The Renewal of Israel
November 20, 2019
Commentary
Before dwelling on Israel’s future cleansing, Ezekiel reminded the exiles of their past sin which caused their judgment. When they were … in the land, they defiled it by their conduct and actions (v. 19). This profaning was like a menstrual discharge that rendered a woman ceremonially unclean and defiled everything she touched (Lev. 15:19-23). How did the people defile the land? By bloodshed and idolatry (Ezek. 33:25). As a result God removed them from the defiled land.
The Lord is concerned about the integrity of His name. When Israel profaned His name by her wickedness, leading to, her captivity, the heathen questioned whether God could actually care for and bless the nation He had chosen to be peculiarly His (vv. 16-21). We might question why God wanted to protect His holy name, His reputation among the nations of the world? God was concerned about the salvation not only of His people, but also of the whole world. To allow His people to remain in sin and be permanently destroyed by their enemies would lead other nations to conclude that their heathen gods were more powerful than Israel’s God (Isa. 48:11).
As a vindication of His name, not Israel’s, the Lord will regather them by His mighty power from among the nations (vv. 22-25). Thus to protect his holy name, God would return a remnant of His people to their land. God will not share His glory with false gods; He alone is one true God. The people had the responsibility to represent God properly to the rest of the world. Believers today have the same responsibility. How would you say your are representing God to the world?
Application
The people in Ezekiel’s day had the responsibility to represent God properly to the world. I have that same responsibility today and I need to constantly be asking myself how I am doing?
Ezekiel 36:16– 25 (NET)
16 The Lord’s message came to me: 17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel was living on their own land, they defiled it by their behavior and their deeds. In my sight their behavior was like the uncleanness of a woman having her monthly period. 18 So I poured my anger on them because of the blood they shed on the land and because of the idols with which they defiled it. 19 I scattered them among the nations; they were dispersed throughout foreign countries. In accordance with their behavior and their deeds I judged them. 20 But when they arrived in the nations where they went, they profaned my holy name. It was said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, yet they have departed from his land.’ 21 I was concerned for my holy reputation, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they went.
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake that I am about to act, O house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy reputation, which you profaned among the nations where you went. 23 I will magnify my great name that has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I magnify myself among you in their sight.
24 “‘I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries; then I will bring you to your land. 25 I will sprinkle you with pure water, and you will be clean from all your impurities. I will purify you from all your idols.
Illustration: Bribed to Open the Gate of the Great Wall
The story of the building of the Great Wall of China. They built it so high that no one could get over it. And they built it so thick that no one could tunnel through it. They built this gigantic wall that still exists today. And then the people of China sat down behind the wall, feeling that their future was secure. But in the first 100 years of its existence, China was invaded three times. The enemy didn’t come over it or tunnel through it. But each time China was invaded, the enemy came through a gate left open for them. Those who guarded the gate had been bribed. While the people sat comfortably behind the security of the wall, they failed to teach their children integrity and patriotism. So they sold out to the enemy. And the enemy invaded their land. (John Maxwell -The Leader Within You).