# Overview Ezekiel Chapter 36 is a prophetic message from #God to the land of #Israel, delivered through the prophet #Ezekiel. The chapter begins with a promise of restoration for the mountains of Israel, which have been subjected to shame and derision by the surrounding nations. God declares that He will speak against these nations, especially #Edom, who have taken pleasure in Israel's desolation. He assures the people that the land will once again be fruitful and inhabited, as He will bring back the people of Israel from exile. This restoration is not for Israel's sake, but for the sake of God's holy name, which has been profaned among the nations. God’s commitment to His covenant and His own reputation underscores the promise of renewal. The chapter further unfolds God's transformative plan for His people, including the promise of a new heart and a new spirit. God declares He will cleanse the people from all their impurities and idols, giving them a heart of flesh to replace their heart of stone. This spiritual renewal signifies a deep, internal change, allowing the people to live in obedience to God's decrees. God will ensure that Israel will once again live in the land given to their ancestors, and He will be their God. This prophetic vision culminates with God's promise to increase the productivity of the land and the population of Israel, transforming their shame into a testimony of God's power and faithfulness. The chapter closes with a vision of a flourishing land and people, restored for the glory of God's name. ## Theological Insights Ezekiel 36 presents a profound message of **restoration and renewal** for the people of #Israel. The chapter underscores the sovereignty of #God and His commitment to His covenant promises, highlighting several key theological themes. 1. **Divine Sovereignty and Holiness**: The chapter begins with God's assertion over the land of Israel, promising to restore and bless it despite its desolation. This reiterates God's ultimate authority over creation and His ability to fulfill His promises. The restoration of the land serves as a testament to God's holiness and His name being vindicated among the nations (Ezekiel 36:22-23). 2. **Spiritual Renewal and Transformation**: One of the pivotal promises in this chapter is the promise of a new heart and spirit for the people of Israel (Ezekiel 36:26). This transformation is a precursor to the New Covenant prophesied in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31]], where God promises to write His law on the hearts of His people. It highlights the need for inner spiritual renewal, which is fulfilled through the work of the #HolySpirit. 3. **Covenant Faithfulness**: God's actions in restoring Israel are not based on Israel's merit but on His own faithfulness to His covenant (Ezekiel 36:22, 32). This underscores the theme of grace, where God acts for the sake of His name, demonstrating His steadfast love and commitment, similar to His promises to [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 17|Abraham]], [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 19|Moses]], and [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 7|David]]. 4. **Restoration and Blessing**: The chapter promises physical restoration and prosperity for the land of Israel, symbolizing God's blessing and favor (Ezekiel 36:28-30). This mirrors the blessings outlined in the Mosaic Covenant where obedience leads to blessing, yet it also points forward to the eschatological hope of restoration seen in the #NewTestament. 5. **Witness to the Nations**: God's restoration of Israel serves as a testimony to the nations (Ezekiel 36:36). This theme of Israel as a witness to the nations is seen throughout scripture, reaching its culmination in the Great Commission of [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 28]], where the followers of #Christ are called to make disciples of all nations. In summary, Ezekiel 36 is a powerful chapter that illustrates God's redemptive purposes for His people, emphasizing His sovereignty, the necessity of spiritual renewal, and the fulfillment of His covenant promises. It points forward to the ultimate restoration through [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], who brings both spiritual and physical renewal. ## Thematic Connections ### Restoration and Renewal Ezekiel 36 presents a powerful theme of restoration and renewal. God promises to restore the land of #Israel, making it fruitful once again, which connects to the theme of God’s covenant faithfulness seen throughout Scripture. This theme is reminiscent of God’s promise to restore Israel after exile in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31]] and the rebuilding of Jerusalem in [[Nehemiah/Nehemiah Chapter 2]]. The theme of renewal is also evident in the New Testament with the transformation of believers through the Holy Spirit as seen in [[2 Corinthians/2 Corinthians Chapter 5]]. ### The New Heart and Spirit The promise of a new heart and new spirit in Ezekiel 36:26-27 is a transformative theme that resonates with the concept of spiritual rebirth in the New Testament. This theme parallels the prophecy of the new covenant in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31|Jeremiah 31:31-34]] and finds its fulfillment in the indwelling of the #HolySpirit in believers as described in [[John/John Chapter 3|John 3:5-8]] and [[Acts/Acts Chapter 2]]. ### God's Holiness and Name A key theme in Ezekiel 36 is the sanctification of God's holy name. God’s actions