Ezekiel 38

Ezekiel 38:1-13

In this chapter we have intertwined, 1. The attempt that Gog and Magog should make upon the land of Israel, and the vast army they should bring into the field, ver. 4—7. Their project and delays in it, ver. 8—13. God’s hand in it, ver. 4. 2. The great terror that this should strike upon the land of Israel, ver. 15, 16, 18—20. 3. God’s reference upon their enemies, and his protection of his Israel, ver. 2—4, 14. 4. The defeat that should be given to their enemies by the immediate hand of God, ver. 21—23. Whatever enemy of Israel this primarily refers to, we are led by Rev. xx. 8. to link for a farther fulfilment of the prophecy in the latter days.

1. AND the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2. “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3. And say, Thou saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4. And I will turn thee back, and put hooks to thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, * all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5. Persia, Ethiopia, and § Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6. Gomer and all his bands, the house of Togarmah of the north-quarters, and all his bands, and many people with thee. 7. * Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto thee. 8. ¶ After many days thou shalt be wished: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and * is gathered out of many people against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. 9. Thou shalt

afceed and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou and all thy bands, and * many people with thee. 10. Thus saith the Lord GOD, shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought. 11. And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages, I will * go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates. 12. ¶ To take a spoil, and to take a prey, to turn there hands upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, * and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle, and goods, that dwell in the § midst of the land. 13. Sheba and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarfhills, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil had thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

Various have been the conjectures concerning Gog and Magog; the former the king, the latter probably the kingdom: and as uncertain are the countries of Meshech and Tubal. Some suppose they have a particular reference to the ravages of Antiochus, and other enemies of Israel, after their return from their captivity; whilst others interpret them of the later enemies of God’s church, particularly of the Turks and Tartars. Whoever they are, their attempts shall issue in their own confusion, and God will glorify himself in judgment upon them.

1. God resolves so blatt their enterprizes, great as their forces are, and terrible as their armament appears, and therefore his people need not fear, however threatening the danger. Note, They who have an arrangement God for them need not be concerned who are against them.

2. The confederacy against God’s Israel is strong, and the army furnished with every weapon of war. Persia, Egypt, Libya, Gomer, are auxiliaries, and under the conduct of Gog their mighty general, as their guard and leader, are but ironically prepare for the battle, v. 7. The armament is directed against the land of Israel, against those who are brought back from the sword, recovered from their disposition, and now dwelling safely, without fear of evil, without walls or gates, and therefore seem to be an easy prey to the invaders, v. 11. Not doubting of his success, the neighbouring nations of Sheba and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarfhills, shall congratulate Gog on his certain victory. v. 13. or it may be envying him the spoil he is about to seize; or, as young lions, desirous to share it with him. Like a rising storm, he threatens to sweep all before him, v. 9. and, sure of his prey, thinks of nothing but reducing the land to the former desolations from which it hath now recovered, v. 12. Such are the evil thoughts of this proud enemy, v. 10. which God takes notice of, and will punish him for them. Note, (1.) The beginning of all evil is from within; out of the heart pressed evil thoughts, and they produce wicked works. (2.) They who are most confident of success are often most fearfully disappointed.

3. Whatever success may at first seem to follow the enemy, the issue will be fatal: after many days thou shalt be wished. Thus Antiochus, though he prevailed so far, was at last brought low; and the Ottoman empire, that hath long risen to form a height of power, we expect also will be destroyed at the last.

4. ¶ Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thou saith the Lord GOD, * In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? 15. * And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army. 16. And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land, * is shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. 17. Thou saith the Lord GOD, Art thou be * of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years, that I would bring thee against them? 18. And it shall come to pass at the same time, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. 19. For * in my jealousy, * and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken: * finally in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel: 20. So that * the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men

men that are upon the face of the earth, shall make at my present, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and also a deep place shall fall, and every will shall fall to the ground. 21. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, faith the Lord GOD: “every man’s sword shall be against his brother. 22. And I will please against him with pestilence, and with blood, and I will rain upon him, and upon his hands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hell-bones, fire and brimstone. 23. Thus will I “magnify myself and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

Ezekiel 38:14-23

The prophecy is repeated to show the certainty of the event.

1. The enemy shall hear of the peace and plenty God’s Israel enjoy, and how securely they dwell, and that shall induce him to come up, as secure of success; or v. 14. may signify the enemy of his attempt: God will make him know no for can disturb those whom he cause to dwell in safety. When God therefore brings him up, it is not for spoil, but to be labeled for a prey, that the heathen may know the jealousy of the Lord over his people, and be confounded: and in judgment he will be glorified in the destruction of his enemies and theirs. Now, (1.) All must contribute to advance the glory of the divine perfectionism; even the wicked shall cause his righteousness in the endorse in their sufferings. (2.) He who toucheth God’s people touches the apple of his eye, and he will avenge their wrongs.

2. The enemy shall be utterly destroyed; and terrible is the scene of havoc here described. God’s indignation rises at this infidest invader of his people, and flames of wrath falls from his eyes; in terrors at his frown the earth trembles; even the birds and beasts, as well as men, affrighted, quake; the mountains and precipices fall, and every fortress is laid in the dust; the swords of this terrible hoff shall be turned against each other, pestilence shall devour them, and blood in rivers flow; a storm of vengeance shall descend from heaven upon them, as upon Sodom, halifloons, fire and brimstone, and ruin, utter and fearful, shall overtake them. Nies, (1.) They who have been a terror to others, God can easily make a terror to themselves. (2.) God cannot want instruments of vengeance: the very sword of his enemies shall turn its point against them when he so endures, and they shall become their own executioners.

3. God will be glorified in the execution of these his judgments, and will display his power, justice, and truth, to the conviction of many nations, who shall be brought, by what they behold, to acknowledge him the only true God, and to afcribe to him the glory due unto his name.