2 questions that define the future and the Present

 Read Ezekiel 39.

The Lord continued to deliver a prophetic message to Ezekiel concerning Gog and the allied armies.  In a repeat of what He stated in chapter 38, God will "drive" the battle to the mountains of Israel.  There He will intervene and nullify the effectiveness of the attackers' weapons.  "I will strike your bow from your left hand and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand." (v.3)  Not only will theses armies be defeated, but their homelands will be destroyed.  "I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands..." (v.6)

Such a war has never taken place in history.  Therefore, this remains an unfulfilled prophecy.  Nor can it be spiritualized.  The exact nations are identified and the Lord even provided the name of the future cemetery, "the Valley of Hamon-gog."  It will require seven months to locate and bury all the enemy’s dead.  Instead of Israel being annihilated, the Jews will confiscate and benefit from all that belonged to their invaders.

1. Why will God do this for Israel?
This is all part of His original and unconditional promise to Abraham (Genesis 12, 15, 17).  God will secure the land for Abraham's physical descendants.  He will gather the Jews from all over the world to bring them home (v.27a).  He will "restore the fortunes of Jacob" (v.25).  He will "pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel" (v.29).

2. What is God trying to communicate?
Four times in this chapter the LORD repeats His motive.
-"My holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore.  And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One of Israel." (v.7)
-"...that I may show my glory." (v.13)
-"And I will set my glory among the nations..." (v.21)
"...through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations." (v.27b)

The God of Heaven jealously protects His name, His holiness, and His glory.  His desire of us today should be obvious.  Our speech, our behaviors, even our thinking and plans are to be in alignment with what is holy and what will honor Him.  

 

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

 

What is God's ultimate Purpose?

 Read Ezekiel 38.

So far, the LORD has pronounced punitive actions against all the surrounding nations and encouraged Israel about its future.  Now, this is the first of two chapters describing God's future judgment against Gog.  It will take place "in the latter days" (v.16) at a time when Israel will be "dwelling securely" (v.11).

Much has been written about the identity of Gog.  What we are told here is that it will be a great military power from the far north to attack Israel.  It is easy to name Russia as this most powerful enemy.  In addition, allies in the region who will join in the battle are named in verse 5: Persia (Iran), Cush (Sudan and Ethiopia), Put (Libya), Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, Beth-togarmah (Turkey).  In other words, the attack will come full force from all sides.  God called it "an evil scheme" (v.10).

Do not miss how this will come about and why it will happen.

God says concerning Gog, "I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out..." (v.4).  In the sovereignty of God, He will use this scheme of theirs to pull them into a situation and inflict His wrath upon them.  This will be God's opportunity to show the world exactly who He is.

1. His Omniscience.
This evil will be devised in secret.  But the LORD is all-knowing.  He knows what they are thinking before they do and He will use it against them.

2. His Omnipotence.
The LORD will display His power against these armies "that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes." (v.16)  He makes even the wrath of man to praise Him (Psalm 76:10).

3. His Omnipresence.
God is personally involved, everywhere at the same time.  At this battle, He will let everyone know He is there.  A catastrophic earthquake will take place but not from natural means.  It will simply be the result of His revealed presence (v.20).

God's ultimate purpose behind all His actions with nations and individuals like us is that same.  "So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations.  Then they will know that I am the LORD." (v.23)  It is His desire that everyone come to know Him personally before it is too late.

 

Sticks and Bones

 

Read Ezekiel 37.

After the death of King Solomon, the once proud kingdom divided into two.  In Ezekiel's day, the people of the northern kingdom of Israel had been scattered throughout the Assyrian Empire.  Then, the Babylonians conquered the southern kingdom of Judah.  Many were killed, some taken captive in exile, and only a remnant of poor people were left in the land.  It would have been natural for the Jews at that time to think that this was the end of the nation.  "Our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off." (v.11b)

But God's promises to Abraham were stated as an everlasting and unconditional covenant (Genesis 15).  Moreover, several times in Jeremiah's prophecy the term of the exile was declared to be only for 70 years.  So, how did God see the nation of Israel?  Were His promises still good?  What was to become of the Jews?

