SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 36
A PROPHECY TO THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL (vs. 1-38)
Because the enemies of Israel ravaged and handed Israel to become their possessions and made them become the object of people’s malicious talk and slander, the Sovereign Lord made the following prophesies to the Mount and hills, ravines and valleys, desolate ruins and deserted towns:
- Since you have suffered the scorn of the nations, I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will suffer scorn. (*v. 7)
- Mounts of Israel will produce branches and fruits for my people Israel for they will soon come home. (v. 8)
- I will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown. (v. 9)
- I will multiply the number of people upon the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. (v. 10)
- I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they they will be fruitful and become numerous. (v. 11a)
- I will settle on you as in the past and will make you proper more than before. (v. 11b)
- You will no longer devour men or make your nation childless. (v. 14)
- You will no longer hear the taunts of the nations and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall. (v. 5)
- I will show the holiness of my great name. (v. 23)
- I will take you out of the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. (v. 24)
- I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and form all your idols. (v. 25)
- I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. (v. 26a)
- I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (v. 26b)
- I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my law. (v. 27)
- You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. (v. 28)
- I will save you from all your uncleanness. (v. 29a)
- I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. (v. 29b)
- I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. (v. 30)
- On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. (v. 33)
- The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. (v. 34)
- I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel to make their people as numerous as sheep, as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts. So the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. (v. 38)
THOUGHTS:
God revealed to Ezekiel His plan of reinhabiting Israel, rebuilding the temple and restoring the kingdom for His glory. God will bring the land from desolation to delight, His people from dispersion to regather and from defilement to cleansing. The disgrace of the people will be removed to bring great glory to Lord’s name. To those who confess and forsake their sins, God will be merciful to them.
God judged His people for their sins by scattering them among all nations. But to protect his Holy name, He would return a remnant of His people to their land. He restored them both physically and spiritually. Therefore, He gave them a new heart to follow Him and a new Spirit to transform and empower them to do His will. God also offer you to wash away your sins and receive a new heart and new Spirit within you. Are you willing to receive His offer?