to restore Israel are not simply for their sake but to vindicate His holy name among the nations. This theme of God’s holiness and the importance of His name is echoed throughout the Bible, such as in the call for God’s name to be hallowed in the Lord's Prayer in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 6|Matthew 6:9]] and the emphasis on worshiping God in spirit and truth in [[John/John Chapter 4|John 4:24]]. ### The Land and People of Israel The restoration of the land and people of #Israel is a consistent biblical theme. Ezekiel 36 speaks of the desolate land becoming like the garden of Eden, echoing the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 3|Exodus 3:8]]. This theme highlights God’s ongoing relationship with His chosen people and His commitment to fulfill His promises, as seen in the return from Babylonian exile in [[Ezra/Ezra Chapter 1]] and the future hope of restoration in the prophetic visions of [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 65|Isaiah 65:17-25]]. ### Cleansing and Purification The theme of cleansing and purification is evident in God's promise to sprinkle clean water on Israel, making them clean from all their impurities and idols (Ezekiel 36:25). This theme is rooted in the purification rituals of the #OldTestament, such as those found in [[Leviticus/Leviticus Chapter 16]] and finds its fulfillment in the New Testament through the cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice and the washing of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, as described in [[Titus/Titus Chapter 3|Titus 3:5]] and [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 9]]. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Restoration of Israel In Ezekiel 36, God promises the restoration of #Israel, which is a fulfillment of earlier prophecies. This chapter resonates with the prophecy in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 11|Isaiah 11:11-12]], where God promises to gather the scattered Israelites from all over the world. Ezekiel 36:24 declares, "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land," echoing the theme of God restoring His people to their promised land. ### A New Heart and Spirit Ezekiel 36:26-27 speaks of God giving the Israelites a new heart and spirit, a prophecy fulfilled in the New Covenant, as seen in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31|Jeremiah 31:31-34]]. This New Covenant is also fulfilled through the ministry of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], who offers a transformed heart through faith in Him, as seen in the New Testament, particularly in [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 8|Hebrews 8:10-12]], where the writer quotes Jeremiah, emphasizing the internalization of God's laws and the renewal by the Holy Spirit. ### The Fruitfulness of the Land The prophecy in Ezekiel 36:29-30, promising abundant produce and the removal of shame, aligns with God's promise to bless the land of Israel as seen in [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 30|Deuteronomy 30:9]], where God promises to make the people prosperous in all the work of their hands. This restoration of agricultural abundance serves as a sign of God's favor and blessing upon His people. ### Sanctification of God's Name Ezekiel 36:22-23 highlights God's intent to sanctify His great name, which had been profaned among the nations. This fulfillment is seen in the coming of Jesus, who is the ultimate revelation of God's holiness and the one who sanctifies God's name through His life, death, and resurrection, as reflected in passages like [[John/John Chapter 17|John 17:4-6]], where Jesus speaks of glorifying the Father by completing the work given to Him. ### The In-Gathering of Nations The prophecy of God gathering His people from among the nations in Ezekiel 36:24 is mirrored in the New Testament in the mission of the early church, as seen in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 2|Acts 2:5-11]], where people from every nation under heaven hear the gospel in their own languages. This gathering prefigures the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan to bring people from every tribe, tongue, and nation into His kingdom, as seen in [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 7|Revelation 7:9-10]]. ## Verses - **Ezekiel 36:1** - "Son of man, prophesy to Israel’s mountains. Give them this message: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord!" - **Ezekiel 36:2** - "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Your enemies have taunted you, saying, ‘Aha! Now the ancient heights belong to us!’" - **Ezekiel 36:3** - "Therefore, son of man, give the mountains of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: Your enemies have attacked you from all directions, making you the property of many nations and the object of much mocking and slander." - **Ezekiel 36:4** - "Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. He speaks to the hills and mountains, ravines and valleys, and to the ruined wastes and long-deserted cities that have been destroyed and mocked by foreign nations everywhere." - **Ezekiel 36:5** - "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My jealous anger burns against these nations, especially Edom, because they have shown utter contempt for me by gleefully taking my land for themselves as plunder." - Note: See also [[Obadiah/Obadiah Chapter 1]] regarding Edom. - **Ezekiel 36:6** - "Therefore, prophesy to the hills and mountains, the