Ezequiel 36

Ezequiel 36

Constable - Israel’s enemies had dealt with her in their anger and envy (Ezek 35:11), but now Yahweh would deal with them in His fierce jealousy over Israel’s welfare. F F Bruce explains that "When Yahweh’s land and people were objects of derision, His own reputation was dragged in the mire; the ‘zeal’ with which He vindicates His people against the enemy is His concern for His own name and character and pledged word (cf. Ezek 36:7, 20-23). (Ibid). I have spoken against the rest of the nations - As noted above, Israel's scoffing, mocking, deriding, scorning, insulting enemies ( is singled out) would be repaid for their evil. And against all Edom - Judgment on Edom had been prophesied in Ezekiel 25 and Ezekiel 35:1-15, and here God again singles out for punishment! Thus says the Lord GOD, "Because Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has incurred grievous guilt, and avenged themselves upon them," (NLT paraphrases it "The people of Edom have sinned greatly by avenging themselves against the people of Judah.") 13 therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "I will also stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off man and beast from it. And I will lay it waste; from Teman even to Dedan they will fall by the sword. 14 "And I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel. Therefore, they will act in Edom according to My anger and according to My wrath (cp to "fire of My jealousy" in Ezek 36:5) thus they will know My vengeance," declares the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 25:12-14) (Again God explains why Edom is singled out) Because you have had everlasting enmity and have delivered the sons of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of the punishment of the end."... (Ezek 35:5, Also because of Edom's anger, envy, hatred toward Israel and arrogance against God described in Ezek 35:10, 11, 12, 13) Smith's Bible Dictionary gives us a clue as to the reason for God's focus on Edom... In the reign of Jehoshaphat (BC 914) the Edomites attempted to invade Israel, but failed. (2Chronicles 20:22, cp 2Chr 28:17) They joined Nebuchadnezzar when that king besieged Jerusalem. For their cruelty at this time they were fearfully denounced by the later prophets. (Isaiah 34:5-8; 63:1-4; Jeremiah 49:17)...They were idolaters. (2Chronicles 25:14,15,20) My land (cp His land Ezek 36:20) - God is very possessive of the land. He is also possessive of the people calling them My people in Ezekiel 36:12. The land of Israel is God's land and the people are God's people. While God promised the land to Abraham and his descendants, ultimately the land is His and always will be. (See also Ge 12:1, 7; 15:7; 18; Ex 19:5-6; Lev 25:23; Deut 32:43; Ps 78:54; Jer 2:7.) Constable notes that...The Promised Land was the Lord’s land in the same sense that the Sabbath was His day and the tithe was His possession. These parts were not just segments of their wholes over which God claimed ownership, but they represented and illustrated His ownership of all lands, all days, and all possessions. Ezekiel 36:6 'Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and in My wrath because you have endured the insults of the nations.': Eze 36:4,5,15 34:29 Ps 74:10,18,23 123:3,4 Behold - (hen probably a short form of hinneh) calls attention to the text and directs the reader to give special attention. It is given to heighten the reader's or hearer's awareness that what follows is truth that must be heard and/or heeded. The idea is "Listen up! Pay attention!" Ezekiel 36:7 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 'I have sworn that surely the nations which are around you will themselves endure their insults.: I have lifted: Eze 20:5,15 De 32:40 Rev 10:5,6 the heathen: Eze 25:1-35:15 Jer 25:9,15-29 47:1-51:64 Am 1:1-15 Zep 2:1-15 Today's English Version (paraphrase) - I, the Sovereign LORD, solemnly promise that the surrounding nations will be humiliated. I have sworn (Literally "I have lifted up My hand") - God gives an oath that He will vindicate the insults. The nations...will...endure their insults - Yes, God allowed the nations to punish Israel but they would in turn be punished because of their evil deeds. The Avenger would avenge the enemy nations' evil words and deeds directed at Israel. As Bruce says "The scorn heaped on Israel by the aliens will recoil on themselves Bruce, F. F. (1979). New International Bible commentary. "Formerly titled New international Bible commentary and The international Bible commentary"--T.p. verso. (837). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House. Ezekiel 36:8 'But you, O mountains of Israel, you will put forth your branches and bear your fruit for My people Israel; for they will soon come.: ye shall: Eze 34:26-29 Ps 67:6 85:12 Isa 4:2 27:6 30:23 Ho 2:21-23 Am 9:13-15 for: The Edomites, and other enemies of the Jews, who thought they would soon be in possession of the whole land of Judea, might be assured that the predicted seventy years of the captivity were wearing away, and the time would soon arrive when the Jews would repossess and cultivate their own land, and eat its fruits. at hand: Eze 12:25 Php 4:5 Heb 10:37 Jas 5:8,9 But you - Here we see a striking contrast with the preceding dismal picture. Remember that a contrast always signifies a change of direction, and in this case signals a gracious transition. A ray of sun breaks through the clouds. R H Alexander observes that... Blessing normally follows judgment in God’s scheme. So, having pronounced judgment on the scornful nations (following the principle of lex talionis [Ed: An eye for an eye]), the Lord turned to encourage Israel by describing his preparation of her land for her return in the end time. He stresses that this would be his work. (Expositor's Bible Commentary New Testament. Zondervan Publishing) You will put forth your branches - The desolate, ruined land of Israel will become fertile again. Why? To prepare the land for Israel's return (cp Ezek 36:34). How would the revitalization of the land occur? Ezekiel goes on to explain how in the next verse. JEHOVAH'S RESTORATION OF THE LAND & PEOPLE OF ISRAEL 1) God Will Restore the fruitfulness of the land of Israel - Ezekiel 36:8-9 2) God will Restore & Repopulate the cities of the land of Israel - Ezekiel 36:10-12, 33-37 3) God will Regather Jews to the land of Israel - Ezekiel 36:24 4) God will Cleanse them from their impurities - Ezekiel 36:25, 33 5) God will Regenerate Israel Spiritually - Ezekiel 36:26, 29 6) God will give His Spirit to move them to walk in His laws - Ezekiel 36:27 7) God will be their God & they will live in the land He gave their forefathers - Ezekiel 36:28 8) God will make the land of Israel abundantly productive - Ezekiel 36:29-30 9) Israel will remember former evil ways and will loathe themselves - Ezekiel 36:31 10) God will do all of these things for the sake of reputation, His Name - Ezekiel 36:22, 32 Ezekiel 36:9 'For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you will be cultivated and sown.: Ps 46:11 99:8 Ho 2:21-23 Joe 3:18 Hag 2:19 Zec 8:12 Mal 3:10,11 Ro 8:31 JEHOVAH'S "I WILLS" I will - This is clearly a "key phrase" in Ezekiel 36 occurring some 21 times in 15 verses! (Ezek 36:9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 37) Gaebelein refers to "I will" as God's "word of sovereign grace." Twenty one times Jehovah says what He will do. They are the “I wills” of Israel’s Hope and coming Glory." Some say God said and I believe it so that settles it. Even better is God said it, that settles it, whether I believe it or not! Behold - (hen probably a short form of hinneh) calls attention to the text and directs the reader to give special attention. It is given to heighten the reader's or hearer's awareness that what follows is truth that must be heard and/or heeded. The idea is "Listen up! Pay attention!" I am for you - This explains how ruined land can again be made so that it will be cultivated and sown. Ezekiel 36:10 'I will multiply men on you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities will be inhabited and the waste places will be rebuilt.: I will: Eze 36:37 Isa 27:6 41:17-23 Jer 30:19 31:27,28 33:12 Zec 8:3-6 the wastes: Eze 36:33 Isa 51:3 52:9 58:12 61:4 Jer 31:10-14 Am 9:14 Related Passages: Ezekiel 37:16 (ONE STICK ~ ALL ISRAEL) “And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’ RESTORATION OF "ALL" ISRAEL 