33 “Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. 34 And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. 35 And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.
37 “Thus says the Lord God: This also I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: to increase their people like a flock. 38 Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 36: 33-38 ESV
Ezekiel 36: 33-38 On the Day that I cleanse You
7This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. 8I will bring them back to dwell in Jerusalem, where they will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.” 9This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were present when the foundations were laid to rebuild the temple, the house of the LORD of Hosts.… Zechariah 8: 7-9
On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities - Who is He (God) talking to? Israel. How will He achieve this cleansing? Through Christ. We saw in the previous posts that He brings them to repentance, a godly sorrow over sin, not a sweeping under the rug, but rather acknowledgment of the debt by both sides, but Christ taking the full account of the ledger, paying off every line.
…19I will return Israel to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan; his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead. 20In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, a search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for Judah’s sins, but they will not be found; for I will forgive the remnant I preserve. Jeremiah 50: 19-20
…14I will restore My people Israel from captivity; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. 15I will firmly plant them in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land that I have given them,” says the LORD your God. Amos 9: 14-15
…8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.… 1 John 1: 8-10
The waste places shall be rebuilt - We get a glimpse of this in the return of the exiles, but not to the full extent described in Amos 9:15 "firmly plant them...never again to be uprooted".
In the sight of all who passed - Israel knows from reading Moses, the law and the prophets, that this will be just measure against them for disobedience, that they will be ejected from the land, and a sign of God's displeasure with sin. God is holy in His justice, if He kicks out the people before them for sin, then sin will always be an issue, no matter who the people are. That they return to the land will be a seemingly impossible feat, and that 1/3 of the nation, together, as if with one heart, mourns the One Whom they pierced, and realize that He has truly born their griefs and carried their sorrows, this will be a testament to God's redemptive power, His sovereignty over all variables and outcomes. The nations will marvel at Israel's redemption and the flowering of the land. They will come to see the King of kings.
…32And I will lay waste the land, so that your enemies who dwell in it will be appalled. 33But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste. 34Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths all the days it lies desolate, while you are in the land of your enemies. At that time the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths.… Leviticus 26: 32-34
…3You will be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem in the palm of your God. 4No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride. 5For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.… Isaiah 62: 3-5
Shall know that I am the Lord - The restoration of the land and the remnant will be a testimony to God's glory. Israel will become a blessing and a lighthouse in that day.
…17I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. 18And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 19Abraham went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.… Genesis 22: 17-19
I have spoken, and I will do it - Again, this can in no way be overstated, that God does what He says, the same God Who speaks the universe into existence, who calls forth light. He places His word up with His name; what do you think will happen? Look at the record of His speech, if He has done the negative for the sake of His great name, will He not do the positive for the same?
…2Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him. 3For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song. 4Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and My justice will become a light to the nations; I will bring it about quickly.… Isaiah 51: 2-4
…13Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided. 14I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 24: 13-14
…15As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show My wonders. 16Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their might. They will put their hands over their mouths, and their ears will become deaf. 17They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will crawl from their holes in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You.… Micah 7: 15-17
All the nations will say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?' 25 "Then men will say, 'Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt (The Mosaic Covenant). 26 'They went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they have not known and whom He had not allotted to them (Idolatry). 27 'Therefore, (term of conclusion) the anger of the LORD burned against that land, to bring upon it every curse which is written in this book (Deuteronomy 28-20) 28 and Jehovah uprooted them from their land in anger and in fury and in great wrath, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.' (Dt 29:24-28)
This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them - With a new heart comes new desires, checked passions lead to prayers of compassion. The desire of the born again is that others may be also; we desire not to hide the light, but to let it shine, to share the gospel with all men, that God may be all the more glorified.
13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.… 1 John 5: 13-15
…11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.… Jeremiah 29: 11-13
…31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.… Matthew 6: 31-33
Matthew Henry - When God designs to bless his people, he sets them a-praying for the blessing which he desires to give them
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