Verse 1:21 is titled Israel to be blessed.
The previous chapters spoke extensively about the desolation of Edom, the destruction that a shepherd who fails to shepherd the flock will face. Also, how God will shepherd His forgotten flock. Here we are in this chapter and it's started with God speaking to Ezekiel to prophecy over Israel.
Ezekiel 36:1-10 AMP
[1] “And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. [2] Thus says the Lord God, “Because the enemy has said of you, ‘Aha!’ and, ‘The ancient heights have become our property,’ [3] therefore prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “For good reason they have made you a desolation, and they crushed you from every side so that you would become a possession of the rest of the nations and you have become the talk and the whispering of the people.” ’ ” [4] Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, to the desolate ruins and to the deserted cities which have become prey and a mockery to the rest of the nations which surround you, [5] therefore thus says the Lord God, “Most certainly in the fire of My jealousy (love for that which is Mine) I have spoken against the rest of the nations and against all Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with uttermost contempt, so that they might empty it out [and possess it] as prey.” [6] Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy (love for that which is Mine) and in My wrath because you have endured the [shameful] insults of the nations.’ [7] Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘I have lifted up My hand and sworn [an oath] that the nations that are around you will themselves endure their [shameful] insults. [8] But you, O mountains of Israel, will put out your branches and bear your fruit to My people Israel; for they will soon come [home]. [9] For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you [in favor], and you shall be cultivated and sown. [10] I will multiply people on you, all the house of Israel, [indeed] all of it; the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins will be rebuilt.
Just to capture a glimpse of the prophesy it was blessings upon blessings, how God will rebuild the city of Israel, how He will make changes that are divinely orchestrated, happen to Israel. This got me to reflect about individuals journey with God. The scripture clearly pointed out that the neighbouring cities were cursed, they were experiencing the wrath of God but Israel was singled out for blessings.
Some might ask, is God partial? No, God is not partial, this is a clear example of favour of God based on obedience. For those who experience the wrath, there were evidences of the utter disobedience to God. Here God clearly spoke through Ezekiel that He will restore Israel, those insults against Israel was wiped away by God. I don't know what you are doing this day or how you feel, but I want to assure you that walking with God is the best decision any human can make because God is the one with the final and finalized outcome to any situation in life.
Ezekiel 36:16-21 AMP
[16] Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, [17] “Son of man, when the house of Israel was living in their own land, they defiled it by their [own] behavior and by their [idolatrous] actions. Their conduct before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman during her [physical] impurity. [18] So I poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. [19] Also I scattered them among the nations and they were dispersed throughout the countries. I judged and punished them in accordance with their conduct and their [idolatrous] behavior. [20] When they came to the nations wherever they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord; yet they have come out of His land.’ [21] But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.
From verse 16 to 21, the Lord pointed out the mistakes of Israel, and how they suffered from His wrath but the interesting part is God saving them for His name sake. I believe this is a covenant steming down from Abraham to His seed Genesis 12:1-3. God promised to make Abram into a great nation and the nation that came out of Abram after God changed him to Abraham was Israel through Isaac. So the mercy that led to the blessings and turnaround for the Israel nation at the time was as a result of God's promises to Abraham.
Verse 22-37 is titled ' Israel to be renewed for His names sake.'
Ezekiel 36:22-28 AMP
[22] “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. [23] I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. [24] For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. [25] Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. [26] Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from 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 ordinances and do them. [28] You will live in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you will be My people, and I will be your God.
God clearly stated through the prophecy that what He is doing for Israel is not because of them but because of His name. That means they did not merit the grace and favour they received He is giving them because of His name. God promised to clean them of all diseases, all uncleanliness so they can fit into the calling He prepared for them. So that they can become what He wants them to be rather than who they have allowed sin and uncleanliness to make them. At times we wonder why God is merciful or gracious to us. Don't mistake it for your righteousness because our righteousness is like a filthy rag, God chose whom He wants to transform, to forgive, to show mercy and hear their cry my prayer is we will not be too far gone for God's redemption in Jesus name.
Ezekiel 36:37-38 AMP
[37] ‘Thus says the Lord God, “This too I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their people like a flock. [38] Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the desolate cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know [with confident assurance] that I am the Lord.” ’ ”
God is the only one who can restore with compensation that makes the past look like a child's play no matter how good it was, when God is involved the present, the future looks better than the best from the past.
Ezekiel 37
From verse 1 to 14 explains the valley of the dry bones.
The Lord took Ezekiel into a vision and in the vision he was brought into the middle of a valley filled with dry bones. Just before we dissect this scripture, a valley is a low area surrounded by hills or mountain. I can only imagine the heaps of dry bones, and if we do not just take the bones as bones but relate them to purposes and destinies, these were dried destinies, purposes, vision, capabilities to name a few.
God then asked Ezekiel can this bone live, Ezekiel's answer was God only you know. I really commend Ezekiel's response because he has seen the great and mighty things God had done so the answer was accurate.
Ezekiel 37:4-10 AMP
[4] Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’ [John 5:28] [5] Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will make breath enter you so that you may come to life. [6] I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and I will put breath in you so that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’ ” [7] So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a [thundering] noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. [8] And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on the bones, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. [9] Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ’ ” [10] So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army. [Rev 11:11]
The unthinkable happened when God asked Ezekiel to prophecy to the dry bones. He didn't hesitate, He did just as God instructed.
Wait a minute! What? Yes, he prophesied and just like that those dry bones started regaining strength and they were finally restored to life forming armies. Can I just ask you, when God says speak the word to that situation or conditions or nation that seems dry do you wait to second guess the power He has placed in you? Do you second guess the possibility of the prophecy He will bring out of you?
The truth is, before Ezekiel prophesied, God already put the power he needed in him. He already made his tongue the instrument needed and his voice the sound those bones were waiting for but imagine if he said no, the bones would most likely remain there until God does something different about it.
Again the act of prophecy sent by God is the act of obedience, it's an allegiance to God almighty not to any authority or power on earth, under the earth or wherever, it's to God. That's why when you see true prophets the only one they hold supreme and obey in totality is the Almighty God. They move when He gives them the green light to do so.
God explained to Ezekiel that the valley of dry bone represented the whole house of Israel, God further said he should prophecy again that God will bring them out of the grave. He will bring them back home and put His spirit in them and they can confidently say that the Lord is the the Lord.
Lord, I ask this day, that all who you have raised as Ezekiel for this generation and the generation yet unborn will not be silenced and they will not stay silent. They will enter their calling and live according to your direction and will in Jesus name amen.
Ezekiel 15:28
The Lord gave more prophecy on how He will bring the children of Israel together from wherever they might have gone. How He will rid them off idolatry, how He will save them and they will eventually become His people. From onset God's plan for man was to live in His will, worship Him and commune with Him. When sin entered man became far from God. God however is still merciful and able to deliver us, He doesn't like us being separated from Him. Guess what the enemy on the other hand knows how to introduce sin, sow discord and eventually cause separation. I pray this day that God will bring unity into homes, community, nation and individuals in Jesus name.
Verse 24 to 28 talks about how God will brought the right leader. The rulership over the people of God will be according to the plan of God. And the people will know that God is the almighty.
Ezekiel 37:27-28 AMP
[27] My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. [28] Then the nations will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord who sets apart and sanctifies Israel [for holy use], when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.” ’ ”
I pray that we will be one with God and not apart from God. That we will obey His ordinances and not the plans of the enemy in Jesus name amen.
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