'I will multiply men on you All the house of Israel, all of it - Since this says ''all the house of Israel'' the fulfillment of this promise refers to the Millennial Kingdom and includes all 12 tribes. In other words, this promise could not be fulfilled by Judah returning after the 70 years of captivity. Notice it says "cities" plural and not the New Jerusalem which further indicates this is not referring to heaven but to the Millennium. The waste places - The Hebrew word chorbah refers to desolate places, ruins, desert, dry country and especially the rubble of cities in the wake of total destruction. The first use is a promise by God that when His chosen people disobey, he will destroy their cities - ‘I will lay waste your cities as well, and will make your sanctuaries desolate; and I will not smell your soothing aromas." (Lev 26:31) This verse describes a supernatural reversal of Israel's fortunes. Ezekiel 36:11 'I will multiply on you man and beast; and they will increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited as you were formerly and will treat you better than at the first. Thus you will know that I am the LORD.: I will multiply: Jer 31:27 33:12 and I will settle: The circumstances of the Jews were never so prosperous after the captivity as they had been before; hence this prophecy must refer to the times of the Gospel and the future conversion and restoration of the Jews. Jer 30:18 31:38-40 Ob 1:19-21 Mic 7:14 will do: Eze 36:35 Isa 30:26 54:7-10 Jer 23:5-8 Joe 3:18-21 Am 9:15 Hag 2:6-9 Zec 8:11-15 Heb 8:8-13 11:40 and ye: Eze 35:9 37:6,13 Isa 52:4-6 Ho 2:20 1Jn 5:20 I will multiply...increase...be fruitful - These verbs reflect Jehovah's supernatural multiplication tables, the best math in the world! This language recalls God's command in Genesis to be fruitful and multiply. I...will treat you better than at the first - When God restores Israel to the land in the the Last Days, their "new days" will be better than they have ever been because they will be in the Messianic Kingdom. You will know that I am the LORD - Why will God allow such a miracle? He wants His people to know Him. The verb know is yada (Lxx - ginosko) and speaks of an intimate relationship (cf Adam and Eve in Ge 4:1+), nothing inappropriate of course, but perfect union, communion and covenant oneness with Jehovah. Ezekiel 36:12 'Yes, I will cause men--My people Israel--to walk on you and possess you, so that you will become their inheritance and never again bereave them of children.': I will cause: The prophet is still personifying the mountains, valleys, and wastes of Judea. they shall: Jer 32:15,44 Ob 1:17-21 no more: Eze 36:13 Nu 13:32 Jer 15:7 Related Passage: Ezekiel 5:17 ‘Moreover, I will send on you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you of children; plague and bloodshed also will pass through you, and I will bring the sword on you. I, the LORD, have spoken.’” JEHOVAH ADDRESSES THE LAND OF ISRAEL Jehovah continues the personification of the land of Israel. I will cause men--My people Israel--to walk on you (the land) and possess you - In God's covenant with Abraham, He had promised him "To your descendants I will give this land." (Ge 12:7+. Ge 24:7, passed on to Isaac = Gen 26:3) Israel has never fully possessed the land promised in the Abrahamic Covenant in Ge 15:18+, but here in Ezekiel God assures Israel that they will possess the land. This promise associated with walking and possessing makes me think of Joshua 1:3+ where God promised Joshua... “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. You (the land) will become their (Israel's) inheritance - The land of Israel will belong to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (See Exodus 33:1) Notice it does not say My people Israel will possess you because they are so good, so kind, so righteous! No, it is because Jehovah in His manifold grace wills it to be so, ultimately a reflection of His steadfast faithfulness to His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Anything good we in the New Covenant "possess" is based on the same foundation - Jehovah's faithfulness to His covenant promises in Christ Jesus. This truth should cause us to continually experience a healthy humility! As an aside we here folks say God has not promised Israel the land. This passage clearly refutes such thinking. Yahweh uses two words that nail it down - "possess" and "inheritance." He could not have been much clearer. Bereave them of children - Jehovah reassures the land and the exiles that when God regathers His people to the "promised land," the land would never again be deprived of its children as in Ezekiel 5:17. In other words, Israel would never again be defeated by enemies. They would never be exiled. The land would never again be devastated and made desolate. The fulfillment of this promise awaits the future Messianic Age. Ezekiel 36:13 "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Because they say to you, "You are a devourer of men and have bereaved your nation of children,": You (the mountains Ezek 36:8) are a devourer of men and have bereaved your nation of children - This is paraphrased by the ICB as "You eat people and take children from your nation." This presumably refers to either their exile and/or death. NIV Study Bible has an interesting note - The mountains are poetically pictured as having contributed to the depopulation brought by the exile. This may refer to the fact that the promised land had contained the Canaanites and their religious centers ("high places"; see 1Ki 3:2), which had led Israel astray and so brought God's wrath down on his people (see Ezek 6:3). F F Bruce comments that you are a devourer of men..."as though the mother country were a cruel stepmother; cf. the spies’ evil report of the promised land in Nu 13:32." (Ibid). Ezekiel 36:14 therefore you will no longer devour men and no longer bereave your nation of children,' declares the Lord GOD.: no more: Eze 37:25-28 Isa 60:21 Am 9:15 YAHWEH'S PROMISE: LAND WILL NEVER DEVOUR AGAIN You (the land) will no longer devour men - To devour (He) means to eat or consume. Earlier Ezekiel described that "famine and the plague will also consume those in the city" (Ezek 7:15), "the fire will consume them (complete destruction of Jerusalem in 586BC)" (Ezek 15:7) In Ezekiel 34 God promised Israel... And they (Israel) will no longer be a prey to the nations, and the beasts of the earth will not devour them; but they will live securely, and no one will make them afraid. (Ezekiel 34:28) Comment: This prophetic promise clearly describes the peaceful time of Messiah's Millennial Kingdom. This promise is given specifically to Israel, not the church. Through the prophet Amos God promised I will also plant them on their land, and they will not again be rooted out from their land which I have given them, says the Lord your God. (Amos 9:15+) Ezekiel 36:15 "I will not let you hear insults from the nations anymore, nor will you bear disgrace from the peoples any longer, nor will you cause your nation to stumble any longer," declares the Lord GOD.'": men: Eze 36:6 34:29 Isa 54:4 60:14 Mic 7:8-10 Zep 3:19,20 thou bear: Ps 89:50 Zep 2:8 YAHWEH REMOVES ISRAEL'S REPROACH I will not let you hear insults from the nations anymore - When will this be fulfilled? It can only be when Messiah rules the nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9, Rev 19:15+). Then and only then will there be no more ''insults from the nations''. Look at our day (these notes are revised Fall/Winter, 2023-24). Israel is constantly caused to hear insults from the nations of the world and this anti-Semitism will crescendo until it reaches a fever pitch in the time of Jacob's trouble or distress (Jer 30:7-commentary - read what follows this time - Jer 30:8, 9-note = The Messiah's Millennial Reign), which is synonymous with the last 3.5 years of Daniel's Seventieth Week, the horrible time that Jesus called "The Great Tribulation." (cf Da 12:1+ "there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.") Nor will you (the mountains) cause your nation to stumble any longer- Why not? How did the mountains cause the nation to stumble? The "high places" were built on the mountains and were the site of Israel's abominable, detestable practices associated with idol worship. The reason the mountains will no longer cause Israel to stumble in the future is because God will sprinkle clean water on them and make them clean (Ezek 36:25) in addition to giving them a new heart (Ezek 36:26) and His Spirit Who would empower them to walk in His statutes (including His prohibition of idol worship which had been practiced on the mountains) (Ezek 36:27). Ezekiel 36:16 Then the word of the LORD came to me saying,: ISRAEL'S SCATTERING: REASON FOR = IDOLATRY RESULT OF = PROFANED GOD'S NAME In Ezekiel 36:17-20 Jehovah reviews Israel's disobedience and punishment in preparation for describing the restoration, a restoration that God had promised earlier in Ezekiel 11... Therefore (term of conclusion) say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Though I had removed them far away among the nations and though I had scattered them among the countries, yet I was a sanctuary for them a little while in the countries where they had gone.” 17 “Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.” 