EZEKIEL LESSON 38
We will begin this lesson in Ezekiel 36:1 "Also, thou son of man,
prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of
Israel, hear the word of the LORD:"
In the last lesson, the prophecy was directed to mount Seir. Now,
this prophecy is directed to the mountains of Israel. This is speaking
to the people of Israel.
Ezekiel 36:2 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath
said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in
possession:"
In the last lesson, we saw that Edom had been delighted at the
fall of Israel, thinking they would take it over as their land. They
knew God had given this land to Israel, but it was easy for their
jealousy of Israel, through the years to grow to hate. They wanted
what Israel had. They could never have this land, but they thought
they could when Israel went into captivity.
Ezekiel 36:3 "Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord
GOD; Because they have made [you] desolate, and swallowed you up on
every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the
heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and [are] an
infamy of the people:"
The people are just sure that the land of Israel will belong to
them. The land of Israel had been ravaged of all its wealth, but the
greatest wealth it had, was its natural resources. They were still
there. Edom was opposed to Israel, and even pleased, when their
calamity came. They saw this as an opportunity to take the promised
land for themselves. The lips of talkers were saying that Israel could
finally belong to them. "Infamy" means slander.
Ezekiel 36:4 "Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of
the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the
hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and
to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to
the residue of the heathen that [are] round about;"
God is speaking to nature itself. The things mentioned, here,
were not carried away captive. They were still in the land. Remember,
there has been 70 years for the rivers to clear up, and the land to be
cleansed naturally.
Ezekiel 36:5 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the
fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen,
and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their
possession with the joy of all [their] heart, with despiteful minds,
to cast it out for a prey."
God's heart is stayed upon His wife {Israel}. He may punish her
Himself, but He does not want anyone saying, or doing, anything
against Israel, His love. Edom, and the heathen nations have angered
Him greatly by attacking His beloved. The land of Israel was a gift
from God to His beloved people Israel. It will not belong to anyone
else. God will see to that.
Ezekiel 36:6 "Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel,
and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to
the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my
jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the
heathen:"
The shame was from the war. This beautiful land had been left a
shamble. The heathen had their way with God's land in battle.
Ezekiel 36:7 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I have lifted up
mine hand, Surely the heathen that [are] about you, they shall bear
their shame."
God's judgement on Israel is finished. All of those who thought
God would totally do away with Israel, have been made ashamed for
believing that. The blessings of God are about to pour out on Israel.
Ezekiel 36:8 "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."
When God created the heavens and the earth, He caused the fruit
trees to bear, and the grass to grow in preparation for man. This is
what God is doing here. He is preparing the land for the children of
Israel to come into. He has provided for their needs, when they get
home.
Ezekiel 36:9 "For, behold, I [am] for you, and I will turn unto
you, and ye shall be tilled and sown:"
This land has rested for many years. It will be fertile, and
produce abundant crops. It will be tilled again. This land was a
beautiful pastoral land.
Ezekiel 36:10 "And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of
Israel, [even] all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the
wastes shall be builded:"
When God brings the people back into the lands, they will build
again as they had in the past. It was thought of as a blessing from
God to have many children. This is saying, they will multiply fast,
and fill the land. They will again build houses. The entire land will
be restored.
Ezekiel 36:11 "And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and
they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your
old estates, and will do better [unto you] than at your beginnings:
and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD."
Each family will go back to the same portion they were allotted,
when they came into the promised land at first. There will be no
argument about whose land was whose. This is their inheritance from
God. With God's blessings upon them, they will soon grow to their
former greatness. God will multiply their animals and their children.
Ezekiel 36:12 "Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, [even] my
people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their
inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them [of men]."
When Babylon is overthrown God tells His people to return to
their homeland. There may be a later fulfillment of this, as well. In
1948, Israel became a nation, and there has been a tremendous flow of
Israelis back to Israel. Their land is producing some of the finest
fruit in the world.
Ezekiel 36:13 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they say unto
you, Thou [land] devourest up men, and hast bereaved thy nations;"
There are many nations who hate Israel. Their hate is more in the
form of jealousy. Even today, the Jews, who are coming back to the
land are, many times, those with high technical training. The land
they leave does not want to give them up. In this sense, it would
bereave the nation that lost them. God had, also, blessed them in
battle. The other countries were afraid of Israel, because they were
afraid of Israel's God.
Ezekiel 36:14 "Therefore thou shalt devour men no more, neither
bereave thy nations any more, saith the Lord GOD."
Israel will live at peace with God and man.
