Presents
Pamphlet #4386
Presents
Pamphlet #4386
My
Hi-lite: Ezekiel 36:24
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries,
and will bring you into your own land.
25
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you,
and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols,
will I cleanse you.
26
A
new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you:
and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give
you an heart of flesh.
27
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes,
and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Our Father has great purpose in all that He says and does. His concern is for the salvation of all of His children, not just some, so that the restoration of the house of Israel is to the benefit of all nations. He has promised that a full restoration will take place.
Yes, there is a restoration of Israel at the 7th Trump when Jesus Christ returns, but also remember the first 15 verses of this chapter. Where is the true house of Israel today? They are in their own land. Those scattered tribes basically comprise the free nations of the world today, i.e. the Christian nations.Ezekiel 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
The "then" places this at the restoration in the Millennium (see note in Companion Bible) when Jesus Christ has returned. The "sprinkle" clean water upon you has direct reference to Lev. 1:5 and the sprinkling of the blood upon the altar to make atonement for sin, which was a foreshadowing of the atonement of Christ's blood, the only blood which can cleanse a person!Ezekiel 36:25
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
But even at this time we have the Word of God with us which will cleanse us from "all idols" and idolatrous ways. Those with eyes to see and ears to hear know that His Word is right now being "sprinkled" like rain upon this latter generation. It is the "latter rain" (Deut. 11:14, James 5:7) which falls right before the harvest.
The 1611 King James language and translation makes the metaphors in this verse a little "heart" to understand. Here's how Dr. Moffat translates it:[26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
That "new spirit" that God will put in His children is His Spirit:Ezekiel 36:26
"I will give you a new nature, and I will put a new spirit in you, I will take away your hard nature and give you a nature that can be touched;" (Moffat)
Any child of God, of any race or creed, can receive this Spirit of God now by repenting and turning to Christ as their savior and accepting His blood sacrifice. That new spirit will cause him or her to "eat the scroll", i.e. study His Word, and become a doer, a follower, of His statutes and His judgments and His commands.Ezekiel 36:27
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Ezekiel 36:16 ¶Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me,
saying,
17 Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land,
they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before
me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.
18 Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they
had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted
it:
19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed
through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings
I judged them.
20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went,
they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people
of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
21 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel
had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord
GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy
name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among
the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen
shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified
in you before their eyes.
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you
out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 ¶Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall
be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse
you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I
put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk
in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;
and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will
call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase
of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the
heathen.
31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings
that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your
iniquities and for your abominations.
32 Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known
unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.
33 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed
you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities,
and the wastes shall be builded.
34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate
in the sight of all that passed by.
35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become
like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are
become fenced, and are inhabited.
36 Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know
that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate:
I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.
37 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of
by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men
like a flock.
38 As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn
feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they
shall know that I am the LORD.
We continue now with the chapters in Ezekiel concerning the restoration of Israel. Remember that in the first 15 verses of chapter 36, we learned about the restoration of Israel basically as it pertained to the land itself. In contrast, this next section especially from verses 16 to 29 is addressed to the people. It explains why the restoration must take place, which is because the plan of God is lovingly designed so that ALL of God's children of all races and creeds can come to know and love Him.
Notice that before Ezekiel, God's watchman, is once again given instruction and told to speak unto the house of Israel (verse 22), that the LORD gives Him increased knowledge and understanding from His word, i.e. more strengthening. It is extremely important that the people of God understand the purpose and the reasons why God does what He does, lest they think that merely for their own sakes He blesses them.Ezekiel 36:16
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
The analogy here is that Israel became unclean and had to be separated after the manner of a woman during menstruation, as it is described according to the law in Lev. 15:19.[17] Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.