18 “When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. 19 “And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. 21 “But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down on their heads,” declares the Lord God. (Eze 11:16-21-notes). Ezekiel 36:17 "Son of man, when the house of Israel was living in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds; their way before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity.: they defiled: Lev 18:24-28 Nu 35:33,34 Ps 106:37,38 Isa 24:5 Jer 2:7 3:1,2,9 Jer 16:18 Mic 2:10 as the: Lev 15:19-33 Isa 64:6 ISRAEL POLLUTED THE LAND Son of man, when the house of Israel was living in their own land They defiled it by their ways and their deeds - The Septuagint has "defiled it by their way and with their idols." Earlier the prophet painted an unbelievable picture of the depth of depravity to which Israel had fallen. He described how worship of idols who are no gods had entered in the Temple of the Living God and how Judah's religious leaders had even bowed down to the sun rather than to the Son! (Read Ezekiel 8:5-18+) And they went to the tragic extreme of even sacrificing their sons to their so called blood thirsty gods! And the blood of these sacrifices, far from satisfying or propitiating God, enraged His holy anger. Take a moment to read Jeremiah 7:31-34, 8:1-5. Defiled (made unclean) (02930)(tame) means to become unclean or make unclean. To become ceremonially unclean. To defile oneself (Hos 5:3, 6:10, Ezek 20:30). A wife defiles herself by adultery (Nu 5:13, Jer 2:23 = speaks of Israel as God's wife who had defiled herself by her spiritual adultery with idols!, Ezek 23:13 = refers to Judah and in context to the 10 Northern tribes - both had defiled themselves). To defile (violate) a girl (Ge 34:5), a woman (Ezek 18:6) The Septuagint translates defiled with miaino (cf miasmos = the state of being tainted, polluted, corrupted, defiled or stained by) means literally to dye with another color. Figuratively miaino describes a mind and conscience that is morally contaminated, corrupted, tainted, tinged and polluted. In a ceremonial or cultic sense it means to defile or make unclean or to be unacceptable. their way before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity - This paints a sad picture of a people who were called to be holy - " ‘For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth." (Lev 11:44+) Uncleanness (02932)(tumah) A feminine noun meaning uncleanness, filthy. It refers to the sexual impurity of a woman during the menstrual cycle (Num. 5:19; Lam. 1:9). It can also denote any unclean thing from which the temple needed to be purified (2 Chr. 29:16). Finally, both ethical and religious uncleanness were dealt with: in the laws referring to proper behavior (Lev. 16:16); and in the heart, referring to an unclean spirit that causes one to lie (Ezek. 24:13). (Complete Word Study Dictionary) Gilbrant adds - This noun, derived from tāmfiʾ, "to be unclean," refers to "unclean things" or "uncleanness." The uncleanness can be physical things, perhaps simply referring to impurities (Ezek. 24:11). The common use is of something that makes a person or object ritually unclean or unfit for the presence of the Holy God (Lev. 5:3). In Ezra 6:21, it refers to all the ungodly practices and the unclean state of the Gentile neighbors. The Lord promised to cleanse from all uncleannesses in the sense of making them fit to be allowed to fellowship with the Lord forever and giving them a new heart to be true to Him (Ezek. 36:25). Finally, one time in the OT there is a reference to "a spirit of uncleanness," a spirit that opposes the truth of God by motivating false prophecy (Zech. 13:2). (Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary) Septuagint translates tumah here with akatharsia literally worthless material, waste; of graves decayed flesh, causing ceremonial uncleanness, defilement (Mt 23.27); figuratively, moral uncleanness, impurity. Ezekiel 36:18 "Therefore I poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land, because they had defiled it with their idols.: I poured: Eze 7:8 14:19 21:31 2Ch 34:21,26 Isa 42:25 Jer 7:20 44:6 La 2:4 La 4:11 Na 1:6 Rev 14:10 16:1-21 for the: Eze 16:36-38 23:37 Therefore - A term of conclusion. Israel sowed the seeds of defiling deeds and moral uncleanness (Gal 6:8-note), and reaped the rotten fruit of moral corruption which resulted in the righteous wrath of God. I poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land - The Babylonian "wrath" was a foreshadowing of the final pouring out of God's wrath on them is the GREAT TRIBULATION, the time of Jacob's distress (Da 9:27 Mt 24:15,21 Jer 30:7 Da 12:1). God gives 2 reasons for His wrath - (1) shed blood (murder) and (2) defilement by idolatry. Poured (08210)(shaphak) means to cause to flow. Interestingly shaphak is often used to describe pouring out of a man’s lifeblood = shedding of blood. The Septuagint (Lxx) ekcheo which means literally to flow out, to gush forth or to pour out . The inherent idea is to cause something to be emitted in quantity. The Holy Spirit is poured out - Acts 2:17-18, 2:33, Acts 10:45; love of God is poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit - Titus 3:6. Because they had defiled it with their idols - What had Israel failed to do when they entered the land? See the passages in the first chapter of Judges which give Israel's root problem which became her snare (Jdg 1:19, 21, 27-36, 2:3, 11-13, 17, 19) and compare God's commands (Ex 20:3,4 23:32,33 34:12-16 Nu 33:52,53 Dt 7:2, 3, 4,16,25,26, 12:2,3, 20:16-18) THOUGHT- Lest we think this was just a spiritual snare in the OT, read Paul's warnings to the saints at Corinth, living in a city overflowing with idols!" See 2Cor 6:14, 15, 16, 17+. Then read 2Co 7:1+ - What "promises" had Paul just described? The effect of idols is to defile, pollute and contaminate. One reason this is so is because of the repeated association in Scripture of Idolatry and Immorality (the relationship and the antidote) (E.g., read Jer 3:1, 2 and note God's response - Jer 3:3). (See related study - Idolatry - Brief Excursus on Idolatry; Idolatry - Dictionary Articles) In Leviticus God gives Israel a strong warning describing what happens when the land is defiled by immorality (America, are you listening?)... Do not defile yourselves by any of these things (see the horrible litany of sexual perversions that defiled the land - Lev 18:6-23); for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. For the land has become defiled, therefore I have visited its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants. (Lev 18:24, 25, cp Lev 18:26, 27, 28) Blood which they had shed on the land - In Numbers we read So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. (Nu 35:33+, cp Ps 106:38) Ezekiel 36:19 "Also I scattered them among the nations and they were dispersed throughout the lands. According to their ways and their deeds I judged them.: I scattered: Eze 5:12 22:15 Lev 26:38 De 28:64 Am 9:9 according to their way: Eze 7:3,8 18:30 22:31 39:24 Ro 2:6 Rev 20:12-15 ISRAEL'S DISPERSION IS DIVINE RECOMPENSE FOR HER DEFILEMENT & IDOLATRY Also I scattered them among the nations - notice Who initiates and carries out the dispersion of the Chosen People! He is a promise keeping God, which is good when we obey, but bad (for us) when we disobey, as Israel tragically discovered! In Leviticus God had promised that He would scatter Israel for her failure to keep the Sabbaths... You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste. 34 'Then (When? When they are dispersed, exiled from the land, then) the land will enjoy its Sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies' land; then the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. 