Gog’s Armies Destroyed
September 16, 2020
Commentary
This chapter contains a prediction of the utter destruction of Gog and Magog (vv. 1-7). An illustration of the vastness of that destruction (vv. 8-22). God’s mercy to his people (vv. 23-29).The defeat of the evil forces will be final and complete, they will be destroyed by divine intervention (vv. 1-16). Two themes are woven into this passage: God’s total victory over His enemies, and the need to make the land holy. After the final battle, teams will be used to give burial to the bodies of the dead enemies in order for the land to be cleansed. Because of this victory the name of God will be recognized throughout the world and the nations will understand that He alone is in charge of human history. God will clearly show His love for His people by restoring them to their homeland.
The destruction of the great army involved in this passage will be almost total (vv. 1-8). Some have stated that only one-sixth of this army will survive. The bows and arrows may be viewed as figurative of weapons of warfare of all kinds. Even the land of Magog, where many of the troops come from, will experience the wrath of fire from the Lord upon them.
To clean up a destruction of this magnitude, supernatural aid is required (vv. 11-20). Many, of course, will have already been buried through the leveling of mountains and valleys. The ravenous beasts and birds of prey will clean off the flesh. While Israel is burying the skeletons and bones, seven months will transpire. This gruesome task would appear to have a very sobering influence spiritually. No doubt it will prove to be one of the means of leading Israel, as well as the Gentiles, to repentance.
Application
The message for me is an exciting one. With God on my side, I am assured of ultimate victory over the enemies of the world and because of the rapture I will never experience any of the above.
Ezekiel 39:1– 16 (NET)
1 “As for you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal! 2 I will turn you around and drag you along; I will lead you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 3 I will knock your bow out of your left hand and make your arrows fall from your right hand. 4 You will fall dead on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the people who are with you. I give you as food to every kind of bird and every wild beast. 5 You will fall dead in the open field; for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. 6 I will send fire on Magog and those who live securely in the coastlands; then they will know that I am the Lord.
7 “‘I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 8 Realize that it is coming and it will be done, declares the Sovereign Lord. It is the day I have spoken about.
9 “‘Then those who live in the cities of Israel will go out and use the weapons for kindling —the shields, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears—they will burn them for seven years. 10 They will not need to take wood from the field or cut down trees from the forests because they will make fires with the weapons. They will take the loot from those who looted them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them, declares the Sovereign Lord.
11 “‘On that day I will assign Gog a grave in Israel. It will be the valley of those who travel east of the sea; it will block the way of the travelers. There they will bury Gog and all his horde; they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. 12 For seven months Israel will bury them, in order to cleanse the land. 13 All the people of the land will bury them, and it will be a memorial for them on the day I magnify myself, declares the Sovereign Lord. 14 They will designate men to scout continually through the land, burying those who remain on the surface of the ground, in order to cleanse it. They will search for seven full months. 15 When the scouts survey the land and see a human bone, they will place a sign by it, until those assigned to burial duty have buried it in the valley of Hamon Gog. 16 (A city by the name of Hamonah will also be there.) They will cleanse the land.’
Illustration: The Thistle That Saved the Country
Every schoolchild in Scotland knows the story of how the thistle saved the country. In the year 1263 when the Scots and Danes were at war, the Danes managed to land unobserved on the coast of Scotland. Under cover of darkness the Danish invaders removed their boots and crept on bare feet toward the unsuspecting Scottish army. Victory seemed certain for the invaders when suddenly a sharp cry of pain shattered the stillness. A Danish soldier had stepped on a thistle and ruined the surprise. The alerted Scots sprang into action and drove the invaders from the country’s shores. (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations – #14121).