God was "furious" because of these two things: 1.) for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and 2.) for their idols wherewith they polluted the land. These are abominations in the sight of the Lord (Ezek. 7:8).[18] Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:
Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8 declare that the Lord changes not, that He is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Do you think therefore that He has since changed His mind concerning these two transgressions, these abominations? He has not. That is why it is so important for us Christians to get rid of the pollution, the traditions of men, like the rituals and practices associated with Ishtar (Easter), etc., that have been handed down to us from our fathers which "pollute the land". It still makes our Father furious.
Remember chapter 20 when we discussed the idolatrous "pollution" of our people, even the pollution of His holy sabbaths such as the high day of Christianity, the Passover. He doesn't like us substituting pagan rituals "after the manner of our fathers" instead of adhering to His word? The Lord GOD wants to know which it will be for you, the stinky polluted water that the false shepherds of chapter 34 teach from the pulpits of our land, or the pure living water which flows from His Word?
There is only one way to know if you are "polluted" and that is by studying His Word and following Him, not the traditions of churches which "appear" to be so holy and unpolluted.Ezekiel 20:30
Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
So God scattered and dispersed His people through the countries according to their choice! You see, God is both pro-choice (free will) and pro-life (His ways).
And so their scattering came to pass exactly as it was written and they became known as the lost tribes of the house of Israel. However, they are only lost to themselves and to the rest of the Biblically illiterate world. They are not lost to our Father and nor to His servants who know who they are and where they are (Read James 1:1). Do you? (If not, write Artisan Publishers, POBox 1529, 1409 West Shawnee OK. 74402 to order a copy of "The Abrahamic Covenant", by E. Raymond Capt.)Ezekiel 36:19
And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
If your children went out and made fools of themselves by let's say "fooling around" and brought disgrace to the family, how would you feel as their parent? Well Israel did commit whoredoms and profaned Yahveh's holy name just by their actions! Look up the word "profaned" in the Hebrew dictionary. It means to "pollute", to "prostitute", to "stain".[20] And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
So the heathen, the "gowy" in Hebrew, sneered and said concerning Israel's idolatrous practices and their scattering , "Look at the children of God! Just look how they act and look how their weak God treats them!"
Our Father wants all of His children, of which all people of all races are His children for He created them all, to "know that He is the LORD"! So this is not good that Israel gave cause to the heathen to remain unbelievers! It greatly concerned our Father because He loves all of His children, and so it is, and was from the beginning, in His plan to sanctify His name among the heathen and to restore Israel for the sake of His name, so that they would all know that He is LORD.
They made Him look really bad, but even in spite of themselves God remained with them, never losing track of even the least grain of sand among them "whither they went". You see, God performs miracles among His people and brings about certain events, etc., not just for their sakes, but to make Himself known to all of His children, the heathen too! We read about that in chapter 20 also.Ezekiel 36:21
But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
The reason for the plagues on Egypt and the "high handed" manner in which God brought Israel forth out of the land, was not just for the sake of Israel, but to make Himself known unto the nations.Ezekiel 20:9
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
So with this information in mind, Ezekiel is now instructed to speak to his people.
Again, is was not for the house of Israel's sake, but that the heathen would know that He is God (next verse).Ezekiel 36:22
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Our Father has great purpose in all that He says and does. His concern is for the salvation of all of His children, not just some, so that the restoration of the house of Israel is to the benefit of all nations. He has promised that a full restoration will take place.[23] And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Yes, there is a restoration of Israel at the 7th Trump when Jesus Christ returns, but also remember the first 15 verses of this chapter. Where is the true house of Israel today? They are in their own land. Those scattered tribes basically comprise the free nations of the world today, i.e. the Christian nations.Ezekiel 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
The "then" places this at the restoration in the Millennium (see note in Companion Bible) when Jesus Christ has returned. The "sprinkle" clean water upon you has direct reference to Lev. 1:5 and the sprinkling of the blood upon the altar to make atonement for sin, which was a foreshadowing of the atonement of Christ's blood, the only blood which can cleanse a person!Ezekiel 36:25
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
But even at this time we have the Word of God with us which will cleanse us from "all idols" and idolatrous ways. Those with eyes to see and ears to hear know that His Word is right now being "sprinkled" like rain upon this latter generation. It is the "latter rain" (Deut. 11:14, James 5:7) which falls right before the harvest.