35 'All the days of its desolation it will observe the rest which it did not observe on your Sabbaths, while you were living on it. (Lev 26:33-35+, cp 2Ch 36:20, 21+) Comment: How long was Judah exiled? Seventy years. One year for each Sabbath year of rest Israel failed to keep. But what is the total number of years that she was in disobedience? If a Sabbath year came every seventh year, then Israel was disobedient for 490 years (7 x 70). What is fascinating is that in Daniel 9:24-27 God gave a prophecy of seven times seventy or 490 years, a period commonly known as "Daniel's Seventy Weeks". Sixty-nine of Daniel's "weeks" (seven year periods) have been fulfilled. One "week", the Seventieth Week of Daniel has yet to be fulfilled and when compared with other Scriptures describes the Seven Year period that some refer to as the "Tribulation." It is the period which is abruptly terminated by the Second Coming of Messiah, at which time the believing remnant of Israel (the "one third" of Zechariah 13:8, 9 and the "all Israel" of Romans 11:26) will be saved by grace through faith and will enter into the covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and amplified below in Ezekiel 36:26-27. This regenerated, reborn remnant of Jews will enter into and will "people" the Millennial Kingdom. In Deuteronomy we read an incredible prophecy of divine removal from the land followed by divine compassion to the people... And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where the LORD shall drive you. 28 "And there you will serve gods, the work of man's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. 29 "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. 30 "When you are in distress (THE TIME OF JACOB'S DISTRESS) and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. 31 "For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant (ABRAHAMIC) with your fathers which He swore to them. (Deut 4:27-31+) Comment: Even commentators in the 1800's interpreted this as a reference to the times of the Messiah, Jamieson for example writing in 1863 that "in the age of Messiah, which is commonly called “the latter days”...when the scattered tribes of Israel shall be converted to the Gospel of Christ (Ed: Specifically the believing remnant). The occurrence of this auspicious event will be the most illustrious proof of the truth of the promise made in Dt 4:31" Note that God will show compassion to a believing remnant of Israel in the latter days, not because they deserve it, but because God is a covenant keeping God and He made a promise to Abraham which He will never break. Ezekiel 36:20 "When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD; yet they have come out of His land.': Isa 52:5 Ro 2:24 These: Ex 32:11-13 Nu 14:15,16 Jos 7:9 2Ki 18:30,35 19:10-12 Jer 33:24 Da 3:15 ISRAEL'S DISPERSION FROM LAND CAUSES GENTILES TO PROFANE GOD'S NAME They profaned My holy name - How did they profane God's holy name? The pagan nations knew that the land of Israel was "His land." They associated His people with His name and the fact that Babylon (and her so-called gods) had defeated Judah, was tantamount to defeating Judah's God in the eyes of the "religious" pagans and thus cast aspersions on His name, making it "common" or profane. As Cooper says Israel was a "reproach and profanation of God’s holy name because they made it appear that he had not been able to keep them safe." (Ibid) THOUGHT -Beloved, sadly we as believers today can do the same thing as Israel did (profaning His holy Name)! When others know that we claim Jesus as our Lord and yet live like the world (and in some cases even like the devil is our lord), God's holy Name is profaned. I have had occasion to converse with several foreigners in my home who were visiting the United States for the first time and have been absolutely amazed at their response as I shared Christ and Christianity with them. Invariably, they would make the statement "All of the U.S. is Christian!" In other words they (and most of the world) sees America as a "Christian nation" (NOTE: I WROTE THIS FIRST IN ABOUT 2000)! Woe! Is America "profaning" the Name of God? You be the judge. And if America is profaning the Name of God, what is this doing to God's jealousy and how might He respond? Let all God's people humbly beseech His throne of grace using the pattern of 2Chronicles 7:13, 14. (Observe the expression of time in verse 14!) Profane (02490)(chalal) has three meanings, but in this context the idea is "to profane or to defile, which is used primarily of the ceremonial objects of worship (Ex. 20:25; Ezek 44:7; Dan. 11:31); of the Sabbath (Ex. 31:14; Neh. 13:17; Ezek. 23:38); of God's name (Lev. 18:21; Jer. 34:16); of God's priests (Lev. 21:4, 6). However, it also refers to sexual defilement (Gen. 49:4; Lev. 21:9); the breaking of a covenant (Ps. 89:31[32], 34[35]; Mal. 2:10); and making a vineyard common (Deut. 20:6; 28:30). (Complete Word Study Dictionary ) Profaned - In Ezekiel 36:20 the Septuagint translates with the verb bebeloo (cf word study on bebelos) (Also used in Ezek 36:21, 22, 23, 39:7) meaning to cause something which is highly revered to become identified with that which is common or commonplace. Profane in English means to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt or to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use. My holy name - This phrase occurs 13x in 12v most often in Ezekiel - Lev 20:3; 22:2, 32; Ezek 20:39; 36:20, 21, 22; 39:7 (2x), Ezek 39:25; 43:7, 8; Amos 2:7 Related Resource - Name of the LORD In Isaiah God says... For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act for how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another. (Isaiah 48:11) Comment: The NLT paraphrase helps understand this passage = "I will rescue you (Israel) for my sake--yes, for my own sake! That way, the pagan nations will not be able to claim that their gods have conquered me. I will not let them have my glory!" Here in Ezekiel 36, God is presenting His "rescue plan" for exiled Israel! This divine rescue will take place in the future when the Deliverer comes from Zion (Ro 11:26). God is able to rescue and restore Israel and thereby vindicate His holy Name among the nations (Ezek 36:23)! Ezekiel 36:21 "But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.: Eze 20:9,14,22 De 32:26,27 Ps 74:18 Isa 37:35 48:9 JEHOVAH'S MOTIVATION: CONCERN FOR HIS NAME But - Remember that a contrast signifies a change of direction, in this case from Israel's disobedience and punishment described in Ezekiel 36:17-20. I had concern for My holy name - This is the basis for God's acting in the future to restore His "chosen people" to the land - for the sake of His reputation and His glory! Cooper makes the point that...The revelation of God’s name or character was a major aspect of God’s dealing with Israel from the beginning (cf. Ex 5:2; 9:16; Lev 18:21; 20:3; 22:31-33), and it would continue to be God’s concern (Ezek 39:7-8, 25; 43:7-9). Moses effectively used the appeal to God’s name and character to stay the judgment of annihilation upon Israel after the incident of the golden calf in Ex 32:11-18. He gave the same appeal when the people chose not to enter the land of promise in Nu 14:13-19+. (Ibid) The house of Israel had profaned among the (GENTILE) nations - Israel was associated with the name of their God. Their defeat and humiliation caused the nations to see the God of Israel as impotent and profane (common). Ezekiel 36:22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.: Eze 36:32 De 7:7,8 9:5-7 Ps 106:8 115:1,2 REASON FOR ISRAEL'S RESTORATION: THE GLORY OF THE LORD Not for your sake (Repeated thought in Ezek 36:32, cp Ezekiel 20:44) - The Lord God would not restore the house of Israel because she deserved it but because of His desire to show her His holiness, especially His holy name. God's act of restoration is a clear manifestation of His grace to an undeserving, idolatrous people. Does this sound familiar? Who of us can say we merited His grace? Ezekiel 36:23 "I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the Lord GOD, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.: sanctify: Eze 20:41 