To communicate hope for the future, the LORD gave Ezekiel a vision and a visual illustration for an object lesson.
1. The vision of the bones. (vv.1-14)
This passage of Scripture is famously familiar thanks to the old spiritual song "Dem Bones."  It is often listed as a children's song.  God's intent was profoundly more meaningful than learning skeletal structure.  In the vision, the prophet is shown a valley of dry bones and asked a question about the future and God's power.  "Can these bones live?" (v.3)  God went on to give the interpretation of what Ezekiel saw.  "These bones are the whole house of Israel" (v.11).  The people were literally scattered and dried up spiritually.  However, God will cause the Jews to "hear the word of the LORD" and He will breathe life back into the nation.  Further, He will give them His Spirit and return them to the land.  These words reemphasize the message of chapter 36.  This hope of spiritual revival was meant in every way to encourage the exiles.

2. The visual of the sticks. (vv.15-28)
In order to stir the curiosity of the audience, God had Ezekiel take two sticks and bind them together.  According to verse 19, the sticks represented Israel and Judah.  Not only will the Jews have a vibrant future as a nation, but they would be reunited as a kingdom under God-"one in my hand" (v.19), "one nation in the land" (v.22a), "And one king shall be over them all" (v.22b).  Of necessity, this king who will shepherd this kingdom in the land will be a descendant of King David (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

It should be obvious by reading the Biblical account of the return of the exiles and even a general knowledge of history that the fulfillment of these prophecies has yet to take place.  Indeed, such a descendant of David will rule and reign from Jerusalem one day.  As the angel Gabriel announced concerning Jesus: "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:32-33)

 

Why does God promise His blessings?

 Read Ezekiel 36.

After punishing Israel by removing them from the Promised Land and pronouncing judgment upon the surrounding nations, God delivered a message of hope.  Israel has a future.  The restoration of the Jews to their land is undeniably clear and specific.  Here is what the LORD promised.

1. God will bring them home.  (v.8)
The territorial rights to the land is God-given.  It is their home.  Scattered by war, taken into exile, and ruled over by empires and other forces, it was not until 1948 that there existed a nation of Israel on that land, under their own sovereign government.  To this day, they still are not in possession of all the boundaries of their homeland.

2. God will be with them and turn them back to Him. (v.9)
The word of the LORD looks forward to a complete spiritual repentance in Israel.  Their relationship with God, and the Messiah in particular, will be reconciled.  God will give them a new heart and a new spirit.  "I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to obey my rules." (vv.26-27)

3. God will bless them with abundance. (v.10-11)
This is not simply a restoration of the nation from exile.  He has promised to multiply them and "will do more good to you than ever before."  The land of Israel will be like the Garden of Eden (v.35).

4. God will give them peace. (vv.12-15)
Since the Exodus and return to the land under Joshua's leadership, Israel has fought with its neighbors.  Satan has always energized ungodly leaders in every generation in an attempt to eradicate the Jews.  This prophecy anticipates a time when Israel "shall no longer bear the disgrace" of other nations.

Their sin against God was profanely awful (v.17) and deserving of the justice Israel received.  So, why would God promise such blessings?  He does so for one singular reason.  Three times He states, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name." (vv.22, 23, 32)

There is a principle here.  Life is not about us.  The reason behind God's blessings is to bring glory and honor to Him.

 

A warning to those who hate Israel

 Read Ezekiel 35.

They were national brothers in their origin.  One descended from Esau and the other from Jacob.  But the Edomites hated Israel.  When they saw the collapse of Israel and Judah, Edom announced that this was their opportunity.  Instead, the LORD delivered a strong word of judgment upon them.  He would wipe them out and make their land desolate.

There were three stated reasons for God's punishment against Edom.
1. "Because you cherished perpetual enmity." (v.5)
These people loved being an enemy to the Jews.  From generation to generation, they behaved that way toward Israel.  They treated Moses as an enemy during the Exodus.  And now, a thousand years later, they continued their national sin.  So, God put a stop to it by becoming their enemy.

2. "Because you did not hate bloodshed." (v.6)
They loved playing the role of the enemy and they loved killing people.  God hates violence (Genesis 6:13).  So, God intervened by promising their blood would be shed.

3. "Because you said, 'These two nations and two countries shall be mine.'" (v.10) 
In their arrogance, Edom thought God was through with Israel and Judah, therefore, they could assume ownership of the land.  The LORD punished the Jews for their sin but that in no way altered His eternal covenant with Abraham and his descendants.  Edom's words were not only an offense against the plans of God, but it was against Him personally.  "And you have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth and multiplied your words against me; I heard it." (v.13)

One of the basic elements of what we know of God's nature is that He does not change.  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)  Behaving as an enemy instead of seeking peace will cause God to take a punitive response.  Acting violently merely for the love of bloodshed will result in God's judgment to put an end to it.  Seizing property that belongs to another, especially when they are in a weakened position, will bring God's wrath and great loss.  God hears such boasting.