The 1611 King James language and translation makes the metaphors in this verse a little "heart" to understand. Here's how Dr. Moffat translates it:[26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
That "new spirit" that God will put in His children is His Spirit:Ezekiel 36:26
"I will give you a new nature, and I will put a new spirit in you, I will take away your hard nature and give you a nature that can be touched;" (Moffat)
Any child of God, of any race or creed, can receive this Spirit of God now by repenting and turning to Christ as their savior and accepting His blood sacrifice. That new spirit will cause him or her to "eat the scroll", i.e. study His Word, and become a doer, a follower, of His statutes and His judgments and His commands.Ezekiel 36:27
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
You can also read of the beautiful restoration in the 31st chapter of Jeremiah. We won't quote it all here but it is well worth reading independently.Ezekiel 36:28
And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Notice that it is the "watchmen" who give the cry! Are you a watchman?Jeremiah 31:1
At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.[6] For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
Most of the house of Israel is spiritually "blind" at this time (Rom. 11) and many shall stumble and fall before antichrist and be spiritually seduced by him and spiritually impregnated with his lies and deception. That is why Christ said in Mk. 13:17 "..woe to them that are with child (spiritually)..."[8] Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
That is why they shall come weeping and with supplications (next verse) for the shame in which they stumbled. But they shall stumble no more in Christ.
[9] They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
It is being declared in those "isles afar off" that His promise of the restoration is sure. You can count on it![10] Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
Did you know that we are in the great famine of the end time? It is not a famine for food, not a thirst for water!Ezekiel 36:29
I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
But the time is coming when there will be no more dearth for the hearing of the Word of God. Why? The Word will be with us! He even is for those with eyes to see Him.Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Ezekiel 36:30
And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
When we are in our spiritual bodies we will certainly remember what we did in the flesh, won't we?[31] Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
As it is written in Rev. 6:6-17, when Christ returns many will wish the mountains to fall upon them rather than face the Lord Jesus Christ because of their abominations!
We are to know real well that it is not because of Israel's righteousness that the restoration will take place, for they shall certainly be ashamed for worshipping the false Messiah. The restoration shall take place because it is part of God's salvation plan for the benefit of all nations.[32] Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.
Again, "In that day" shows this will happen in the Millennium.Ezekiel 36:33
Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.
[34] And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.
The waste and pollution and desolations caused by flesh man's wars and his filthy ways will no longer be permitted, because the Word of God shall rain as the dew of heaven and the King of kings and the priests of the Zadok shall reign.[35] And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
There will be no doubt by anyone of any nation that it was the LORD that brought about the restoration. He has said He will do it, it is written that He will do it, and you know what? He will do it!Ezekiel 36:36
Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.
Thus saith the Lord GOD! Won't that be a glorious time when the house of Israel can "enquire" of Him? Does He listen to the elders of Ezek. 20 and the false shepherd's of Ezek. 24 when they enquire of Him now? Thus saith the Lord GOD:[37] Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.
If you have not answered the "Are you polluted question" by studying His Word and are therefore disobedient to His commands, will He hear your prayers when you go to church and pay your tithes and enquire of Him? Thus saith the Lord GOD:Ezekiel 20:3
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
The time of restoration is coming for the LORD is returning soon.Ezekiel 20:31
For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
And when He returns every knee shall bow and all nations, including the whole house of Israel, shall know that the "I AM that I AM" is the LORD our God!Ezekiel 36:38
As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I AM the LORD.
Hallelujah!
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
is.
Published by:
Rhine
Publishing Co.
americanwisdomseries@verizon.net
If you would
like to have your essay published
as part of
the American Wisdom Series
submit your
manuscript to Rhine Publishing Co
at the address
above for consideration.
Click
Here to Return to "The
American Wisdom Series" home page.