38:22,23 Nu 20:12,13 Ps 46:10 Isa 5:16 1Pe 3:15 and the heathen: Eze 39:28 Ex 15:4-16 Ps 102:13-16 126:1-3 Da 2:47 3:28,29 4:2,3 Da 4:34-37 6:26,27 when I shall: Eze 28:22 1Pe 2:9 I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations - He will do it by restoring Israel. Is God's name profaned today? Even profaned because of Israel? I think it is indeed as Israel in continually accused of unfairly treating the Palestinians. Then - When? At the end of this age, God will gather the Jews from all the nations (Ezek 36:24) and then the nations will know that He alone is the omniscient (predicted before it transpired) and omnipotent (power to fulfill His prediction) God. In Warren Wiersbe's final comments on the book of Ezekiel he observes that...If the Book of Ezekiel teaches us anything, it teaches us that we must honor God’s name and magnify His glory. The glory of God departed from Israel because they defiled the temple. The glory of God returned to the new temple because it was holy and a place where God could dwell (Ed: See related resource: Jehovah Shammah -The LORD is There). “They shall know that I am the Lord” is a statement found at least sixty times in Ezekiel’s book. While God’s glory doesn’t dwell in our church buildings, God can be glorified or disgraced by what we do in those buildings we have dedicated to Him. As His people, we must be reverent and honor His name. Ezekiel 36:24 "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.: Eze 11:17 Ezek 34:13 Ezek 37:21,25 Ezek 39:27,28 Dt 30:1-6 Ps 107:2,3 Isa 11:11-16 27:12,13 43:5,6 Jer 23:3-8 30:3,18 31:8 32:37 Jer 50:17-20 Ho 1:11 Am 9:14,15 Ro 11:25,26 A PROPHECY OF ISRAEL'S FUTURE REGATHERING For - Term of explanation. God explains how He will prove Himself holy and cause the nations to know that He is Jehovah. I will...gather you - God will initiate and complete this promise. While there have been an increasing number of Jews returning to Israel in the 21st century, this verse has clearly not been fulfilled. God's regathering of Israel is a repeated emphasis in this last section dealing with restoration of the land and salvation of Israel. See Ezek 34:13, 37:21, 39:27-28. From all the lands - All refers to all the nations they had been scattered which is important in the interpretation of this verse. L E Cooper explains that "the breadth of the reference, especially with the addition of “all,” suggests an eschatological setting. The return to the land in 535BC after the exile in Babylon involved a return from one nation, Babylon, allowed by another nation, the Medo-Persians. Technically three nations were involved in the return of the exiles, Assyria, Babylon, and Medo-Persia.... The reference in Ezekiel to a gathering from “all countries” seems to imply a wider scope for the return that looked beyond the first return from the Assyro-Babylonian captivity. This prophecy reflected the hope of a regathering after the 70AD dispersion among all nations of the world (cf. Ezek 11:16-17; Isa 11:12; Jer 16:15)." (Ezekiel ; The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers) God made a virtually identical promise in the "judgment section" of Ezekiel...Ezekiel 11:17 "Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel."' A C Gaebelein comments that...Only a superficial expositor can speak of a fulfillment when they returned from Babylon. But even if this were so, though it is not, the verses which follow have never been fulfilled in the past. Ezekiel 36:25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.: will : Lev 14:5-7 Nu 8:7 19:13-20 Ps 51:7 Isa 52:15 Joh 3:5 Tit 3:5,6 Heb 9:13,14,19 10:22 1Jn 5:6 filthiness: Eze 36:17,29 37:23 Ps 51:2 Pr 30:12 Isa 4:4 Jer 33:8 Zec 13:1 Ac 22:16 1Co 6:11 2Co 7:1 Eph 5:26,27 Tit 2:14 1Jn 1:7 Rev 1:5 Rev 7:14 from all your idols: Isa 2:18-20 17:7,8 Jer 3:22,23 Ho 14:3,8 Zec 13:2 ISRAEL WILL BE SPIRITUALLY CLEANSED Then - An expression of time. Remember that the "then's" are especially helpful in guiding one to an accurate interpretation in the prophetic writings (e.g., Matthew 24 uses then 9x in 8v - Mt 24:9, 13, 16, 21, 23,, 30, 40, 45 - see especially the "then" of Mt 24:21! Check the context and interrogate with the 5W/H'S). The crucial question is when? He does not state specifically. But in the context God is speaking about Israel and does say Israel will be clean and idol free. The only time that this occurs in Scripture is when the Messiah returns and one-third of Israel is saved by grace through faith (read Zechariah 12:10-14+, Zechariah 13:8,9+). Messiah will return at the end of the Great Tribulation as Israel's Deliverer at which time "all (all that believe - all of the one-third) Israel will be saved." (Ro 11:26+, read Zechariah 14:1-4+) If one does not accept the doctrine of the Millennium, then one would have to say that this "cleansing" (associated in context with receipt of a new heart and the Holy Spirit, i.e., individual spiritual rebirth) occurs in the time of the church age. Is Israel "clean" today from all her moral filthiness? Have you ever visited Israel? I have and was shocked to discover that most of the people I wanted to talk with about the Messiah were not interested in spiritual issues. They were more interested in their idols, money and the good life, not the new life in Christ, the only life that could make them truly clean inside and out. And so if one is Amillennial, they are forced to transfer this promise and all the promises to Israel for that matter to the Church. If one does so, they have broken the basic rule for accurate interpretation -- read the text literally if the context allows and it certainly does in the context of the book of Ezekiel, a book written by a Jewish prophet to Jewish men and women in exile and without hope of ever again having a nation, a holy city and a holy temple. Beloved, you may not agree with the literal approach to the interpretation of Scripture, but it is difficult to dispute the fact that the book of Ezekiel is as "Jewish" and as "Israel-centric" (if you will) as any book in the Bible! I will sprinkle clean water on you - He is speaking figuratively. The best commentary on this passage by the writer of Hebrews who exhorts his believing Jewish audience... Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22, see following passage) For (term of explanation - examine Heb 9:12 to see what is being explained!) if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb 9:13-14). In that day (When you see an expression of time, always pause to interrogate with the 5W/H'S - read Zechariah 12-14 for the 16 uses of "in that day" - then you will know the who, what, where, when, why, how answers to that great and glorious day!) a fountain (Ask - is this literal or figurative? Let the context guide your answer) will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity. (Zechariah 13:1+). F F Bruce writes that the picture of sprinkling clean water is reminiscent of the ‘water of cleansing’ prescribed in Nu 19:9, but that removed external and ceremonial pollution: this is symbolical water and effects inward cleansing (cf. Heb. 9:13, 14). This thought is taken up in the fountain image of Zech. 13:1 +(Ibid). Gaebelein writes that the promise you will be clean typifies typifying the precious blood of Christ in its cleansing power (Heb 9:13-14, Heb 10:22). Thus, when the people of Israel believe on Him and look upon Him whom they pierced (Zech. 12:10+), they will be cleansed. “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness 2 “It will come about in that day,” declares the LORD of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered; and I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land.” (Zech. 13:1-2+) Cooper adds that... Cleansing and forgiveness were symbolized by sprinkling with clean water to wash away their impurities (cf. Ps 51:7). While the reference was to ceremonial cleansing that was necessary to reestablish worship (Nu 19:13, 20), it is important to remember that ceremonial cleansing was an external rite, but it was a ritual that also called for internal repentance. (Ibid) Sprinkle clean water reminds of the beautiful old hymn sung by Red Mountain Music... There is a Fountain Filled With Blood (Another version beautifully sung by Selah) There is a fountain fill'd with blood Drawn from Emmanuel's veins; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day; And there have I, as vile as he, Wash'd all my sins away. Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood Shall never lose its power, Till all the ransom'd church of God Be saved, to sin no more. E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme, And shall be till I die. Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing Thy power to save; When this poor lisping, stammering tongue Lies silent in the grave. Lord I believe Thou hast prepared (Unworthy though I be) For me a blood-bought free reward, A golden harp for me! 'Tis strung and tuned for endless years, And form'd by power divine, To sound in God the Father's ears No other name but Thine. Dr John Walvoord makes a very interesting comment regarding the "Kingdom of God" in the Gospel of John... The Gospel of John has relatively few references to the kingdom of God. This is because John’s Gospel is concerned primarily with the deity of Christ and salvation through Him. The book’s prophetic sections deal with the present inter-Advent age. In John 3:3-5 Christ’s words about entering “the kingdom of God” had in mind both the present spiritual form of the kingdom and His future earthly reign. In both cases it is impossible to enter the kingdom of God without the new birth. Of importance is the fact that Christ rebuked Nicodemus for not knowing this concept, for the Old Testament clearly stated that unless a person had new life he could not enter the kingdom. As brought out in Ezekiel 36:25-31, salvation in the Old Testament clearly involved a new birth, receiving a new heart, and being delivered from the power of sin. Other references to this in the Old Testament include Isaiah 44:2-4; 60:21 ; and Jeremiah 24:7. The only other reference to the kingdom in the Gospel of John is found in John 18:36 where Christ indicated that His kingdom did not receive its power from the world which relies on physical force for its endurance. Whether referring to the present spiritual form of the kingdom or the future millennial kingdom, Christ’s statement would be true in either case. While Christ clearly offered a present form of the kingdom which believers can enter now by new birth, He also reaffirmed the hope of the Jews that there would be a future kingdom in which the Son of David will reign over the house of Israel. (Interpreting Prophecy Today — Part 4 The Kingdom of God in the New Testament) Comment: Clearly Jesus' apostles believed in a literal restoration of Israel. In Acts they ask the resurrected Jesus "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6, cp Acts 3:21) And notice that Jesus did not correct them. He simply stated that the timing was not for them to know but was fixed by the Father's own authority. Henry Morris agrees writing: That the Lord will, at some future time, restore the kingdom to Israel is clear from the fact that He did not correct this idea (often taught in the Old Testament Scriptures) in the disciples' understanding. Note, for example, the further confirmation of this teaching in Acts 15:13-18. He did, however, indicate they were not to be concerned about the time of this future kingdom. They had other more immediate responsibilities. It is also worth noting that Ezekiel 36:25,26 is part of the haftarah (prescribed reading from the Prophets) for Shabbat Para (“heifer”), when Numbers 19 (ceremony of a red heifer...sprinkling) is the Torah reading. The Mishnah "missed' the true meaning of this profound verse: E.g. Rabbi Aqiba said "Happy are you, O Israel. Before whom are you made clean, and who makes you clean? It is your Father Who is in heaven, "as it says, "And I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean." (Ezekiel 36:25). The rabbi did not understand that this was an Old Testament reference to the new birth. F F Bruce writes that... The water of v. 25 and the new spirit of v. 26 are conjoined in the description of the new birth in Jn 3:5+. (Ibid). See commentary Jesus' words to Nicodemus "“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols- God will cleanse them especially from their idolatry, which had defiled the land (Ezek 36:17-18). Ezekiel 36:26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh new heart: De 30:6 Ps 51:10 Jer 32:39 John 3:3-5 2Co 3:18 5:17 Ga 6:15 Eph 2:10 Rev 21:5 the stony: Eze 11:19,20 Zec 7:12 Mt 13:5,20,21 Mk 4:16,17 2Co 3:3 JEHOVAH'S PROMISE OF THE NEW COVENANT Although the actual words "New Covenant" are not in Ezekiel 36, the truths in this chapter clearly describe the New Covenant that God promises to Israel. A new heart and new spirit speak of spiritual regeneration by the Holy Spirit. God is saying He will cause Israel to be born again. I will give you a new heart - God's Spirit will circumcise their unbelieving hearts and give them a heart that loves God, desires to obey Him and has the power to obey Him. This is clearly a description of the New Covenant which is promised in Jeremiah (See also New Covenant in the Old Testament). We need a new heart because we inherited a sinful heart from Adam (Ro 5:12-note, cp Jer 17:9). While God commanded Abraham to carry out physical circumcision, ultimately His desire for all mankind (women included) is spiritual circumcision. In Deuteronomy Moses speaking metaphorically instructed Israel to "Circumcise the foreskin of your heart." (Deut 10:16KJV) How is this humanly possible? It's not! Moses gives us the answer (addressing Israel but applicable to all mankind) declaring that "Jehovah your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live (spiritually, cp all mankind needs a "divine heart transplant" = Eph 2:1-note). Remember that Scripture is always the best commentary on Scripture (Compare Scripture with Scripture), and so we go to Colossians where Paul teaches us that "in Him (Christ) you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands (Paul is addressing those who have already become believers or saints by grace through faith, see "the Gospel" in Col 1:4-5-note Col 1:6-note), in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. (Personal faith or belief in His death, burial and resurrection gives us spiritual life via the New Covenant in His blood) having been buried with Him in baptism (identification with Christ's death, burial and resurrection), in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And when you were (spiritually) dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions" (Col 2:11, 12, 13-note) Another NT parallel is found in the words of Jesus' to Nicodemus in John 3.... Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5+) Comment - The Jews were looking forward to the Kingdom of God when Messiah ruled and Israel was the chief nation of the earth, a time that will be fulfilled in the Millennium, that begins after the King of kings returns to defeat the antichrist and Gentile nations arrayed against Israel and against Jehovah. Jesus was telling this respected ruler and teacher of Israel that only those who were BORN AGAIN would see/enter the Messianic Kingdom and experience the glories of the righteous reign of the Righteous One! Earlier in Ezekiel 11 Jehovah had given rebellious Israel a parallel promise. What is amazing is that this promise is given even as the Glory of the Lord ( this link also has a chart of the Glory of God - Past, Present and Future) is departing Solomon's Temple! So even though God was leaving, this would not be a permanent departure, for God will one day fulfill the promise.... Ezekiel 11:19-20+ And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them (THEY WILL BE ENABLED TO OBEY FOR THEY WILL HAVE A NEW POWER, THE SPIRIT). Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. Jeremiah declared God's promise to Israel.. Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans. For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. And I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:5-7) In Jeremiah 31 God gives Israel the greatest promise in the Old Testament... Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt (Which covenant?), My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. 33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days (See Millennium Part 2)," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people (Cp "I will put my Spirit within them" - so they have both the Law and the power to obey the law! Are you trying to "keep the law" in your own strength dear believer? Give it up! Quit trying and start "dying" to self, surrendering to the Spirit! Then and ONLY THEN, you will be empowered to keep the law!). 