Congregation Book Study, Week of February 7-13, 2022, Chapter 20, Paragraphs 1-8, Answers.

Congregation Book Study, February 7-13, 2022, Chapter 20, Paragraphs 1-8, Answers.

Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): rr chap. 20 paras. 1-8 and video.

"Distribute the land as an inheritance"

MAIN IDEA: The distribution of the land and its meaning

ANALYSIS OF THE VIDEO AND ANSWERS OF THE PARAGRAPHS

Have you ever wondered what Jehovah thinks of you? Some of our brothers struggle with negative feelings; they feel insignificant. It is important for us to remember that Jehovah values ​​and loves each of his servants, including you. In chapter 20 of this book, which discusses Ezekiel's last vision, there are ideas that encourage and comfort us. 

The title is “Divide the Land as an Inheritance,” and it is based on Ezekiel 45:1, Let's read it together: “'When you divide the land as an inheritance, offer a holy portion of the land as a contribution to Jehovah. It must be 25,000 cubits long by 10,000 cubits wide. That whole area will be a holy portion.” 

As you study this chapter, you will learn this empowering lesson: No matter how insignificant our role in God's organization may seem, each of us is assured of a place in spirit paradise. How good is Jehovah! Through a vision, he conveyed this encouraging message to Ezekiel. Let this chapter make it clear to you that you are very valuable to Jehovah and that he appreciates your service to him.

1, 2. (a) What instructions does Jehovah give Ezekiel? 

He gives instructions to Ezekiel and the exiles, the instruction that Jehovah gave was that they distribute the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel. They had to distribute everything equally, that was going to be their inheritance.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

In Ezekiel 45:1 we see that Jehovah instructed Ezekiel and the exiles to divide among the tribes of Israel the land that Jehovah had promised their ancestors.

As happened in the time of Moses and Joshua, Jehovah again instructs Ezekiel and the exiles to divide the promised land among the tribes of Israel.

Ezekiel receives a vision that reminds him of what happened some nine hundred years ago, at the time of Moses and Joshua, and now something similar happens again as he receives instructions to redistribute the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel.

b) What questions are we going to answer?

We are going to answer 3 questions, what message did this vision convey to Ezequiel and the other exiles? How does he encourage us as servants of God today? Will you have larger-scale compliance in the future?

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

What message did this vision convey to Ezekiel and the other exiles? How does he encourage us as servants of God today? Will you have larger-scale compliance in the future?

We will answer the following questions: What message did this vision convey to Ezekiel and the other exiles? How does he encourage us as servants of God today? Will you have larger-scale compliance in the future?

What message did this vision convey to Ezekiel and the other exiles? How does he encourage us as servants of God today? Will you have larger-scale compliance in the future?

A vision with four guarantees

3, 4. (a) What four guarantees did Ezekiel's last vision give to the exiles?

The first guarantee: that in the temple of God, pure worship would be restored at last. The second guarantee: when the nation is restored, it would be led by righteous priests and  shepherds. The third guarantee: those who return to Israel will have a part of the land, which will be their inheritance. The fourth guarantee, Jehovah would return to be with them, and would live among them again.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The first, that pure worship would be restored in the temple of God. The second that the restored nation would be led by righteous priests and shepherds. The third was that all who returned to Israel would inherit a part of the land. And the fourth that Jehovah would be with them, would reside again among them.

The first guarantee is that pure worship would be restored and would be led by righteous priests and pastors. The third, that all who returned to Israel would inherit a part of the Land. And the fourth guarantee is that Jehovah would be with them again.

First, that pure worship would be restored in the temple of God. Second, that the restored nation would be led by righteous priests and shepherds. Third, that all who returned to Israel would inherit a part of the land. And fourth, that Jehovah would be with them, would reside among them again.

b) What guarantee are we going to analyze in this chapter?

We are going to analyze in this chapter the third guarantee: the promise of having a part of the earth, which will be our inheritance.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

In this chapter we will discuss the third guarantee, the promise that all who returned to Israel would inherit a part of the promised land.

In this chapter we are going to focus on the third guarantee: the promise to inherit a part of the land.

In this chapter we will focus on the third guarantee: the promise to inherit a part of the land.

“This land […] is divided among you as an inheritance”

5, 6. a) According to Ezekiel's vision, what territory would be divided? (See the drawing at the beginning). 

Seeing Ezekiel's vision, the territory that would be distributed would be  the land of Israel, which would be restored, the exiles would return there.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

In Ezekiel 47:15-21 we see that the land of Israel would be partitioned to which the exiles would return and that it would be restored.

