Ezekiel 36:16-38

We concluded our last study with the thought that modern Israel is not the nation that God will call His own, but that God is at work certainly bringing the people back to the land where He will make them to be a holy nation.  Today’s passage makes the order of things quite clear.

The passage begins with a reminder as to what had happened.  God had poured out His fury on an unclean nation, scattering them among the nations.  But then God had a “concern for My holy name” (v21).  Therefore He determined to sanctify His great name so that the nations who were ridiculing and reproaching Israel and her God would come to “know that I am the LORD” (v23).  

How would God do this?  He would …

·        Gather the scattered nation and bring them into their own land (v24).  The land promised to Israel is still their land, even as the land promised to Edom and Moab was still theirs.  So God would bring them back.

·        Cleanse the impure nation, removing filth and idolatry (v25). 

·        Give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them (v26-27).  This is the centerpiece of God’s work, the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34).  It speaks of regeneration.  Remember that before the Church became the recipients of the New Covenant and it’s blessings by faith in Christ Jesus told Nicodemus that this must happen in order for him to enter the kingdom of God (John 3).  In other words, what the Church knows today as regeneration and the indwelling Holy Spirit will be the experience of the remnant of Israel.  This is what Paul meant in saying “all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26-27).  God will pour out a spirit of grace and they will mourn the one they pierced (Zech. 12:10-13:2).

·        Enable them to truly dwell in the land in the relationship with God that God always had intended (v28-38).  It is interesting to note that in that day the nations will know that the LORD has done this (v36).  Today God rarely gets credit for Israel’s existence as a nation.  The United Nations or the British or Americans or others get the credit.  But when Israel dwells in the land peacefully and prosperously it will be obvious that God has done it.  His Name will be sanctified!

If you are a believer in Christ you should understand this.  There is no relationship with God, no cleansing, apart from regeneration (a new heart) and the indwelling Spirit (a new spirit).  These are the realities of life under the New Covenant that keep the grace of God from becoming license.  We have received a new nature, and the Holy Spirit lives within.  May we recognize who we are and present ourselves daily as sacrifices to our Lord.  Thus may the Name of the Lord be hallowed in and through us.