093. II. Prophecies Of Promise And Cheer (Ezekiel 33 to 39)
II PROPHECIES OF PROMISE AND CHEER (Ezekiel 33-39) 1. The Prophet Appointed to Announce Israel’s Possible Future (Ezekiel 33) The function of a watchman and his responsibility (Ezekiel 33:1-6). Fellow Israelites, Jehovah bids me make clear to you the decisive importance of your attitude toward him and his messenger in these days of reconstruction. I am like a watchman set apart in time of public peril to warn a city of the enemy’s approach. If he is faithful to his trust, keeping vigilant watch and sounding the alarm when danger threatens, then those who lose their lives by failing to heed his warning are solely to blame for their death. If, however, he is neglectful, the blood of those who are slain is upon his head. The prophet a watchman (Ezekiel 33:7-9). Thus has Jehovah appointed me to proclaim in trumpet tones the doom which I see hanging over my people, if they persist in their evil ways. If I faithfully present my warning message, my responsibility is at an end, but yours, O Israel, will then begin. The future of Israel to depend upon the character of the people (Ezekiel 33:10-20). Do you despairingly conclude that a final destruction has been decreed against you because of your sins and that no effort of yours can avail! Not so, fellow Israelites; you misapprehend the divine purpose. Jehovah wishes that all should live, and ever holds forth the possibility of redemption. A man’s past life does not absolutely determine his present or future state in God’s sight. A once righteous man who yields to evil impulse must suffer the consequences of his wickedness; a man of evil life who truly reforms, making recompense for the wrong he has done and ordering his life by right principles, can count on divine approval and blessing. Jehovah will hold everyone responsible for his deliberate course of life. Can he do otherwise ? The effect of the news of Jerusalem’s fall (Ezekiel 33:21-22). Such is the message which Jehovah now bids me proclaim. There is no need for overwhelming despair because of the startling news of Jerusalem’s fall. It enables me to set before you all the real character of your God and his ways of dealing with you. No longer need my lips be sealed, for you will acknowledge that a true prophet is in your midst. The remnant in Judah has no right to the land except through obedience (Ezekiel 33:23-29). Those who are even now left in the ruined land of Judah are laying claim, as sons of Abraham and heirs of the promise, to the whole territory. Jehovah will point out to them that they are ignoring the true basis of the old covenant and maintaining the very evils for which he has driven the nation from its inheritance. Hence the same judgment must be repeatedly meted out until his righteous will is obeyed. The prophet’s sermons to be respected (Ezekiel 33:30-33). “As for your fellow exiles,” saith Jehovah, “who now crowd to hear my message from your lips, do not set too high a value on their professions of interest. They are curious to hear some sensational preaching, but not eager to repent. They enjoy your artistic sermons as they might a beautiful song. When your words are all fulfilled, these sceptics will discover that you have indeed been a speaker of eternal truth.”
2. The True Rider of Israel (Ezekiel 34)
Jehovah will set aside the negligent guardians of Israel (Ezekiel 34:1-10). “Woe,” saith Jehovah, “to the rulers of my people, through whose selfish heedlessness they have become weakened and dispersed like sheep which have no watchful shepherd. On every side their enemies have devoured them, while their slothful and self-indulgent guardians were feasting themselves. Such criminal incompetence can no longer be tolerated.
He will himself take their place (Ezekiel 34:11-16). “Therefore I will interpose and undertake the care of my people. Like a good shepherd, I will seek out those who have wandered far away. I will gently lead them homeward and give them abundant food in their accustomed haunts. There will I lavish upon them the tender care which they have never received from their appointed guardians.
Oppressions will cease (Ezekiel 34:17-22). “At that time I will make a sudden end of the oppression of the poor and the weak by those who are wealthy and powerful, who consume the best of everything, and then, in wanton spitefulness, destroy or damage what they cannot use. Such heartless ruffians will receive speedy judgment at my hands. A true Davidic ruler to be appointed (Ezekiel 34:23-31). “When I have thus restored and purged my people, I will appoint over them a faithful shepherd, a second David. Then shall the land be free from foreign foes and beasts of prey. I will give rain in its season, abundant harvests and complete security and happiness. Then at last shall God and his people be reconciled.”
