| The Vision of God—From Shame to Glory
Israel had become a shameful, weak nation among the nations of the ancient world. Theirs was a shame that was laid not only at their feet but at the feet of their God. In the eyes of the nations who either plundered or conquered the Israelite people, it clearly seemed that their pagan gods were far superior to the God of Israel. This perception of God and His people is something God will not let stand. Not only will God restore His people to their land but also His favor and blessings upon them. The nations will see that it was God's holiness that demanded judgment upon the sins of Israel. But it is His love and sovereign power that would restore the nation and its people. Furthermore, God promises to act in such a way to assure that nations such as Edom would not misinterpret their success in conquering Israel. Although God used them as a tool of chastening upon Israel, they would still be held ultimately accountable to God for their hatred, envy, and bloodthirsty violence against God's people (35:6-15). God will make His glory real to the nations and to Israel in the way He will transform both the hearts of the people and the prosperity of the land (36:9-23). There are very clear parallels in how God has dealt with Israel and how He deals with followers of Christ today. The history of the church gives us abundant proof of God's disciplining hand as well as His restoring grace. When the church has wandered from the truth that is found only in a Biblical revelation of God, it has always been followed by the "world" treating it as an irrelevant, powerless force. When Christians embrace compromising lives and beliefs in order to win acceptance from the world, the result is a compromised and weak Church being trampled by non-believers. But it's equally true that when repentance comes, revival begins to break forth within the Church. God cleanses us, creates a new heart and spirit within us, and fills us with the power of His Holy Spirit. God wants to be known by us all and, through us, by the world. We all need Him and were made for Him. Until His glory is seen within us, we are nothing but chaff blowing in the wind, no matter how much our religious activity. Yet when God begins to work among humble, broken hearts, He will be hallowed in the eyes of a world that once mocked both God and His people. | |||
 | |||
Ezekiel 35:1-36:38 Judgment on Mount Seir 1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it, 3 and say to it, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O Mount Seir, I am against you; 4 I shall lay your cities waste, 5 "Because you have had an ancient hatred, and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, when their iniquity came to an end, 6 therefore, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; since you have not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue you. 7 Thus I will make Mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it the one who leaves and the one who returns. 8 And I will fill its mountains with the slain; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those who are slain by the sword shall fall. 9 I will make you perpetually desolate, and your cities shall be uninhabited; then you shall know that I am the LORD. 10 "Because you have said, 'These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess them,' although the LORD was there, 11 therefore, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will do according to your anger and according to the envy which you showed in your hatred against them; and I will make Myself known among them when I judge you. 12 Then you shall know that I am the LORD. I have heard all your blasphemies which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, 'They are desolate; they are given to us to consume.' 13 Thus with your mouth you have boasted against Me and multiplied your words against Me; I have heard them." 14 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "The whole earth will rejoice when I make you desolate. 15 As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom—all of it! Then they shall know that I am the LORD."' Ezekiel 36 Blessing on Israel1 "And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD! 2 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because the enemy has said of you, 'Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession,'"' 3 therefore prophesy, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because they made you desolate and swallowed you up on every side, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you are taken up by the lips of talkers and slandered by the people"— 4 therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, the valleys, the desolate wastes, and the cities that have been forsaken, which became plunder and mockery to the rest of the nations all around— 5 therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I have spoken in My burning jealousy against the rest of the nations and against all Edom, who gave My land to themselves as a possession, with wholehearted joy and spiteful minds, in order to plunder its open country."' 6 "Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, and the valleys, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and My fury, because you have borne the shame of the nations." 7 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you shall bear their own shame. 8 But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. 9 For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 10 I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. 12 Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, My people Israel; they shall take possession of you, and you shall be their inheritance; no more shall you bereave them of children." 13 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because they say to you, 'You devour men and bereave your nation of children,' 14 therefore you shall devour men no more, nor bereave your nation anymore," says the Lord GOD. 15 "Nor will I let you hear the taunts of the nations anymore, nor bear the reproach of the peoples anymore, nor shall you cause your nation to stumble anymore," says the Lord GOD.'" The Renewal of Israel16 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 17 "Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity. 18 Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had shed on the land, and for their idols with which they had defiled it. 19 So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds. 20 When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD, and yet they have gone out of His land.' 21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went. 22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 Not for your sake do I do this," says the Lord GOD, "let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!" 33 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. 35 So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.' 36 Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it." 37 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the LORD."'" | |||
