EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 36:1 Earlier God announced judgment on the mountains of Israel (ch. Ezekiel 6:1). Now he announces their restoration. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 36:8 BUT YOU signals a transition. The focus shifts from Israel’s bleak past to its promising future. As in the “covenant of peace” (Ezekiel 34:25), the people’s well-being is connected to the land’s fruitfulness. Verses Ezekiel 36:8 of ch. Ezekiel 36:1 present a series of bl... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 36:16 This key passage summarizes Ezekiel’s prophecy: in spite of their failings, God will restore his people for the sake of his name. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 36:22 This passage is often compared to Jeremiah’s “new covenant” text (Jeremiah 31:31). The structure of this passage reinforces its message. The outer verses relate the responses of God (Ezekiel 36:22) and people (vv. Ezekiel 36:31). Nested within the next layer are the ret... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 36:24 Restoring God’s reputation first requires the renewal of his people. The reference to cleansing by sprinkling CLEAN WATER ON YOU recalls the cleansing by sprinkling for touching a dead body (Numbers 19:13, Numbers 19:20). This may suggest that the IDOLS of Ezekiel 36:25... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 36:26 God’s work moves from external to internal with the gift of a NEW HEART and NEW SPIRIT (see Ezekiel 11:19; compare Ezekiel 18:31). The outer purification will be no use without the inner desire to live rightly before God (Ezekiel 36:27). The connection of “water” (v. Ez... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 36:28 With God’s people now inclined to keep faith with God, they will be restored to the land. Linking the restoration of people and land is a continuing theme in this part of Ezekiel (e.g., Ezekiel 34:25). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 36:31 YOU WILL LOATHE YOURSELVES. The response of the renewed people is to see themselves as God sees them. NOT FOR YOUR SAKE. The fact that God is acting for his own sake reaffirms v. Ezekiel 36:22. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 36:33 As seen in vv. Ezekiel 36:28, the land enjoys the benefits of the people’s cleansing. The mention of EDEN emphasizes the nature of this act as re-creation (see Ezekiel 28:13; compare Ezekiel 37:1). One purpose for Israel’s experience in the land was to show the whole wo... [ Continue Reading ]