34 "And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity (This was always pictured for them in the Day of Atonement, but now because Jesus was the "Scapegoat" who bore our sins into the desert so to speak, the Father is propitiated or satisfied and can fully forgive the believing remnant's sins [and ours dear Gentile believer who has entered the New Covenant originally promised to the house of Israel and the house of Judah] as far as the east is from the west!), and their sin I will remember no more." (This is part of the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ) 35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day, and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; the LORD of hosts (Jehovah Sabaoth) is His name: 36 "If this fixed order departs from before Me," declares the LORD, "Then the offspring of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me forever." (May the Spirit open the eyes of your heart to understand what He inspired as a literal promise to literal Israel. The church is not mentioned in this passage and to insert that meaning is to jettison the truth of the simple, normal reading of the text. Praise Jehovah that His promises to Israel are absolutely as sure as the sun rising, the seas billowing and the seasons coming! Hallelujah!) 37 Thus says the LORD, "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done," declares the LORD. (Beloved, in our technologically advanced age have the heavens been measured?) 38 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the city (Jerusalem) shall be rebuilt for the LORD (in preparation for the returning Messiah's rule and reign of the entire earth!) from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. (Jeremiah 31:34-38+) Later Jeremiah emphatically repeats His promises to Israel... (Jehovah is speaking - count the "I wills"! Do you have any doubt that the omnipotent God will do exactly as He says!) Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, in My wrath, and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety. 38 "And they shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good, and for the good of their children after them. 40 "And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. 41 "And I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul. 42 "For thus says the LORD, 'Just as I brought all this great disaster on this people, so I am going to bring on them all the good that I am promising them. (Jeremiah 32:37-42+) Finally Jeremiah writes... "In those days and at that time (Whenever you see an expression of time stop and interrogate with the 5W/H'S ! See Millennium Part 2 events leading up to the Millennium Part 3)," declares Jehovah, "the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be the LORD their God they will seek (Cp Ro 3:11b - How or why would they seek Jehovah? See Ro 11:36). They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant (Heb 13:20+. This is the New Covenant in His blood [Lk 22:20+., 1Cor 11:25], the Covenant of Grace [entered by grace through faith and lived out the same way as we are enabled by the Spirit! Gal 3:1, 2, 3+, Gal 5:1, 7+, Gal 5:16+] - that will not be forgotten." (Jeremiah 50:4-5) Even in the "Blessing and Cursing" chapters of Deuteronomy (Deut 28-30), God had given Israel (not the church) a prophetic promise of restoration to the land and salvation of those regathered... “So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the LORD your God has banished you, 2 and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, 3 then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. 4 “If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. 5 “The LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed (NOTE: THIS IS NOT A PROMISE TO THE CHURCH OR SO-CALLED "SPIRITUAL ISRAEL" BUT TO THE LITERAL NATION OF ISRAEL - TO MAKE IT THE CHURCH WOULD TOTALLY "YANK" IT OUT OF CONTEXT!), and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers (EMPHASIZING THAT HE IS SPEAKING TO ISRAEL). 6 “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants (see Excursus on Circumcision - this is the OT equivalent of the New Birth - see John 3:3+, truth Nicodemus surely knew, but he did not have "spiritual eyes" to comprehend), to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. (Dt 30:1-6- see commentary) The circumcision of their heart is another way of describing, the New Birth, their salvation by grace through faith and entrance into the New Covenant, which includes the promise of the Holy Spirit (Ezek 36:27) (See comments on John 3:3 = THE CONCEPT OF REGENERATION OR NEW BIRTH IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS) Related Resources: What is replacement theology What is spiritual Israel? What is New Israel? New Covenant in the Old Testament Glory of God Shekinah glory cloud - Garland's The Abiding Presence of God God's Plan for Jerusalem: Five Prophetic Mountain Peaks I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh - This heart change will be made possible by the New Covenant. God was seeking not for a legal relationship, but a loving relationship, not a legal contract on stone, but a loving heart that is motivated to please Him. The law would be in their heart and their obedience would now be motivated by love not law, by Spirit enabled desire, not fleshly force. All believers have experienced this softening of our heart toward God and most likely have witnessed this profound transformation by the Spirit in the lives of others who have come to know Christ by grace through faith. Cooper commenting on Jehovah's similar promise in Ezekiel 11:19 adds that..."A hard heart is stubborn and unresponsive to God (Ex 4:21, etc.). In 2Chr 34:27 the Lord blessed King Josiah because unlike his predecessors, his “heart was ‘soft’ [“responsive”] and [he] humbled [himself] before God.” After his encounter with David, Nabal’s heart is said to have “failed him, and he became like a stone.” Ten days later he died (1Sa 25:37-38). He seems to have been stricken with paralysis, perhaps due to a stroke. H. W. Wolff applies the sense to Ezek 11:19-20; Ezek 36:26-27: “The heart of stone is the dead heart…which is unreceptive and makes all the limbs incapable of action. The heart of flesh is the living heart, full of insight, which is at the same time ready for new action. The new rūah (spirit/Spirit) brings to the perception and will of the heart the new vital power to hold on steadfastly in willing obedience.” (Ibid) Ezekiel 36:27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances I will: Eze 37:14 39:29 Pr 1:23 Isa 44:3,4 59:21 Joe 2:28,29 Zec 12:10 Lu 11:13 Ro 8:9,14-16 1Co 3:16 Ga 5:5,22,23 Eph 1:13,14 2Th 2:13 Tit 3:3-6 1Pe 1:2,22 1Jn 3:24 cause: Eze 37:24 Jer 31:33 Ga 5:16 Col 2:6 Php 2:12,13 Tit 2:11-14 Heb 13:21 1Jn 1:6,7 2Jn 1:6 POURING OUT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT I consider this passage one of the most wonderful promises in the entire Bible. So before you read further, take a moment to meditate on this passage, asking your Teacher, the Spirit of Christ (Ro 8:9+, Jn 14:26, 1 John 2:20+, 1 John 2:27+, 1Cor 2:13+), to open your "minds to understand the Scriptures." (Luke 24:45+) and rest assured that He will affirmatively answer your humble, sincere, honest, believing request (According to God's Word in 1 John 5:14, 15+). Then you can read the notes below as a good Berean "to see whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11+) Cooper makes an excellent point addressed to New Testament believers, especially Gentile believers writing that..."The temptation to find the fulfillment of the “new heart” and “new spirit” of Ezekiel 36:25-27 exclusively in Christian conversion in this age should be resisted. (ED: AMEN AND AMEN!!!) New Testament conversion is only a preview of the massive spiritual revival God has in store for all of true Israel (remnant) and Gentiles who believe. The New Testament concept of redemption came out of the theology of the Old Testament. The similarities exist because what God wants to do for Israel is what he wants to do for everyone (cf Ro 11:17-18ff+). The point of Israel’s election to nationhood in Ex 19:1-8 was that they be mediators of the message of God’s salvation by fulfilling their missionary role as a “kingdom of priests.” When Israel did not fulfill its role, God used the New Testament church as a means