CHAPTER XXXVI _The Edomites or Idumeans, during the Babylonish captivity, took_ _possession of the mountainous parts of Judea, and the_ _fortresses which commanded the country, intending to exclude_ _the Jews if ever they should return from their captivity. The_ _prophet therefore, by a beautif... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:2. _BECAUSE THE ENEMY HATH SAID_] The Idumeans thought they would shortly be put in possession of all the strong places of Israel; _the ancient high places shall be ours_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:4. _THEREFORE - THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD TO THE MOUNTAINS,_ _c._] They shall neither possess _mountain_ nor _valley, hill_ nor _dale, fountain_ nor _river_ for though in my justice I made you desolate, yet they shall not profit by your disasters. See Ezekiel 36:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:8. _FOR THEY ARE AT HAND TO COME._] The restoration of the Jews is so absolutely determined that you may rest assured it will take place; and be as confident relative to it, as if you saw the different families entering into the Israelitish borders. It was near at hand in God's dete... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:9. _YE SHALL BE TILLED AND SOWN_] The land shall be _cultivated_ as it formerly was, when _best peopled_ and at _peace_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:11. _I WILL MULTIPLY UPON YOU MAN AND BEAST_] The _agriculturalist_ and the _beast of burden_. _AND WILL DO BETTER_ UNTO YOU _THAN AT YOUR BEGINNINGS_] I agree with _Calmet_, that it would be difficult to show the literal fulfilment of this prophecy from the days of Zerubbabel to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:17. _WHEN THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL DWELT IN THEIR OWN LAND_] Had they continued faithful to me, they had never been removed from it: but they polluted it with their crimes; and I abhorred the land on that account, and gave both them and it up to the destroyers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:20. _AND WHEN THEY ENTERED UNTO THE HEATHEN_] So bad were they, and so deeply fallen, that they _profaned the Lord's name_ _among the heathen_; and, on their account, the true God was blasphemed. _These_, say they, _are the people of Jehovah_! O what an abominable people are these!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:23. _I WILL SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME_] By changing your hearts and your conduct, I shall show my hatred to vice, and my love to holiness: but it is not _for your sakes_, but for _my holy name's_ _sake_, that I shall do you good in your latter days.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:24. _I WILL TAKE YOU FROM AMONG THE HEATHEN_] This does not relate to the restoration from Babylon merely. The Jews are at this day scattered in all _Heathen, Mohammedan_, and _Christian_ _countries_. From these they are to be gathered, and brought to repossess their own land.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:25. _Then _- at the time of this great restoration - _will I_ _sprinkle clean water upon you _- the _truly cleansing water_; the influences of the HOLY SPIRIT typified by _water_, whose property it is to _cleanse, whiten, purify, refresh_, render _healthy_ and _fruitful_. _FROM ALL... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:26. _A NEW HEART ALSO WILL I GIVE YOU_] I will change the whole of your infected nature; and give you new appetites, new passions; or, at least, the old ones _purified_ and _refined_. The _heart_ is generally understood to mean all the _affections_ and _passions_. _AND A NEW SPIRIT... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:27. _AND I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU_] To keep the _heart_ _of flesh alive_, the _feeling heart_ still _sensible_, the _loving_ _heart_ still _happy_. I will _put my Spirit_, the _great principle_ of light, life, and love, within you, to actuate the _new spirit_, and to influenc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:28. _YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE_] Wholly given up to me in body, soul, and spirit. _AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD._] To fill you with love, joy, peace, meekness, gentleness, longsuffering, fidelity and goodness, to _occupy_ your _whole soul_, and _gratify_ your _every desire_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:29. _I WILL ALSO SAVE YOU FROM ALL YOUR UNCLEANNESSES_] I repeat it; "I WILL save you from all your sins.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:30. _YE SHALL RECEIVE NO MORE REPROACH OF FAMINE_] Ye shall be daily and hourly fed with the _bread that endures unto eternal_ _life_. "But will not those get _proud_, who are _thus saved_, if there be any such? and will they not _undervalue_ the _blood of the_ _covenant_, for then... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:31. _THEN SHALL YE REMEMBER YOUR OWN EVIL WAYS_] Ye shall never forget that ye were once _slaves of sin_, and _sold under sin;_ _children of the wicked one; heirs to all God's curses_, with no _hope_ beyond _hell_. Such cleansed people never forget _the horrible_ _pit_ and the _mir... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:35. _This land that was desolate_ by sin, _is become like the_ _garden of Eden_ by righteousness. - Satan's blast is removed; God's blessing has taken place.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:36. _THEN THE HEATHEN_] They shall see how powerful Jehovah is, and how _fully he saves_ those who come unto and worship him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:37. _THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD_] In answer to the question, "Who shall have such blessings?" we say, they that _pray_, that _seek_ earnestly, that _strive_ to enter in at the strait gate. "Thus saith the Lord, I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel." Neither _Jew_ n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 36:38. _AS THE HOLY FLOCK_] The _Church of Christ_, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. _THE FLOCK OF JERUSALEM_] The Jerusalem that is _from above, the_ _city of the living God_, the _place_ where _his Majesty dwells_. As they came in ancient times to the solemn national fea... [ Continue Reading ]