Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 form a unit. One describing an attack on Israel by a conglomeration of nations (likely Russia and her allies) in the latter days.
Thus far we have studied the alliance, wicked as it is, then the conflict itself … and its outcome!
Bad news for anti-Semitism!
Good news for Israel, the Jews!
There are even verses on how the massive number of dead bodies are to be handled. By literal burial or simply by rotting in the fields, fodder for vultures!
Then … comes today’s Paragraph.
Sort of a summary, ending to the war account. “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; after that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 39:25-29
To “bring again” (in Hebrew “shub”) one’s captivity means “to reverse” its effects. “Mercy” is now being extended God’s people, no longer “judgment!”
Israel has (by the time this account is fulfilled) been fully punished for her sins! God says “they will have borne their shame.” And “carried the load” (in Hebrew “nasa”) of their transgressions!
Back in her land (another miracle of God on Israel’s behalf, this world-wide regathering), Israel begins “to know” God as never before, maybe at first as Advocate, Defender, even Creator!
But ultimately, by chapter’s end (verse 29) as Saviour!
God here admits (so illustrative of the consequences of sin) that He had “turned His Back” on Israel! Well, more specifically, “hidden His Face!”
But all that is over!
Their “Day of Salvation” has come!
When God will have “poured out” His Holy Spirit upon that (now very little) Nation! The verb translated “pour out” is “shaphak” in Hebrew and means “to gush out,” all over, totally saturating an entity!
The “icing” on the cake!
The “ending” to a beautiful (and truthful) story!
Let’s hear God tell it again: “I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there (abroad). Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Now tomorrow we enter “Holy Ground” for sure. We begin our journey through Ezekiel chapters 40-48, what God plans to do (furthermore) for (now redeemed) Israel, her freshly renewed “worship” practices during (I believe) the Millennium!
Sounds interesting.