February 17, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Ezekiel? Here’s today’s reading:
Ezekiel 36 (NIV)
Hope for the Mountains of Israel
1 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. 2 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The enemy said of you, “Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession.” ’ 3 Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:.......Continue Reading
Ezekiel 36
God describes all the things that Israel has been through which is all he had told them would happen!
He now describes what will be in store for them. He tells the Israelites the other nations will face the same wrath as they did.
Good times will return to Israel with heavy crops of fruit, as they will be coming home soon! He will prepare the ground for their crops. Flocks and herds will be many!
God actually was concerned about his reputation that was ruined by his own people. The Lord again shows his love by telling them he will bring them back but not because they deserved it. He is doing it to protect his own reputation. He says he will be honored once he brings them back. Wow. He will give them New hearts filled with love and new and right desires, and put spirit within you. He repeats himself that this was not done for them but for his glory. What a great chapter of restoration of his people.
Ezekiel 36
“They shall know that I am the Lord” words we heard many times during the passing judgements we also hear during His restoration because only God can both give and take away. A reminder that He is Sovereign and He has control over everything.
He desires relationship with Israel as He does with us still today. He must correct but He is always ready to restore when we turn from our evil ways and return to Him.
Ezekiel 36
God is a Holy God and hates sin. But He always keeps His promises. Mankind left to themselves will rebel against God and do much wickedness.
Yet God still loves Israel and promises to bring them to their own land that was promised to them. Despite themselves God says in verse 21 But I had pity for mine holy name and verse 22 I do not this for your sakes oh house of Israel but for mine holy names sake. Verse 23 I will sanctify my great name. I think that much of this is the end times. God will give the people of Israel a new heart and give a new spirit inside them.
But as Christians we apply much of this to ourselves. As gentiles when we come to Christ he gave us a new heart and a new spirit within us. Left to ourselves like the rest of mankind we are sinners. Thank God for His grace and mercy upon us.
Amen, Dennis!
It is interesting that God speaks to the mountains of Israel as they have the purview to see all that has happened in Israel..both the enemies that have gloated over Israel and possessed the land as squatters and the evil that Israel did to discredit God’s name. And as others have said, He will bring the Jews back to the land and have the mountains flourish to support the flourishing people, He will do it to fix the reproach on His name that the Jews caused. It is really sad that the very people that were called to demonstrate God’s goodness, power and blessing and thus point people to Him, defied God by following the gods of other nations and thereby discredited God. It is much like us today, if we talk about how good God is and what benefits there are in following Him, but then we don’t follow Him, we actually discredit God in our hypocrisy. Just think about how many have done that very thing……let’s make sure we are not one of them and be a positive witness to our great, awesome and mighty God.
God will rebuild the house of Israel for His name’s sake.
Ezekiel 36
God will bring the Israelites back to their land for the sake of his holy name. He knows that bringing them back will not keep them from being wicked, so he cleanses them from their sin, gives them a heart of flesh and puts his Spirit in them to help them walk in his ways. He is a loving God, and he does the same for us when we believe in his Son, Jesus Christ.