Ezekiel 36:15 "Neither will I cause [men] to hear in thee the
shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of
the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any
more, saith the Lord GOD."
This verse is looking beyond the return from captivity in
Babylon. There was not, at that time, a total restoration. There have
been other times, when the Hebrews were in exile in foreign lands, as
well. This is, probably, speaking of the return that is going on in
Israel today. A partial fulfillment was in the days after the
Babylonian captivity, but it certainly speaks, also, of the return
going on today.
Ezekiel 36:16 "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me,
saying,"
This prophecy seems to be coming in waves to Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 36:17 "Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in
their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings:
their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman."
We must continue to realize that God thought of Israel as His
wife. When she lived in the land, she had gone after false gods. God
thought of this as spiritual adultery. All of the things that happened
to Israel in the siege, and in the captivity, was from a jealous
husband, who still loved His wife. This Scripture is going back to the
time, before they went into captivity in Babylon.
Ezekiel 36:18 "Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood
that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols [wherewith] they
had polluted it:"
God explains, through Ezekiel, that the punishment was not
because He did not love Israel. He punished her, to teach her not to
be unfaithful.
Ezekiel 36:19 "And I scattered them among the heathen, and they
were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and
according to their doings I judged them."
This is explaining that God's judgement on Israel was just. He
had ample cause to judge her thusly.
Ezekiel 36:20 "And when they entered unto the heathen, whither
they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These
[are] the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land."
They profaned the name of the LORD, because the heathen would,
now, think of Him as not being able to protect His people. This is the
same embarrassment caused to God, when someone commits a terrible
crime and proclaims to the world he is a Christian. The Israelites, as
well as the Christians of today, should be a sign to the world of the
greatness of God. Everything we do, and say, should glorify Him. We
should never do, or say, anything that would turn people away from
God. Jesus is the Light of the world. We are to have that Light
brightly shining within us, so the world can see the Light in us. We
are to dispense Light, not darkness. We believers affect the way the
world feels about God.
Ezekiel 36:21 "But I had pity for mine holy name, which the
house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went."
Even if they did not represent God to the world in a positive
manner, He still loved them and forgave them.
Ezekiel 36:22 "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith
the Lord GOD; I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel, but
for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen,
whither ye went."
God will cause the heathen to have respect for His name, even if
the children of Israel have caused them to have disrespect for Him.
This is just saying, their return to the promised land was a free gift
to them from God. They did not deserve to be His wife anymore. He
saved them, regardless of their worthiness. This is the same with the
Christians. Christ did not wait, until we were worthy to be saved, to
save us. He saved us, while we were yet in sin. We are saved by grace.
Our salvation is a free gift from God.
Ezekiel 36:23 "And I will sanctify my great name, which was
profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of
them; and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, saith the Lord
GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes."
God had given His Word to Abraham, that the land of Israel would
belong to Abraham's descendents forever. God keeps His Word, even
though, Israel did not keep theirs. The heathens worshipped false gods
that had no power at all. God wanted even the heathen to know that He
is the One True God. His power is not just in one country, but He is
the God of all people. One of the things that set Israel apart from
the other nations, was their God. This shows that God is truly Creator
of all mankind. God is Supreme Ruler of the entire creation.
Ezekiel 36:24 "For I will take you from among the heathen, and
gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own
land."
It is by no power of their own, that they are set free, and that
their homeland will be ready for them. These are all things that God
set up. They do not just come haphazardly, God brings them.
Ezekiel 36:25 "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye
shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols,
will I cleanse you."
The physical return of the people was not enough. They must
return to their God. The washing of the water symbolizes the removal
of their past life, and starting them all over again in newness of
life. Water baptism symbolizes the same thing. When we go down into
the water, it is as if we are burying that old man of sin. When we
rise from the water, we are rising to new life in Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit
will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of
your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."
The following Scripture describes, better than I could, the
meaning of this Scripture above. Hebrews 8:10 "For this [is] the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in
their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a
people:"
Ezekiel 36:27 "And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you
to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do
[them]."
This is speaking of the Spirit of God taking up His abode in man.
The following Scripture describes this happening well, for the
Christian. Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,
and gave himself for me."
Ezekiel 36:28 "And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your
fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God."
God had given them the promised land. There was a condition that
gave them the privilege of staying there. They must keep the
commandments of God. God always wanted to be their God. The only
question was, did they really want to be His people? He offers this to
them, but they must accept it.
Ezekiel 36:29 "I will also save you from all your uncleannesses:
and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine
upon you."
