The house of Israel had been removed from the land and dispersed to the nations because in Ezekiel 36:17 “they were dwelling on their soil, and they defiled it with their way and with their deeds”. But they didn’t get the bad reputation, the Lord and the land did. In Ezekiel 36:13 “they are saying to you (the land), “You are an eater of humans””. So, the Lord says in Ezekiel 36:23 “I will consecrate my great name, which was profaned among the nations. The Lord then speaks to the land to empower it to bring forth fruit because he is bringing his people back. He says in Ezekiel 36:9 “For look! I am for you, and I will turn you, and you will be tilled, and you will be planted”. Have you ever been in a situation where your reputation is tainted because of what someone else did or said? How do you clear your name and regain your reputation? Only by demonstration as the Lord says in Ezekiel 36:23 “when I show myself holy before their eyes”.
Mountains of Israel Your Branch You Will Shoot
Ezekiel 36:1–10
Look at what the Lord says here to the physical environment of the earth. The Lord doesn’t just say that the mountains can be covered with trees and be fruitful, he empowers them to produce fruit in Ezekiel 36:8 “your branch you will shoot”. Anyone in agriculture knows that a crop places a burden on the ground so he also says “and your fruit you will carry”. But there is one more thing about the Lord, with his command in Ezekiel 36:6 “to the mountains and to the hills, to the river channels and to the valleys”, he gives purpose. The mountains are empowered to bring forth fruit and to carry it “for my people”. Then he says to the physical environment, the mountains and hills and valleys, to the dirt they will plant in
Ezekiel 36:9 “For look! I am for you, and I will turn you, and you will be tilled, and you will be planted”.
When the Lord speaks, expect a workout because “you will be tilled, you will be planted”. But he is still talking to the land. This is the land promised to the children of Israel but the words used here are in Ezekiel 36:10 “I will cause your population to increase for you”. It is as if the Lord is saying to the land, I will reward your labor of producing fruit with inhabitants. I know, this sounds a bit out there but think about it. How beautiful is an organic farm with produce flourishing as people also give thanks for abundance. And what good is an untended forest or field where fruit grows and rots as in
Romans 8:20 -23 “For the creation has been subjected to futility … creation itself also will be set free from its servility to decay … the whole creation groans together and suffers agony”.
They Were Dwelling on Their Soil
Ezekiel 36:11–20
But before this restoration occurs, there is an explanation. The land of Israel has come to be known as a destroyer of people in
Ezekiel 36:13 “ ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh, because they are saying to you, “You are an eater of humans, and you are one who makes childless your people.”
But this is simply the result of the people that had been living there in
Ezekiel 36:17 “Son of man, the house of Israel, they were dwelling on their soil, and they defiled it with their way and with their deeds; like the uncleanness of menstruation was their way before me”.
I Will Consecrate My Great Name
Ezekiel 36:21–29
The Lord explains further that what he is doing next is not because they deserve it. Just as these people had given the land a bad reputation, they have also defiled the name of the Lord in
Ezekiel 36:22 “Therefore thus say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Not for your sake am I about to act, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you defiled among the nations to which you went”.
It is only possible to clear your name by a demonstration of as in
Ezekiel 36:23 “And I will consecrate my great name, which was profaned among the nations … when I show myself holy before their eyes”.
And the Lord will show himself holy by in Ezekiel 36:24 taking them and gathering them “from all the lands” and bringing them “to your land”. Then he will “cleanse” them in Ezekiel 36:25 and in Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give a new heart to you”. And, just as the Lord spoke to the land and empowered it to become fruitful, here he gives of his spirit empowering the people to “go in my rules”, or as we might say today, be led by his spirit in
Ezekiel 36:27 “And I will give my spirit into your inner parts, and I will make it so that you will go in my rules, and my regulations you will remember, and you will do them”.
This Desolate Land has Become Like the Garden of Eden
Ezekiel 36:30–38
What was a desolate land, a land witnessed by everyone as desolate in
Ezekiel 36:34 “And the land that was desolate will be cultivated in the very place that it was desolate before the eyes of all of the persons crossing over”.
It is this same land that the Lord will cause to flourish.
Ezekiel 36:35 ‘And they will say, “This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden, and the wasted and desolate and destroyed cities, now being refortified, are inhabited.”’
And there is a purpose in the Lords action, it is so the nations will know his the true character and nature in
Ezekiel 36:36 “And the nations who are left all around, you will know that I, Yahweh, I built that which was destroyed; I planted the desolate land; I, Yahweh, I have spoken, and I will act.’
I Am Bringing Into You Breath and You Will Live!
Ezekiel 37:1–10
Study Verses
- Ezekiel 36:1–10 Mountains of Israel Your Branch You Will Shoot
- Ezekiel 36:21–29 I Will Consecrate My Great Name
- Ezekiel 36:30–38 This Desolate Land has Become Like the Garden of Eden
Today’s Reading
- Ezekiel 36:1-38
- Ezekiel 37:1-10
