What does it mean to "keep My ordinances" in Ezekiel 11:20? Setting the Scene “ ‘I will give them one heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow My statutes and keep My ordinances and practice them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.’ ” (Ezekiel 11:19-20) What Are “My Ordinances”? • Hebrew word: mishpatim—judgments, decisions, the concrete applications of God’s righteous character • Broader than ritual rules; it covers moral, civil, and relational instructions (Exodus 21–23). • Always tied to justice, fairness, and covenant faithfulness. What Does It Mean to “Keep” Them? • Hebrew verb: shamar—guard, watch over, treasure, obey. • Implies an active, vigilant lifestyle, not a casual nod. • Carries the idea of protecting something valuable from erosion or neglect. Heart Before Hands • God first gives “one heart” and a “new spirit.” Inner renewal makes outer obedience possible. • Parallels: Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26-27; 2 Corinthians 3:3. • Genuine obedience flows from a transformed nature, not mere external conformity. Three Fold Response Embedded in the Verb 1. Attention—learn what God has said. 2. Application—put it into practice. 3. Preservation—pass it on intact to the next generation (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). Why It Matters • Covenant identity: “Then they will be My people.” Obedience marks belonging (Leviticus 26:12). • Witness to nations: God’s wisdom displayed through His people (Deuteronomy 4:6-8). • Fellowship with God: obedience keeps the relational loop open (John 14:21). New-Covenant Echoes for Today • The Spirit empowers us to “walk in the same way He walked” (1 John 2:6). • Grace never replaces obedience; it fuels it (Titus 2:11-14). • Keeping ordinances now centers on loving God and neighbor, the law fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10). Practical Takeaways • Treasure Scripture daily—shamar begins with hearing. • Examine choices through God’s righteous standards—mishpatim demand fairness and mercy. • Depend on the Spirit—obedience is impossible without the “heart of flesh.” • Live distinctively—so others see a preview of the coming kingdom. |
    |