 | |||
| Ezekiel 35:1-36:38 v. 2 set your face against – The phrase illustrates God telling Ezekiel to boldly speak against a people group (Eze. 4:3, 7; 6:2; 13:17; 20:46; 21:2; 25:2; 28:21; 29:2; 35:2; 38:2). Mount Seir – Se'iyr (Heb.) a mountain range in Edom extending from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic Gulf. v. 3 Desolate – shemamah (Heb.) devastation, waste v. 5 an ancient hatred – The people of Edom were the descendants of Esau. The hatred between Edom and Israel goes all the way back to the time Jacob talked Esau out of his birthright (Gen. 25:31-34; 27:36). shed the blood of the children of Israel – When Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans, the Edomites took advantage of the situation and took part of the spoil. They did further damage as they either slew those Israelites who tried to escape or delivered them over to their invading armies (Obed. 8-15). the time of their calamity – In 586 BC, when the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. when their iniquity came to an end – after the Israelites had already received full punishment for their sins from God v. 6 I will prepare you for blood – prepare you for a slaughter and a bloodbath you have not hated blood – you have not hated shedding the blood of others v. 7 the one who leaves and the one who returns – the one who might try to escape as well as the one who might try to return v. 8 its mountains…hills…valleys…ravines – the slain of Edom will be found high and low throughout the entire land v. 9 perpetually desolate – a wasteland forever, never to be restored v. 10 These two nations …shall be mine – referring to Edom's desire to possess and dominate both Israel and Judah v. 11 I will make Myself known – through divine judgment v. 12 blasphemies – ne'atsah (Heb.) scorn, contempt, provocation against the Lord (v. 13). against the mountains of Israel – Against the highest, most glorious parts of Israel (Eze. 6:2, 3; 19:9). to consume – oklah (Heb.) object of devouring, consuming; figurative of God's judgment here v. 15 all of Edom – Land south and south east of Palestine where the Edomites, the descendants of Esau live. Ezekiel 36v. 1 mountains of Israel – The glory and high points of Israel; representing all of Israel. v. 2 The ancient heights – The highest part of the land, specifically referring to highest parts of Israel between the Jordan Valley and the Mediterranean Sea. v. 3 the possession of the rest of the nations – Various parts of Israel had by this time frequently been conquered and dominated by various nations and finally taken wholly captive by Babylon. the lips of talkers – Israel had become the brunt of slanderers and mockers because of her calamity. v. 4 mountains…hills…rivers…valleys…desolate wastes…cities – The Lord notifies all of Israel that the time is coming for her total restoration for His name's sake. v. 5 My burning jealousy – Or, the burning zeal of my jealousy. Israel is the Lord's possession. Yet the heathen nations have dominated and possessed her. God is declaring that He is jealous over the people of His possession. His future plan is to bring them back to Himself. Edom – This nation has consistently treated God's people Israel with treachery and acts of barbarism. v. 6 My Jealousy – qin'ah (Heb.) ardor, zeal, passion My fury – chemah (Heb.) hot displeasure, heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath. the shame of the nations – The heathen nations have shamed Israel by conquering and enslaving them. v. 7 raised My hand in an oath – The Lord swears a solemn oath to Israel (Gen. 14:22-24, Eze. 20:5). shall bear their own shame – They shall be put to shame for the way they treated God's people Israel. v. 8 shoot forth…yield your fruit – A promise of a coming time of fruitful productivity because of the Lord's restored favor (v. 9). My people Israel – The Lord declares Israel to be His people 36 times in the NKJV bible. Only once does the Lord refer to any other country as "My people" (Is. 19:25). v. 10 I will multiply men…ruins rebuilt – The Lord's promise of restoration of both the population and the ruined cities of Israel. v. 11 I will multiply upon you man and beast – The Lord promises to restore Israel's produce (v. 8), population (v. 10), and livestock (v. 11). Better for you – The Lord clearly promises a future for Israel that is much better than any of her past. v. 12 Israel…their inheritance – The land of Israel was promised to Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 26:3; 28:4, 13; 35:12) making the land of Israel the "inherited" Promised Land for the Hebrew people. no more…bereave them of children – The people of Israel will no longer be childless because of their sins committed on the mountains of Israel. v. 13 You devour men and bereave your nation – The taunt of the other nations was that Israel is a land that devours its own people and leaves them childless. v. 15 taunts of the nations…reproach of the peoples – The Lord promises Israel that He would end the sneers, criticism and ridicule that comes from the surrounding nations. stumble – Kashal (Heb.), meaning to totter or waver; to falter, stumble, faint or fall. In this context, to fall away from the Lord. v. 17 their own land – the Promised Land of Israel defiled – tame (Heb.) to be foul, especially in a ceremonial or moral sense (contaminated) by their own ways and deeds – Descriptive of a wayward, sinful lifestyle that serves oneself rather than the Lord (Is. 53:6, 55:7, 56:11; Rom. 3:10-19). a woman in her customary impurity – Speaking of a woman in the time of her monthly menstrual period. This was considered a time of ceremonial uncleanness before the Lord (Lev. 15:19-33, Is. 64:6). v. 18 My fury – chemah (Heb.) hot displeasure, heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath. blood they had shed…idols – A concise representation of the sins of Israel ranging from their social injustice to their idolatrous practices. v. 19 So I scattered them – The Lord reminds