The territory to be partitioned was the land of Israel to which the exiles would return and which would be restored. And in Ezekiel 47:15-17, he tells in more detail what the borders of all that land would be.

Jehovah speaks to Ezekiel of an area of ​​that land that would come to resemble the "garden of Eden" and the territory that would be distributed was the land of Israel to which the exiles would return and that would be restored, Jehovah goes on to explain with luxury details what are the borders of all that land.

b) What was the purpose of this part of the vision?

The goal would be to assure Ezekiel and the other Jews that their land would indeed be restored. This would be thanks to the description of the borders that were so well defined.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The purpose of this part of the vision was to give Ezekiel and the other Jews a graphic assurance that their desired land would indeed be restored.

The purpose of this part of the vision was to encourage the exiles to see that Jehovah's guarantee to restore the land was very real. No doubt Ezekiel and the exiles were certain that the promise of seeing the land restored would be fulfilled.

The description of such well-defined borders assured Ezekiel and the other Jews that their beloved land would indeed be restored.

ILLUSTRATION: 

A river flowing into the sea. The river crosses the land to be divided.

7. a) What happened from the year 537 before our era? And what reminds us of that? 

Before 537 years before our era, thousands of exiles were able to return to the land of Israel and were able to occupy it. This reminds us, something similar today, that we have also received a piece of land. Which was a spiritual land, which we can enter and occupy. 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

For some 56 years after Ezekiel had the vision, thousands of exiles returned to the land of Israel and occupied it. This reminds us that God's people today have experienced something similar since Jehovah allowed them to enter and occupy a spiritual land.

Thousands of exiles began to return to the land of Israel and occupied it. This reminds us that the servants of God today have also been given a land, a spiritual land, where we enjoy God's teachings and purposes for the future.

Beginning in the year 537 BCE, some fifty-six years after Ezekiel received the vision, thousands of exiles returned to the land of Israel and occupied it. Those historical events remind us of something similar that God's people today have experienced. It can be said that they have also received a piece of land.

b) What will we analyze next?

We will analyze, which is what leads us to the conclusion that there is a spiritual land and we can enter it.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We will analyze what leads us to the conclusion that there really is a spirit land.

Let's analyze what leads us to the conclusion that there really is a spirit land.

The restoration of the ancient Promised Land can teach us much about the restoration of the spiritual land that God's people enjoy today. But before looking at what it teaches us, let's discuss what leads us to the conclusion that a spirit land actually exists.

8. (a) With what other nation did Jehovah replace the nation of Israel?

He replaced Israel with spiritual Israel, where there are Christians anointed by holy spirit.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

As we see in Matthew 21:43, Jehovah replaced the nation of Israel with a nation that produced the expected fruits and was spiritual Israel, made up of Christians anointed by Jehovah's Holy Spirit.

The nation of Israel ceased to be the people of God, and was replaced by another; spiritual Israel, made up of Christians anointed by holy spirit. He also replaced the literal land of Israel with a spiritual land or paradise.

The nation of Israel had been replaced by another: spiritual Israel, made up of Christians anointed by holy spirit. But Jehovah not only replaced the nation of Israel with a spiritual nation, he also replaced the literal land of Israel with a spiritual land or paradise.

b) What is the earth or spiritual paradise?

That spirit land is a spiritually secure situation, an environment where the remnants of the anointed ones have been worshiping Jehovah. That nation had been replaced by another: spiritual Israel, made up of Christians anointed by holy spirit

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The spiritual earth or paradise is a spiritually secure situation, that is, an environment where the remnants of the anointed ones have been worshiping Jehovah and performing their spiritual activities since 1919.

That spiritual is a spiritually secure situation, an environment where the remnants of the anointed ones have been worshiping Jehovah and conducting their spiritual activities since 1919.

That spirit land is a spiritually secure situation, an environment where the remnants of the anointed ones have been worshiping Jehovah and performing their spiritual activities.

c) When did that land come into existence, and who has settled in it?

This spiritual land came into existence since 1919, those who have settled in it are the anointed ones, who have been worshiping Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

That land came into existence as of 1919 when the brothers who carried out the work were released from prison. As we know, Jesus was enthroned in 1914 and from 1919 these brothers worked on the cleansing of pure worship, establishing in this land the other sheep that have the hope of living on earth.

This land came into existence in the year 1919, when Jesus freed his people from captivity in Babylon the Great and appointed himself the faithful and wise slave. In addition, the anointed were joined by "the other sheep," people hoping to live forever on earth.

Since 1919 this land exists and with the passage of time, the “other sheep”, people with the hope of living on Earth, also began to settle in that land or spiritual paradise.