Reading for April 23rd

Read Ezekiel 36.16-38 The purification of Israel.
Ezekiel portrays the restoration of Israel as a process of purifying sacrifice (chs. 8-11).
In verses 16-21 the prophet initially employs the imagery of menstrual blood to portray
the impurity of the land.
According to priestly thought, blood is the seat of life and holiness, and, hence, requires
special care (Gen 9.1-6; Lev 17).
Like men who have bodily discharges (Lev 15.1-18), menstruating women are considered
unclean (Lev 15.19-30) and require purification.
 The exile of the people profanes God's name.
In verses 22-32 in order to reclaim God's name, Israel must be restored.
God intends to purify Israel with clean water, which is the standard procedure for purification
in such cases (Lev 15.7, 11-12; see also Lev 14.5-6, 50-52; Num 19.17).
Once the land and people are cleansed, God will provide a new heart and a new spirit
(11.19; 18.31; Jer 31.31-34) that will prompt the people to live a holy life in accordance
with God's commandments.
The covenant formula (v. 28) signifies the restoration of Israel's relationship with God
and the fertility of the land.
In verses 33-36 replenishing of the land to resemble the garden of Eden (Gen 2-3)
reveals God to the nations (Ex 15.13-18).
In verses 37-38 the imagery of restoration is related to that of the sacrificial sheep that
fill Jerusalem during festivals.
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