Did God graciously promise to restore Israel, defend His holy name, and provide inner spiritual transformation? Let’s look at Ezekiel 36.
Why does God command Ezekiel to speak a message of comfort and restoration to the land, mountains, hills, valleys, and ruined cities of Israel?
Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say: Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: Because the enemy has said about you, ‘Good! The ancient heights have become our possession,’ therefore, prophesy and say: This is what the Lord God says:
Because they have made you desolate and have trampled you from every side, so that you became a possession for the rest of the nations and an object of people’s gossip and slander, therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. This is what the Lord God says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have become plunder and a mockery to the rest of the nations all around. (Ezek 36:1-4 HCSB)
Does God express anger against surrounding nations—specifically Edom—for mocking and plundering the desolate land of Israel, vowing judgment of shame and disgrace?
Because this is what the Lord God says: “Motivated by my burning zealousness, I have spoken against the rest of the surrounding nations, including Edom, who confiscated my land, taking possession of it with joyful enthusiasm and with animal-like malice, in order to plunder Israel’s pastures.’ “Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and speak to its mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys.
Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Pay attention! In my zealous anger I’m speaking because you’ve had to endure the mockery of the world’s nations.”’” Therefore this is what the Lord God says: “I hereby raise my hand to swear this oath: the nations that surround you will have their own mockery to endure!” (Ezek 36:5-7 ISV)
Does God promise that the devastated land of Israel will grow branches and bear fruit once again because the exiled Israelites are about to return home?
But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. (Ezek 36:8 KJV)
Did God promise to restore Israel after their exile in Babylon, far greater than before?
For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you will be cultivated and sown. 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 multiply on you man and beast; and they will multiply 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 Yahweh. And 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.’ (Ezek 36:9-12 LSB)
Does God refute the cruel taunts of surrounding nations that the land of Israel "devours its people" and leaves the nation childless?
“The Lord God says this: ‘Since they say to you, “You are a devourer of people and have bereaved your nation of children,” for that reason you will no longer devour people and no longer bereave your nation of children,’ declares the Lord God. I will not let you hear insults from the nations anymore, nor will you suffer disgrace from the peoples any longer, nor will you make your nation stumble any longer,” declares the Lord God.’” (Ezek 36:13-15 NASB)
Why did God punish Israel with exile? Why was God’s reputation at stake among foreign nations?
Again the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness in my sight. So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols.
I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. (Ezek 36:16-21 NIV)
Did God restore and save His people not because they deserve it?
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. 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. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. (Ezek 36:22-24 NKJV)
What does sprinkling symbolize? Does God promise a deep spiritual transformation and inner renewal for His people rather than just external obedience to rules?
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. (Ezek 36:25-27 NLT)
Did God pledge to restore Israel to their homeland, cleanse them from idolatry, and transform their hearts from the inside out?
You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. You will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and will multiply it, and lay no famine on you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field, that you may receive no more the reproach of famine among the nations.
“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 for your abominations. I don’t do this for your sake,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, house of Israel.” (Ezek 36:28-32 WEB)
Did God promise the complete physical and spiritual restoration of Israel from exile, transforming a ruined and deserted land into a paradise like the Garden of Eden?
The Lord God proclaims: On the day that I cleanse you of all your guilt, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be farmed, and it won’t be like it was when it seemed a wasteland to all who passed by.
They will say, “This land, which was a desolation, has become like the garden of Eden.” And the cities that were ruined, ravaged, and razed are now fortified and inhabited. The surviving nations around you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt what was torn down and have planted what was made desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it. (Ezek 36:33-36 CEB)
Does God promise to dramatically increase and restore the population of Israel in response to their prayers, filling previously ruined cities with people?
I will once again answer your prayers, and I will let your nation grow until you are like a large flock of sheep. The towns that now lie in ruins will be filled with people, just as Jerusalem was once filled with sheep to be offered as sacrifices during a festival. Then you will know that I am the Lord. (Ezek 36:37-38 CEV)
Does God save believers based entirely on His mercy rather than any righteous deeds or human effort? What kind of washing is important to God?
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5 ESV)
Did God graciously promise to restore Israel, defend His holy name, and provide inner spiritual transformation? You decide!
