i.e., the heart). This is the “place” of man’s true identity, and what is most desperately in need of change.

e. Conditionality: Conditional, but guaranteed for all who call upon the name of the LORD in faith (Jer 3:19; 29:12–13; 33:3; ct. 11:14).

f. Duration: Everlasting (Jer 32:40; 50:5; cf. Isa 55:3; 61:8)

5. The met with the unwillingness to repent/confess (Jer 2:23, 35; 3:3, 7, 10, 22; 5:3; 8:4–9:6; 15:6–7; 19:15; 25:3–4; 26:1–5; 32:33)

8 Cf. “wholehearted” in 36:5 and “covenant of peace [shalom]” in :26.

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6. Jeremiah’s persecution (Jer 1:18–19; 11:18–21; 20:1–3; 26:7–24; 36:1–26; 37:13–16; 38:1–6; 43:1–4)

7. False (Jer 5:30–31; 14:13–16; 23:9–40; 27–29)

E. Unity of purpose

The LORD will judge His people for their covenant unfaithfulness by sending them into captivity in ; however, He will restore Israel to Himself in His faithfulness to all His covenants and establish a New Covenant.

F. Application

IX. Ezekiel

A. Designations

B. Author and date

“Ezekiel’s authorship and the unity of the book were never seriously questioned before the second quarter of the twentieth century.”9

Factors supporting the unity of the book and Ezekiel’s authorship include: “(1) balanced structure and logical arrangement, (2) autobiographical nature, (3) clear chronological sequence, (4) internal consistency of the message within the structural balance, (5) uniformity of language and style, and (6) consistency of Ezekiel’s personality throughout the book.”10

“Few books in the OT place the emphasis on chronology that Ezekiel does.”11

9 Ralph H. Alexander, “Ezekiel” in The Expositor’s Commentary, 12 vols., ed. by Frank E. Gæbelein, 6:735– 996 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986), 6:739.

10 Ibid.

11 Ibid., 740.

8 Oxford rev. 20190115 Prophecies range from June 597 BC to March/April 573 BC.12

C. Structure

Introduction: Ezekiel’s call (1:1–3:27) A. Ezekiel’s initial vision (1:1–28) B. Ezekiel’s manifold commission (2:1–3:27) 1. As a (2:1–10) 2. As a firm Word-bearer (3:1–9) 3. As a mouthpiece to the exiles (3:10–15) 4. As a watchman (3:16–21) 5. As a herald (3:22–27)

I. Prophecies against (4:1–24:27) A. Symbols of Jerusalem’s siege (4:1–5:17) 1. The brick (4:1–3) 2. The conditions (4:4–8) 3. The famine (4:9–17) 4. The shame (5:1–17) B. Against Israel’s mountains of idolatry (6:1–14) 1. The idolatry (6:1–7) 2. The remnant (6:8–14) C. The end will come (7:1–27) 1. Doom of Jerusalem (7:1–9) 2. Horror of Jerusalem (7:10–27) D. Glimpse into Israel’s sin (8:1–9:11) 1. Idolatry revealed (8:1–18) 2. Idolatry judged (9:1–11) E. Departing glory (10:1–11:25) 1. Another vision of God’s glory (10:1–22) 2. The glory departs (11:1–25) F. Symbols of the exile (12:1–28) 1. Signs for the rebellious house (12:1–20) 2. Message of judgment (12:21–28) G. Against false prophets (13:1–14:23) 1. Prosecution of false prophets (13:1–23) 2. The LORD turns a deaf ear to false prophets (14:1–23) H. Israel a worthless vine (15:1–8) 1. The picture (15:1–5) 2. The meaning (15:6–8) I. Israel an adulteress (16:1–63) 1. The LORD’s nurture (16:1–14) 2. Her abominations (16:15–52) 3. Her future restoration (16:53–63) J. The eagles and the cedar (17:1–24)

12 Ibid., 741.

9 Oxford rev. 20190115 K. Blame-shifting and responsibility (18:1–32) 1. People blame God (18:1–13) 2. Every individual responsible (18:14–32) L. Lament for Israel’s princes and land (19:1–14) M. History of God’s grace toward Israel (20:1–49) 1. Israel’s sins in (20:1–8) 2. Israel’s sins in the wilderness (20:9–26) 3. Israel’s sins in the promised land (20:27–49) N. Sword judgments (21:1–32) 1. The LORD’s sword (21:1–17) 2. Nebuchadnezzar’s sword (21:18–32) O. Indictments against Israel (22:1–31) 1. Her violence and abomination (22:1–16) 2. The resultant furnace of wrath (22:17–31) P. Oholah and Oholibah (23:1–49) 1. Allegory of two sisters (23:1–4) 2. The meaning (23:5–49) a. Oholah’s wicked alliances (23:5–10) b. Oholibah worse (23:11–21) c. Assured judgment (23:22–49) Q. The boiling pot (24:1–14) R. Death of Ezekiel’s wife (24:15–18) S. The meaning of Ezekiel’s actions (24:19–27) II. Prophecies against nations (25:1–32:32) A. Against Ammon, Moab, and (25:1–14) B. Against Philistia (25:15–17) C. Against Tyre (26:1–21) D. Lament over Tyre and her king (27:1–28:26) E. Against Egypt (29:1–32:32) III. Prophecies of Israel’s restoration (33:1–48:35) A. Call to repentance (33:1–33) B. False and true shepherds of Israel (34:1–31) C. Destruction of and Edom (35:1–15) D. Restoration of Israel (36:1–37:28) E. Uprising and defeat of Gog and (38:1–39:29) F. The millennial temple (40:1–46:24) 1. Introduction and arrangement (40:1–42:20) 2. The return of the LORD’s glory (43:1–12) 3. Future worship (43:13–46:24) G. Future land (47:1–48:35)

D. Significant themes of Ezekiel

1. “They will/shall know that the LORD [or Lord GOD]”13 (73x)

13 Or have acted or spoken. There also some past references of God making Himself known in the exodus (e.g., Ezek 20:5, 9, 12, 20, 26).