3. The Certain Restoration of Israel’s Land (Ezekiel 35-36) (1) Edoni’s Usurpation to be Severely Punished by Desolation (Ezekiel 35)
Edom to be a desolation because of her enmity, malice and arrogance (Ezekiel 35:1-15). O land of Edom, Jehovah’s curse is upon you. A barren waste shall you become because in Judah’s day of calamity you exhibited your ceaseless enmity toward her by exulting over her misfortunes, assisting her enemies, and especially by invading with boastful defiance the sacred soil of Israel, Jehovah’s abode, as if it had been given up to such as you for spoil. Your acts and your malicious spirit Jehovah cannot pardon.
(2) Judah to be again a Fertile and Populous Land (Ezekiel 36:1-15)
Judah to be recovered from its present possessors, purified, and blessed (Ezekiel 36:1-15). And you, beloved land of hills and valleys, at once the object of our enemies’ jibes and the reward of their evil enterprise, the humiliation that you suffer shall be the lot of those who now possess you. At the time, not far distant, when your own people return, you shall be luxuriantly fruitful and populous. Nevermore will there be a destructive famine, nor shall outside peoples be justified in hurling reproaches against you.
(3) Jehovah’s Motive for Restoration (Ezekiel 36:16-38)
Judah’s calamities well deserved (Ezekiel 36:16-19). Recall, O men of Judah, how necessary it was for Jehovah to act in judgment against you. By your persistent idolatry and acts of murder you forced him, in sheer abhorrence, to mete out the appropriate punishment of world-wide dispersion. Their significance misinterpreted (Ezekiel 36:20-21). The nations among whom you have gone, not understanding the divine method of governing the unwise, dishonor Jehovah by attributing your misfortunes to his inability to protect you. Hence, for his own sake, Jehovah will redeem the nation (Ezekiel 36:22-32). For his name’s sake, therefore, he purposes to restore you again to your land, purified from every idolatrous taint, docile, reverent, and disposed to obedience. In response to the shower of blessings from his hand, you will then realize his love and your own iniquities. Both you and the nations will understand his motives and give him honor. This redemption will cause all nations to honor Jehovah (Ezekiel 36:33-38). At that time the land will again become as beautiful as Eden and populous as of old. Once more will the people take counsel of Jehovah and ask for his blessing. Every city in the land shall be crowded with thronging multitudes, as was Jerusalem in the past on the great festal days. Looking on such a transformation as this, can the nations fail to glorify Jehovah ?
4. The Revivified and United People (Ezekiel 37) (1) The Vision of the Nation’s Resurrection (Ezekiel 37:1-14) The despondent exiles (Ezekiel 37:11). The greatest obstacle to my ministry of encouragement was the despondency of the exiled people who ever kept speaking of themselves as devoid of hope. The vision of the dry bones made into living beings (Ezekiel 37:1-10). One day Jehovah granted me an answering vision. Again I appeared to be in the familiar valley, but it was covered with bleached and scattered bones, which seemed to me truly emblematic of my dispersed and blighted nation. I heard a question, “Weak mortal, can these bones be transformed into living beings ?” I dared not deny; I did not venture to affirm; I humbly asked for enlightenment. “Declare boldly,” said the voice, “that Jehovah has both the power and the purpose to make a living nation from these bones.” On my compliance, the bones began to assort themselves into groups and the groups to become articulated into skeletons and the skeletons to be clothed with flesh, until I saw before me a vast array of inert bodies. Again said the voice: “Call to the four winds of heaven to furnish the breath of life for this great host.” I called, the winds obeyed, and there stood up a multitude of living beings. The explanation of the vision (Ezekiel 37:12-14). “Mortal one,” the voice added, “these bones which you saw were the remains of the nation Israel. As Jehovah gave life to the dismembered and disintegrated bodies, so he can raise the nation from the very grave, infuse new life, and restore the people to their own land. Then will they be convinced of his power and his love.”