ravines and valleys of Israel. Give this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am furious that you have suffered shame before the surrounding nations." - **Ezekiel 36:7** - "Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I have taken a solemn oath that those nations will soon have their own shame to endure." - **Ezekiel 36:8** - "But the mountains of Israel will produce heavy crops of fruit for my people—for they will be coming home again soon." - **Ezekiel 36:9** - "See, I care about you, and I will pay attention to you. Your ground will be plowed and your crops planted." - **Ezekiel 36:10** - "I will greatly increase the population of Israel, and the ruined cities will be rebuilt and filled with people." - **Ezekiel 36:11** - "I will increase not only the people but also your flocks and herds. O mountains of Israel, I will bring people to live on you once again. I will make you even more prosperous than you were before. Then you will know that I am the Lord." - **Ezekiel 36:12** - "I will cause my people to walk on you once again, and you will be their territory. You will never again rob them of their children." - **Ezekiel 36:13** - "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The other nations taunt you, saying, ‘Israel is a land that devours its own people and robs them of their children!’" - **Ezekiel 36:14** - "But you will never again devour your people or rob them of their children, says the Sovereign Lord." - **Ezekiel 36:15** - "I will not let you hear those other nations insult you, and you will no longer be mocked by them. You will not be a land that causes its nation to fall, says the Sovereign Lord." - **Ezekiel 36:16** - "Then this further message came to me from the Lord:" - **Ezekiel 36:17** - "Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by the evil way they lived. To me their conduct was as unclean as a woman’s menstrual cloth." - Note: Similar imagery is used in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 64]]. - **Ezekiel 36:18** - "They polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols, so I poured out my fury on them." - **Ezekiel 36:19** - "I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived." - Note: Refers to the dispersion of Israel as seen in [[2 Kings/2 Kings Chapter 17]]. - **Ezekiel 36:20** - "But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said, ‘These are the people of the Lord, but he couldn’t keep them safe in his own land!’" - **Ezekiel 36:21** - "Then I was concerned for my holy name, on which my people brought shame among the nations." - **Ezekiel 36:22** - "Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations." - **Ezekiel 36:23** - "I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord." - **Ezekiel 36:24** - "For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land." - Note: Restoration of Israel is also prophesied in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31]]. - **Ezekiel 36:25** - "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols." - Note: Water as a symbol of cleansing can be seen in [[John/John Chapter 3]]. - **Ezekiel 36:26** - "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." - Note: Similar promise of a new heart in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 24]]. - **Ezekiel 36:27** - "And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations." - Note: Reference to the indwelling of the Spirit in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 2]]. - **Ezekiel 36:28** - "And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God." - Note: This covenant relationship is echoed in [[Leviticus/Leviticus Chapter 26]]. - **Ezekiel 36:29** - "I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior. I will give you good crops of grain, and I will send no more famines on the land." - **Ezekiel 36:30** - "I will give you great harvests from your fruit trees and fields, and never again will the surrounding nations be able to scoff at your land for its famines." - **Ezekiel 36:31** - "Then you will remember your past sins and despise yourselves for all the detestable things you did." - **Ezekiel 36:32** - "But remember, says the Sovereign Lord, I am not doing this because you deserve it. O my people of Israel, you should be utterly ashamed of all you have done!" - **Ezekiel 36:33** - "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I cleanse you from your sins, I will repopulate your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt." - **Ezekiel 36:34** - "The fields that used to lie empty and desolate in plain view of everyone will again be farmed." - **Ezekiel 36:35** - "And when I bring you back, people will say, ‘This former wasteland is now like the Garden of Eden. The abandoned and ruined cities now have strong walls and are filled with people!’" - Note: Reference to the Garden of Eden can be found in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 2]]. - **Ezekiel 36:36** - "Then the surrounding nations that survive will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruins and replanted the wasteland. For I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I say." - **Ezekiel 36:37** - "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am ready to hear Israel’s prayers and to increase their numbers like a flock." - **Ezekiel 36:38** - "They will be as numerous as the sacred flocks that filled Jerusalem’s streets at the time of her festivals. The ruined cities will be crowded with people once more, and everyone will know that I am the Lord."