Ezekiel that He was the One who sent His people into bondage of the nations as a judgment for their sins. According to their ways…deeds – The Lord does not judge a person according to what they may call them selves or what group they may associate with. God judges each individual according to his or her actions and way of life (Ps. 62:12; Is. 3:10,11; Jer. 17:10; Eze. 18:30; Matt. 16:27, 25:34-46; Rev. 22:12). v. 20 When…they profaned My holy name – God's good name and holy reputation was spoken against by the nations when they saw that God's people seemed to be abandoned by their God and rejected from their Promised Land. It appeared that God was unable to keep His promises to His people. Profaned – chalal (Heb.) to defile, pollute, desecrate, wound v. 21 I had concern for My holy name – God's concern stated here was that His reputation had been tarnished among the nations of whom He greatly desired to be properly known in. His character was brought into question among the nations because of the plight of His chosen people (v. 23, 36, 38). v. 22 for My holy name's sake – The Lord reveals His reason for restoring Israel to their Promised Land. It was not because they deserved restoration, and not merely for their own sake, but for His reputation's sake (v. 21-23, 2 Kings 13:23). v. 23 sanctify – qadash (Heb.), meaning to be set apart or consecrated. The Lord now seeks to clear His holy Name among the nations and to make known His true righteous character. Hallowed – qadash (Heb.) Same Hebrew word translated as "sanctify" (above.) when I am hallowed in you before their eyes – When the nations see the Lord for Who He really is they will have reverence and awe for His holy name. God will be glorified among the heathen nations through Israel's restoration. v. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you – This was a figurative language that the people of Israel could understand since the sprinkling of water was an act of spiritual ceremony cleansing (Ex. 30:19-20; Lev. 14:51; Num. 19:18). The major difference between "ceremonial washings" and this was that instead of the people going through ceremonial washing of themselves, God Himself promises to do the sprinkling and cleansing. your filthiness…your idols – Israel's idolatrous worship practices had made her spiritually filthy and morally unacceptable in God's eyes. v. 26 new heart…new spirit – The Lord promises to cleanse His backslidden people and make then "new" by transforming them from the inside out (11:18-20, 18:31). heart – leb (Heb.) inner man, mind, will, understanding and feelings spirit – ruwach (Heb.) wind, breath, mind heart of stone…heart of flesh – Their hearts had become hardened, wicked and far from God. As a cure, God Himself promised to renew and change them by removing their hard heart and giving them a soft heart in order that they might properly love Him. v. 27 My Spirit within you – God promises to impart His Holy Spirit to His people, which is the only way to enable them to be godly. This is what David prayed for, over 400 years earlier (Ps. 51:7-12). walk in My statutes – to live according to God's commandments and to obey His decrees (Lev. 26:3; 1 Kings 6:12; Eze. 11:20). Statutes – choq (Heb.) God's appointed boundaries, commandments, customs, decrees Judgments – mishpat (Heb.) a verdict pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (divine law, individual or collective) Your fathers – the ancestors and patriarchs of the tribes of Israel. i.e. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Deut 1:8, 2 Kings 13:23) My people…I will be your God – This was the Lord's primary objective in His covenant with the house of Israel (Lev. 26:12; Jer. 7:23, 11:4, 30:22; Joel 2:27). v. 29 uncleannesses – tum'ah (Heb.) religious impurity, moral filthiness Grain…multiply…no famine – The Lord's promised restoration includes fruitful productivity of the land with a provision of ample rain for all crops. In the next verse (30), the Lord promises to also bless the fruit of Israel's trees and all crops of the field. v. 30 never again bear the reproach of famine – History has witnessed a great restoration of people, of fruit and other agricultural crops in modern-day Israel. But the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy is still in the future, for contemporary Israel is still spiritually backslidden. v. 31 loathe – quwt (Heb.) detest, be grieved, abhor self. True repentance leads to remorse over one's sin and evil deeds. v. 32 Not for your sake – The Lord again reminds His people again that His kindness to them is not because they deserve it and not for their sakes' alone (notes v. 22, 2 Kings 13:23). Be ashamed – buwsh (Heb.) to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed, confounded confounded – kalam (Heb.) to insult, shame, humiliate, blush, be ashamed, be reproached, be put to confusion for your own ways – Israel should rightly feel ashamed and humiliated because of her own sinful behavior. They were totally undeserving of God's kindness. v. 35 like the garden of Eden – a representation of great fertility such as before the fall fortified – batsar (Heb.) having a strong, defensive wall v. 36 I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it – The Lord signs His personal name Yahweh (Heb., Recognized by LORD in all caps in the NKJV bible) to this promise as an absolute guarantee of its fulfillment (Num. 23:19). v. 37 will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me – God will allow His people to bring their petitions before Him. The Lord will once more listen to the prayers of His people and answer them (Ps. 66:18). v. 38 Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices – God is comparing the men of Israel to a large gathering of holy sheep set apart unto Himself on a great and sacred feast day (1 Kings 8:63, 1 Chron. 29:21; 2 Chron. 35:7). Jerusalem – Yeruwshalaim (Heb.), meaning foundation of peace. The chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom of Israel and later of the nation of Judah after Israel was split into northern and southern kingdoms. feast days – mow'ed (Heb.) an appointment, a fixed time or season; specifically, a religious festival; a solemn assembly | |||
 | |||
| And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. –Ezekiel 36:23 Lord, we do not wish to be a people who profane Your holy name. Give us a thirst to know You through prayer and Your word, so that we will not be guilty of misrepresenting You. | |||
 | |||
| |||
36:23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.
Mom's Refresher
