Ezekiel 11:19-20

Ezekiel 11:19-20

[19] And I will give  them one  heart,  and I will put  a new  spirit  within  you; and I will take  the stony  heart  out of their flesh,  and will give  them an heart  of flesh:  [20] in my statutes,  and keep  mine ordinances,  and do  them: and they shall be my people,  and I will be their God. 

What does Ezekiel 11:19-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The Lord also promised to give His people a united desire and commitment (cf. Ezekiel 36:26; Exodus 14:5; 1 Samuel 14:7; 1 Samuel 27:1; 2 Samuel 7:3; Jeremiah 32:39). He would put a new attitude within them (cf. Psalm 51:10). This "spirit" would enter into them when God would pour out His Spirit on them ( Ezekiel 36:26-27; Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 31:33; Joel 2:28-29). He would remove their hard hearts and give them hearts that were responsive to Him so they would obey His commands and do His will. Then they would enjoy an intimate relationship with God and He with them. On the individual level this change takes place through a new birth (cf. John 3:3-10). On the national level it will happen when the nation of Israel experiences a new birth (cf. Romans 11:25-27).
"The term berit [1] is absent, but in the declaration They will become my people, and I will become their God, the reader is introduced for the first time to what is generally known as "the covenant formula." Derived from ancient legal terminology, specifically the marriage ceremony, this formula expresses a relationship of commitment and intimacy. It"s prominence in both Ezekiel and Jeremiah is based on a long history, beginning with Yahweh"s commitment to be the God of Abraham and his descendants ( Genesis 17:7-8)." [2]
"After the exile when many Jews returned to a restored province of Judah in fulfillment of prophecy ( Ezra 1:1), they were careful to avoid idolatry ( Ezra 4:1-3; Ezra 6:19-21; Nehemiah 8-10). Nevertheless, their obedience was not complete ( Ezra 9:1-2; Ezra 9:10-15; Ezra 10:15; Ezra 10:44; Nehemiah 5:1-9; Nehemiah 13:7-29), nor was their experience of promised blessings ( Ezra 9:8-9; Nehemiah 9:32-37). Thus the radical spiritual transformation of the people and the associated physical blessings promised in this and other prophecies of the new covenant ( Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 34:20-31; Ezekiel 36:24-38; Ezekiel 37:15-28) await fulfillment in a future messianic age." [3]
Many amillennialists take the fulfillment as happening on the day of Pentecost ( Acts 2). [4] Single-minded devotion to God is what He always requires and what His grace makes possible (cf. Matthew 4:10; Matthew 6:24-34; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22).