February 20, 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 39 (NIV)
1 “Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. 2 I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. 3 Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand........Continue Reading
Ezekiel sure has been marked by graphic and sometimes uncomfortable imagery in its prophetic messages. The idea that the animals would feast on the dead after God’s victory over Gog is a powerful and somewhat gross image. That the ceremonial victory supper would be birds and animals feasting on the dead because there would be so many. The idea that it would be difficult to walk in the land and it would take 7 months to clear the land and bury the dead.
God’s wrath is real, like Pastor spoke about yesterday this may not be the way we like to think about God but this is the reality of sin and disobedience.
Picturing in my own mind what was done to Gog and his people at the top of the mountains eaten by the birds and wild animals. then raining fire on all there Allies on the coast. The Lord says gather all weapons and use for fuel for 7 years. It will take 7 months to bury the body. The land will be clean after that. God says the nations will know that the Israelites were sent away for their vile sins. He will bring his people back and says he will never tun his back on them again and I will pour my spirit upon them. What a vision of just how much God hated sin. God gives free will.but there are consequences even today from wrong choices.
Ezekiel 39
I agree with Kelly. This verse ties into Pastors sermon yesterday.
God is not to be trifled with!
Sin & unfaithfulness must be addressed and as clear as it is in this chapter, mercy can end.
God punished and sent them into extreme exile..yet in the end, God delivered them from their enemies, ‘not leaving any behind.’ His love never ends.
This chapter mentions the destruction of Magog. God says it is come and it is done. He has spoken. It is very awful what happens after they die, The ravenous birds and the beasts of the field devour them. The house of Israel will take seven months burying the bodies. Also all the weapons will take seven years to burn with fire. At the end of the chapter God promises Israel that he will never hide his face anymore from them. For he will pour out his spirit upon them.
Ezekiel 39
God is against Gog and Gog is going to try to come against God’s people. In fact God will lead him there. He is sovereign over all and will orchestrate the defeat of this great army. All the imagery in the chapter points to how great and numerous this army is. And yet they are nothing compared to the power of God. God is the great overcomer and He makes His people over-comers too. This should lead the Jews and us not fear when powerful foes come against us, or it seems like we are losing against evil. God will always win. He is always more powerful and able. And any setbacks it might seem we are suffering is all part of the plan to grow us and to more clearly reveal that the power comes from Him and therefore the glory is due Him.
And how great how the chapter ends with God declaring that His children will be returned to the land and God will make it all right for them.
Ezekiel 40
Gog will come against Israel as we saw in the last chapter, but they will surely regret it.
They will fall and become food for the birds.
The Israelites will be clearing the dead for 7 months.
They will use weapons for fuel for 7 years.
Ezekiel 39
When Gog marches against Israel, God’s wrath comes upon them. He will not let his holy name be profaned anymore and he will destroy his enemies in such a way that everyone will know that it was the Lord who did it. They will also realize that Israel was sent into captivity because they turned their backs on God. He is now restoring them, protecting them, and bringing them back from other lands to substantiate his holiness in the sight of other nations.