(2) The Symbol of its Unification (Ezekiel 37:15-28) The prophetic symbol of the two sticks (Ezekiel 37:15-17). Again, under a divine impulse, I took two wooden sticks to represent royal sceptres, which I labelled with names to indicate that they denoted the southern and northern kingdoms of Israel. These I held in my hand as if they had become united into one rod. The future Israel to be a united kingdom (Ezekiel 37:18-22).When questioned about the meaning of this action, I said, “Jehovah is surely purposing to gather all the Israelites from every quarter of the world and to settle them in their own land and to make them a united nation under one king. Its glorious outlook (Ezekiel 37:23-28). Purified from idolatry and cleansed from sin,[28] they will serve him alone. Then shall a true representative of the Davidic stock ascend the throne. Like a good shepherd he will faithfully care for them, and they will be obedient and righteous. Jehovah will establish his covenant with them forever, and will dwell in their midst to the end of days.”
5. Jehovah’s Final Triumph (Ezekiel 38:1 to Ezekiel 39:24) The significance of the invasion of Israel by Gog’s army (Ezekiel 38:1-9). After Jehovah has revealed himself to the civilized world and to Israel by restoring and blessing his own people, there will yet remain one final act in the great drama of universal, divine judgment. The unknown nations of the distant north will need one overwhelming proof of Jehovah’s sovereign power, before the whole world will stand in awe of him. Then will he speak to Gog, the leader of those fierce Scythian tribes: “Prepare, O prince of nations, to assemble your forces from every quarter, well equipped and beyond number, ready at my summons to advance, like a cloud of destructive locusts, against my people, Israel.
Gog’s motive merely that of plunder (Ezekiel 38:10-16). “Your only motive, O robber of nations, will be to plunder unopposed a peaceful, prosperous, populous, but defenceless people. How the merchants of Arabia and Tarshish gloat over the prospects of a rich spoil! Yet it is not for booty that I bring you to the land of my people, but that my name may be held in reverence by all the world. His downfall the fulfilment of prophetic expectation (Ezekiel 38:17-23). “This will be the invasion to which many of my prophets have looked forward, when I and my nation would be face to face with the embodiment of the heathen world’s hostility. In this supreme peril will be my long-awaited opportunity. I will pour out my wrath upon these northern barbarians. By a mighty earthquake the mountains shall be cleft and every lofty object levelled. The panic-stricken soldiers will attack each other, while I complete their destruction by pestilence and hailstorms and fire. Then will my power and the sacredness of my land be known to all.
Gog to be disarmed and destroyed by God (Ezekiel 39:1-7). “Therefore, O representative of uncivilized paganism, I will lead you to this land, but only that you may be annihilated. Making useless your weapons, I will cause you to perish. Even your own home-land shall be ravaged that my glory may be acknowledged by the whole world. The extent of the catastrophe (Ezekiel 39:8-20). “Then will the people of Israel go forth from their cities and gather up the spoil. So numerous will be the weapons that for years there will be no need of cutting firewood. In a secluded valley on the other side of the Dead Sea, outside the limits of the holy land, they will bury the corpses. Many months will it take to dispose of the slain which can be readily discovered. Then men will be appointed to search every corner of the land for unnoticed corpses, that it may be wholly freed from defilement. A splendid banquet will I spread on that day for all the birds of the air and for the beasts of prey. They shall eat flesh to the full and drink freely of the blood of princes. The effect upon Israel and the world (Ezekiel 39:21-24). “After such a manifestation of power as this, the people of Israel can never again be unfaithful to me. Moreover they and the whole world will recognize that I was obliged to punish them with exile and the sword because of their sins. Thus will my righteous rule be universally acknowledged.”
6. Restored and Purified Israel (Ezekiel 39:25-29)
Jehovah’s omnipotence and righteousness revealed to the world (Ezekiel 39:25-29). It will not be long, O Israel, before Jehovah will be ready to restore you to your land. Then will you put away the evil you have practised, and live in obedience and security. Then will you realize why he dealt with you severely. Never again will he need to hide his face from you. Thus will his name be honored throughout the world.