This is the offer to wash them in the blood of the Lamb, and take
away all unrighteousness. When they are washed in this blood, they
will be white as snow, spiritually. The blessings of God will be
showered on them. They would have an abundance of corn. They will
never hunger again, if they accept Him as their Saviour.
Ezekiel 36:30 "And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the
increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of
famine among the heathen."
It is God who brings the abundant crop. We can plant the tree and
care for it, but God must give the increase.
Ezekiel 36:31 "Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and
your doings that [were] not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your
own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations."
They will be truly repentant for their past sins. They will be so
grateful to God, they will desire to please Him in all they do. The
thought of their past sins will be painful to them.
Ezekiel 36:32 "Not for your sakes do I [this], saith the Lord
GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own
ways, O house of Israel."
God wants them to be ashamed of their sins. He wants them to,
also, know that their forgiveness is His doing, and not theirs. They
have received unmerited favor from God. He does this to elevate His
name to them and the heathen.
Ezekiel 36:33 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall
have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause [you] to
dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded."
This is speaking of a time of prosperity, that God has brought.
God wants the cities to, again, be thought of as they were before the
captivity.
Ezekiel 36:34 "And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it
lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by."
At one time, the passerby had thought the land to be totally
uninhabitable. Now, it will bloom like a flower in the desert. This
had two fulfillments. This happened, when they returned from Babylon,
and is happening, now, in Israel.
Ezekiel 36:35 "And they shall say, This land that was desolate is
become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined
cities [are become] fenced, [and] are inhabited."
The one that says this, is the heathen lands around Israel. God
caused the garden of Eden to grow, and furnish their needs. God is
causing it to grow, again, as He did in Eden. Their efforts are not
bringing this about. God's blessings are bringing it about.
Ezekiel 36:36 "Then the heathen that are left round about you
shall know that I the LORD build the ruined [places, and] plant that
that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken [it], and I will do [it]."
We see this will happen, after the heathen have been destroyed,
and there will be few left. Those left will recognize the hand of the
LORD in this. It would be nothing at all for Creator God to restore
this land. He took nothing, and made the world. God spoke, and the
world became. God spoke, and the ruined places were built, again.
Ezekiel 36:37 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet [for] this be
inquired of by the house of Israel, to do [it] for them; I will
increase them with men like a flock."
Such a small remnant had been saved from the destruction by
Babylon, that they are few in number. God just allows them to quickly
multiply by having big families. Just over 70 of Jacob's family went
into Egypt, and almost 3 million came out. God multiplies quickly,
when He wants to.
Ezekiel 36:38 "As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in
her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of
men: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD."
The temple in Jerusalem had been a place for people from other
areas to come to and worship. Many times, the streets were overcrowded
with these people. The time will be when just the Israelites will be
as large as those numbers had been. God will enlarge their numbers
greatly and will enlarge their love for God, as well.
Ezekiel 38 Questions
1. Who is this prophecy addressed to?
2. What false hope had Edom had?
3. What does "infamy" mean?
4. What is God speaking to in verse 4?
5. How had the land been cleansed?
6. God's heart is stayed upon His ________ {_________}.
7. How had Edom and the heathen nations angered God so greatly?
8. What was the shame that the rivers and valleys had suffered?
9. Verse 7 speaks that God's ___________ on Israel is over.
10. When God created the heavens and the earth, He caused the fruit
trees to bear, and the grass to grow for _______.
11. This land was a beautiful _________ land.
12. What is verse 10 saying God will cause to happen?
13. How will they know, which land belongs to whom?
14. What is the land called in verse 12?
15. When are two times in history, that we know of, when the people of
Israel, scattered all over the world, came home?
16. The hate the nations have for Israel is more in the form of
____________.
17. Why were the other countries afraid of Israel?
18. What is verse 14 saying?
19. What return to Israel, does the author believe verse 15 is
speaking of?
20. God thought of Israel as His ________.
21. What was the sin she had committed?
22. God poured His fury on her, because of what?
23. God's judgement on Israel was _______.
24. How had they profaned the name of the LORD?
25. How do people, who call themselves Christians, profane the name of
the Lord?
26. Everything we do and say should __________ Him.
27. Christians should dispense ________, and not ___________.
28. He restores Israel for who's sake?
29. We are saved by _________.
30. Who had God given His Word to about the promised land?
31. The physical return of the people was not enough. They must return
to their _______.
32. Quote Hebrews chapter 8 verse 10.
33. Quote Galatians chapter 2 verse 20.
34. God wanted to be their God, then what was the question?
35. We plant the tree, but _____ gives the increase.
36. When did Israel bloom like a flower?
37. God spoke, and the world ________.
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