Study Desk

This is what the Lord God says: "I will take a branch from a tall cedar tree. I will take a small branch from the top of the tree, and I myself will plant it on a very high mountain.

But the Lord God says, "By my life, I swear that people in Israel will not think this proverb is true anymore!

He obeys my laws and studies my rules so that he can learn to be fair and dependable. He is good, so he will live." This is what the Lord God said.

God will not remember all the bad things they did. He will remember only their goodness, so they will live!"

The Lord God says, "I don't want evil people to die. I want them to change their lives so that they can live!

"Now, maybe good people might stop being good. They might change their lives and begin to do all the terrible things that evil people have done in the past. (The evil people changed, so they can live.) So if those good people change and become bad, God will not remember all the good things they did. He will remember that they turned against him and began to sin. So they will die because of their sin.

Why? Because, family of Israel, I will judge each of you only for what you do!" This is what the Lord God said. "So come back to me! Stop committing those crimes and do away with those things that cause you to sin!

I don't want to kill you! Please come back and live!" This is what the Lord God said.

"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Tell them ‘This is what the Lord God says: Have you come to ask me what you should do? I, the Lord God , tell you that, as surely as I live, I will not listen to you.'

You must tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I raised my hand to Jacob's family and made a promise to them in Egypt. When I let them know who I was, I raised my hand and said, "I am the Lord your God."

"‘I told the family of Israel to throw away their horrible idols. I told them not to become filthy with those filthy statues from Egypt. I said, "I am the Lord your God."

I am the Lord . I am your God. Obey my laws and keep my commands. Do the things I tell you.

Show that my days of rest are important to you. Remember, they are a special sign between us. I am the Lord , and these days show you that I am your God."

So now, son of man, speak to the family of Israel. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: The people of Israel said bad things about me and made evil plans against me.

"Since Israel did those things, speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: You people have made yourselves filthy by doing the things your ancestors did. You have acted like a prostitute. You have left me to be with the horrible gods your ancestors worshiped.

You are giving the same kind of gifts. You are putting your children in the fire as a gift to your false gods. You are still making yourself filthy with these filthy idols today! Do you really think that I should let you come to me and ask me for advice? I am the Lord God . By my life, I swear that I will not answer your questions or give you advice!

The Lord God says, "By my life, I swear that I will rule over you as king. But I will raise my powerful arm and punish you. I will show my anger against you!

I will judge you as I judged your ancestors in the desert near Egypt." This is what the Lord God said.

Now, family of Israel, this is what the Lord God says: "Whoever wants to worship their filthy idols, let them go and worship them. But later, don't think you will get any advice from me. You will not ruin my name anymore—not when you continue to give your gifts to your filthy idols!"

The Lord God says, "People must come to my holy mountain—the high mountain in Israel—to serve me! The whole family of Israel will be on their land; they will be there in their country. There you can come to ask me for advice, and you must come there to bring me your offerings. You must bring the first part of your crops to me there. You must bring all your holy gifts to me in that place.