The Lord said concerning the treatment of Abraham's descendants, "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:3)

 

What the leaders Forgot

 Read Ezekiel 34.

Someone once said, "Influence is the platform God gives you to help others succeed."
God chose Abraham and his descendants to be His people.  He gave them a land for their own and promised to bless them.  After 1400 years, the rebellion and disobedience of the people resulted in the land being invaded and destroyed by two different empires.  The people had been scattered, killed, or taken captive.  What went wrong?

The message God gave to Ezekiel was that the leadership of the nation, both governmental and spiritual, failed to do their job.  Leadership is a stewardship.  The LORD compared it to that of a shepherd tending a flock of sheep.  What did they forget?

1. The responsibility of leadership. (vv.1-6)
They forgot the basic nature of their job description.
-Feed the hungry sheep.  Instead, the leaders took from the people enriching themselves. 
-Strengthen the weak sheep.  Instead, the leaders took advantage of those who needed empowerment and encouragement.
-Heal the sick sheep.  Instead, the leaders ignored those who had physical needs of help. 
- Care for the injured sheep.  Instead, the leaders had no compassion on those who had been hurt.
-Recover the stray sheep.  Instead, the leaders paid no attention to what happened to the people.
In each case, the leaders did the opposite of what they were supposed to be doing.  Their mind set was that the people were to serve them.  That thinking caused them to use force and harshness to get things done.
Jesus said, "You know the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  It shall not be so among you.  But whoever would be great among you must be your servant." (Matthew 20:26)

2. The accountability of leadership. (vv.7-10)
They forgot that the people and the nation did not belong to them.  The leaders only occupied a position of influence for a time.  In verse 10, the Owner has a word for them.  "I will require my sheep at their hand...I will rescue my sheep from their mouths."  These were God's people and these who had treated His people wrongfully would be judged by Him.

3. The authority of leadership. (vv.11-31)
The Apostle Paul wrote: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God." (Romans 13:1)  Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."  (Matthew 28:18)  Notice, then, how God personally intervenes when leaders fail.  At least, twenty-three times in these closing verses the LORD states, "I will..."  Leaders are to serve the people they influence as under the authority of God.  Their shepherding work is to reflect the Owner and Chief Shepherd.

The prince named here, and referred to again in chapter 46, is "the man after God's own heart," King David himself.  Ultimately, there is one servant- shepherd over God's people; a descendant of King David (vv.23-24).
"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21) 

 

2 heartbreaking Questions

 Read Ezekiel 33.

The issue of personal sin and what to do about it is universal.  It is not limited to any time or people on earth.  Romans 3 reminds us that all have sinned.  Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit brings individual conviction and accountability for the wrong we have done (John 16:8).  But what happens next is the difference between eternal judgment and eternal life.

Some decide to ignore the Holy Spirit's prompting, choosing to continue to go their own way.  The results are that they heap sin upon sin and consequences upon consequences.  Many endeavor to salve their consciences with a philosophy of life, religion, good works, or busyness in an attempt to avoid the truth.  The most distressing problem with all of those self-efforts is that there is no confident hope.

God is faithful in sending His messengers to deliver His message so everyone knows how to experience eternal forgiveness and hope.  Ezekiel was sent by the LORD as a prophet and a "watchman" to warn Israel and the surrounding nations of the consequences of their sin.  Some would feel the guilt and brokenness.  They would ask the first key question.

1. How then can we live? (v.10)
The answer provides insights into the heart of God. 
First, God takes no pleasure in meting out justice for sin. 
Second, His desire is that all repent of their sin and turn to Him in faith. 
Third, the results are reconciliation with God and true life, both now and for eternity.
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Peter 3:9-10)

With that wonderful message of good news available to everyone, it grieves the heart of God when He is rejected.  Since there is no alternative, God asks the second question.

2. Why will you die? (v.11)
It makes no sense to spurn the only hope there is beyond this life.  Why would a person deliberately, and some defiantly, not seize such an opportunity for life? 
First, there is an adversary.  The devil is doomed already and it is his full-time occupation for now to thwart the purposes of God.  He is the father of lies and dupes many into believing they do not need to respond to God's loving offer.  He has even propagated the ideas that there is no place of eternal punishment, or that hell will not be too bad, or that one may earn their way out of it.
Second, human pride keeps people from admitting their brokenness and humbling themselves before their Creator and only Savior.
When one finally becomes tired of running from God and reach the end of themselves, they discover that Jesus' offer still stands. 
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)