of presenting the message of redemption. So the church will be used ultimately to reach Israel as well (Ro 10:1+; Ro 11:25-33+). (Ibid) I will put My Spirit within you - This was initially but only partially fulfilled at Pentecost (see Acts 2:1-4+) when the Jewish believers were filled with the Holy Spirit. This promise awaits full fulfillment at the return of the Messiah when "all Israel will be saved" (Ro 11:26+, all who believe - read Zechariah 12:10-14+, Zechariah 13:8,9+), see also the remnant) at which time all of Israel who have entered the New Covenant by grace through faith will receive the indwelling Spirit, Who will be with them forever. And - Don't miss this important copulative (connecting) conjunction! This great passage "works" but it only works as a "unit!" The truths of the first clause are integrally related to and necessary for the fulfillment of the second clause! Is this mysterious? It is to me, but I believe it is true even though I cannot fully comprehend how it works. So read on... And cause you to walk in My statutes - Beloved, how could they (and any believer) every hope to obey the Law? We simply cannot in our own intrinsic strength! Attempts to keep the law, lead to legalism which blunts the flow of transforming, empowering grace which we desperately need to obey the law. How quickly we all forget that "while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death." (Romans 7:5+) Pause for a moment and note the effect or "power" of the Law on our sinful nature. Do you see it in Romans 7:5? (cf 1Cor 15:56+) The moment we make our little list of do's and don'ts, we arouse the flesh! God is saying in Ezekiel 36:27 that His Spirit will cause us to obey the Law. His Spirit will give us the desire (the "want to" we need because our fallen flesh cries "I don't want to"...to forgive, to be patient with my spouse, to love my wife like Christ loved the church, to live at peace with all men, etc, etc) and the power or ability to follow through (discussed more below). Puritan Thomas Watson said that... The Lord doth not only fit work for us, but fits us for our work; with His command He gives power. Cooper writes that... the Spirit of God will “move” them to follow (“walk in”) his laws (Ezek 36:27). Inability to keep the law was a primary concern presented by the apostle Paul. He lamented his struggle and failure to keep the law in his own strength (Ro 7:13-25) and followed that lament with the solution in Ro 8:1-39. The solution to his dilemma was living in the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 5:16-26). (Ibid) THE NEW TESTAMENT Paul's command to the saints at Philippi is a virtual "mirror image" of the great truth in Ezekiel 36:27... Work out (katergazomai in the present imperative = command to continually make the effort to bring this to completion. As discussed below the effort is not self-effort but Spirit enabled-effort) your salvation (Note: Not work for our salvation, but work out - this refers not to our one time salvation by grace through faith [justification] but our daily on-going salvation also by grace through faith, so called "present tense salvation" or progressive sanctification - see the Three Tenses of Salvation) with fear and trembling (What should be our attitude? A shaking fear? No, but a holy, reverential awe and fear of walking in a manner other than pleasing to and glorifying of our Father, see 1Peter 1:17-note, 2Cor 7:1-note, 2Cor 5:9-note, 2Cor 5:10-note) for (term of explanation) it is God Who is at work (energeo in present tense = continually energizing) in you (Who is this beloved? Is this not the Spirit of Christ, Ro 8:9, 1Cor 3:16, 1Cor 6:19), both to will (We don't "want to" but God gives us the "want to") and to work (energeo in present tense = continually energizing. We don't have the power to do this by ourselves and continually must choose to jettison "self-reliance" and surrender to and depend on "Spirit reliance!") for His good pleasure. (Php 2:12-note, Php 2:13-note) Comment: Succinctly stated, saints are to work out what the Spirit works in! THE DESIRE THE POWER The New Living Translation (nice paraphrase but should not be primary Bible for serious inductive Bible study - see Bible Versions) poetically paraphrases verse 13 writing that "God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him." As mentioned above how the two clauses in Ezekiel 36:27 and Php 2:12, 13 integrally work together to enable believers to truly experience the abundant supernatural, Spirit filled life is mysterious to me. The following digression deals with this mysterious interaction which I call "Sacred Synergism", a term not intended to be sacrilegious! A SACRED SYNERGISM: OUR RESPONSIBILITY GOD'S SOVEREIGN PROVISION I am not an advocate of the popular phrase "let go and let God" (perhaps more Scripturally we could say "Let's go and let God!"), the latter part of the slogan is vital to comprehend because when we as believers are left to ourselves, we can never obey God's statutes in our own strength. Why? The reason is because every believer still has the indwelling residual, rebellious nature often termed the flesh. The Spirit of God Who indwells the believer is the only power Who can overcome the ungodly, anti-God inertia of the flesh (Read Galatians 5:16 carefully and then study the notes). As we learn to surrender and yield and be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit (cp Eph 5:18-note), He gives us not only the desire to obey God's commands, but also the power to accomplish the obedience, all in a manner that is pleasing to God (Php 2:13-note). And yet it is not all "let go and let God", for every believer has the responsibility to work out their salvation in fear and trembling (Php 2:12b-note). Is this a bit mysterious? Does it sound like "spiritual double-talk?" As believers we are to work out our salvation and that is 100% our responsibility and yet it is 100% God's enabling ability! This is a picture of synergism which is defined as the interaction of discrete agents (in this case believers on one hand indwelt by the divine Agent, the Holy Spirit, on the other hand) such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects. QUALIFIED SYNERGISM Jerry Bridges terms this mysterious partnership the Holy Spirit's synergistic work explaining that it... refers to occasions that combine our effort with His enabling power. But this isn’t a pure synergism, as if we and the Spirit each contributed equal power to the task. Rather, we work as He enables us to work, so we use the expression qualified synergism. We’re 100 percent dependent on His power in order to participate in the work, as the psalmist illustrated: Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain (Psalm 127:1-See Spurgeon's note). Two activities are mentioned: building a house and watching over a city. The Lord’s involvement isn’t one of helping but of building the house and watching over the city. At the same time, the builder builds and the watchman watches. The verse’s message is that the Lord doesn’t merely help the builder and the watchman; He’s totally involved with them in this qualified synergism. He supplies all the enabling power, and they do all the tangible work. There are many such examples in the New Testament. We’re to “put to death the deeds of the body” (Ed: Our part) —the sin that remains in us—yet we do so “by the Spirit” (Ed: His power) (Romans 8:13-note). We’re to use the spiritual gifts we’ve received to serve God and other people, yet we do so “by the strength that God supplies” (1Peter 4:10,11-note). (Bolding and italics added for emphasis). (The Bookends of the Christian Life - Jerry Bridges, Bob Bevington-highly recommended - excellent discussion of the "Second Bookend," entitled "The Power of the Holy Spirit." To motivate you to read this book, check out a few Customer Reviews). In Ezekiel 37 God again promises... I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’ (Ezek 37:14+). God's gift of the Holy Spirit to Israel is mentioned several times by the Old Testament prophets... Isaiah 32:15 Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fertile field And the fertile field is considered as a forest. Isaiah 44:3 (cp Isa 45:17) 'For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, And My blessing on your descendants; Ezekiel 39:29+ "And I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel," declares the Lord GOD. Henry