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a. Israel “will know”

(1) Through God’s (Ezek 5:13; 6:7, 10, 13–14; 7:4, 9, 27; 11:10, 12; 12:15–16, 20; 13:9, 14, 21–23; 14:8; 15:6–7; 17:21; 21:5; 22:13–16; 22:22; 23:49; 24:24–27; 33:29; 39:7, 28)

(2) Through God’s (Ezek 14:23; 16:62; 20:38, 42, 44; 28:25–26; 29:21; 34:27, 30; 36:11, 36, 38; 37:6, 11–14; 39:22, 28)

b. The nations “will know” through God’s judgment14 (Ezek 21:5; 25:5–7, 11, 14, 17; 26:6; 28:22–24; 29:6, 9, 16; 30:8, 19, 25–26; 32:15; 35:4, 9, 11–12, 15; 36:23–25, 36; 37:28; 38:16, 23; 39:6–7, 23)

c. All the trees “will know” (Ezek 17:24)

2. God’s glory (Ezek 1:28; 3:12, 23; 8:4; 9:3; 10:4, 18–19; 11:22–23; 39:21; 43:2–5; 44:4)

3. The in Jerusalem

a. Solomon’s temple (Ezek 5:11; 8:1–11:25; 23:38–39; 24:21; 25:3–4)

b. Millennial temple (Ezek 40:1–47:12; 48:8–21; cf. 37:26–28)

4. The Spirit of the LORD

The is mentioned in Ezekiel more than any other book in the .

a. Speaking the Word of God to Ezekiel by revelation and visions (Ezek 2:2–7; 11:5, 24; 37:1–3; 43:5)

b. Showing Ezekiel the sin of Jerusalem (Ezek 8:3; 11:1–2)

c. Doing a future work in Israel (Ezek 36:27; 37:14; 39:29)

5. responsibility and culpability (Ezek 14:12–20; 18:1–20, 30)

6. The grace of repentance (Ezek 18; 33:10–20)

E. Unity of purpose

14 Most of God’s judgment in these contexts is the destruction of Israel’s enemies. Part of it is the vindication of God in their sight when He restores Israel.

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The LORD fulfilled His Word by sending Israel into captivity and allowing the destruction of the temple. The LORD will yet gather Israel to the glory of all lands and restore them to the New Covenant relationship with Him with a millennial temple.

F. Application

X. The Book of the Twelve

A. Designations

B. Author and date

The authors are accepted to be the names of each book within The Book of the Twelve.

Dates range from the ninth century BC (Obadiah and Joel) to the fifth century BC (Malachi).

C. Structure

The Book of the Twelve have been arranged in many ways.15 The arrangement below will follow the order in the Hebrew—and, incidentally the English—Bible. This order may be seen in two sections: the first nine, who ministered before the Babylonian exile, and the last three, who ministered after the Babylonian exile.

D. Significant themes of The Book of the Twelve

1. The day of the LORD

The day of the LORD has as its themes both and / . The day of the LORD is referred to

15 Hobart E. Freeman, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets (Chicago: Moody, 1968), 136–37 lists several ways The Book of the Twelve has been arranged: by the recipients of the message (i.e., Israel, Judah, or other nations), by the Hebrew text, by exile-oriented periods (i.e., preexilic, exilic, or postexilic), or by periods of world empires (Assyrian, Babylonian, or Persian).

12 Oxford rev. 20190115 explicitly in seven16 of the twelve (Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, and Malachi).

a. For condemnation

b. For blessing

2. Restoration and future glory of Israel: the

a. Preservation of the remnant of Israel17 (Joel 2:32; Amos 5:15; 9:8–9; Obad 17; Mic 2:12; 4:7; 5:3, 7–8; 7:18; Zeph 2:7, 9; 3:13; Hag 1:12, 14; 2:2; Zech 8:6, 11–12; cf. Jer 31:6–10; Rom 11:5)

b. Destruction of the remnant of Israel’s enemies (Amos 1:8; 9:12; Obad 18)

c. Preservation of a remnant of Gentiles (Zech 9:7)

d. The remnant of the Spirit (Mal 2:15)

e. The judgment against the remnant of Baal (Zeph 1:4)

3. The rule of the Messiah (Obad 21; Mic 5:2–4; Zech 6:12–13 with [Jer 23:5–6]; 8:3; 9:10; 14:9)

E. Unity of purpose

The faithful LORD warns His people that great destruction is coming in the day of the LORD. He will destroy many for their sin, but a faithful remnant remains, and the LORD will restore His people and His land.

XI. Hosea

A. Designations

B. Author and date

Hosea, prophecies at least 753–716 BC18

16 Counting Zechariah, which doesn’t contain the phrase “day of the LORD,” but whose references to “that day” are so recurrent that it is included here. Likewise, Micah nestles four references to “that day” and “a day” (Mic 4:6; 5:10; 7:11 [2x]) in an eschatological context.

17 The remnant of Israel is understood from five key terms in The Book of the Twelve: remnant, survivor, escapee, remainder, and kernel/pebble, besides other contextual clues (e.g., Amos 9:8).

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