Ezekiel 11:19-20 (NIV) I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. As God promised His work of restoration, He began to speak in terms associated with His greater work of restoration in the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). These promises are later repeated by Ezekiel and spoken of specifically as a covenant (Ezekiel 37:21-28).
In Ezekiel 11 we see several features of the new covenant. Israel gathered together again (an undivided heart). Spiritual transformation (a new spirit). The law written on the heart (they will follow my decrees). And a special relationship with God. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Throughout the Bible, God reveals His plan of redemption through a series of covenants. After the extended story of the fall and ruin of humanity in Genesis 1-11, the story of the covenants begins. The Abrahamic Covenant promised Abraham and His covenant descendants a blessing to extend to all nations (Genesis 12:1-3). The Mosaic Covenant gave Israel the law, the sacrifices, and the choice of blessing or curse (Exodus 19). The Davidic Covenant that promised an everlasting dynasty, a perfect ruler, and the Promised Messiah (2 Samuel 7). All of these foreshadowed the new and better covenant.
God’s plan of redemption through the covenants is completed and perfected in the New Covenant. Over the span of Old Testament passages that announce the new covenant (especially Ezekiel 11:16-20, 36:16-28, and 37:21-28), we see the promises of a gathered Israel [one heart], of cleansing and spiritual transformation [new spirit…heart of flesh], of a new and real relationship with God [they shall be My people, and I will be their God] and the reign of the Messiah.
Lesson One: https://studio.youtube.com/video/T9CkbQZ8gSs/edit
Lesson Two: https://studio.youtube.com/video/APqQK7h_LsE/edit
Lesson Three: https://studio.youtube.com/video/P-tcanUUiCw/edit
Lesson Four: https://studio.youtube.com/video/WOZRR3kdiQM/edit
Lesson Five: https://studio.youtube.com/video/fkYfZFVjugU/edit
Lesson Six: https://studio.youtube.com/video/Z5WRV6FjkT8/edit