Eze 36:6 | KingComments | STEP | Ezekiel continues his encouraging messages. He has so far expressed hope for the future in terms of new leadership for the people (Ezekiel 34) and judgment on their enemies (Ezekiel 35). Now he is going to speak of the restoration of Israel to the land (Ezekiel 36). Ezekiel is to prophesy to “the mountains of Israel” ( ). He has been given this command before, but then to proclaim judgment (Ezekiel 6). Now the LORD says to the land that it will again be filled with people ( ). This prophecy is contrasted with the prophecy about Mount Seir, which is Edom, for which there is no future (Ezekiel 35). Israel is called to hear the word of the LORD. The occasion for the prophecy is what the enemy has said about Israel ( ). The enemy referred to consists of the nations that have taken the land, such as Ammon and Tyre ( ; cf. ), with Edom mentioned separately ( ; cf. ). The enemy, in his pride, thinks he can take possession of Israel. He speaks of “the everlasting heights” (cf. ; ) having become his possession. “The everlasting heights” is a beautiful description for Israel, which God has chosen for His everlasting possession. The enemy thinks that he can take possession of Israel because the people are scattered and therefore seem to have no right to the promised land ( ). The enemy has no eye and no heart for God’s promises for His people. The nations use big words about God’s land and speak ill of it (cf. ). It is the rhetoric of people who pat themselves on the back because of their own righteousness, while portraying the people they want to attack as evil. With it they motivate themselves to go and take possession of the land. In their haughty thoughts, they have already given themselves the land. But God knows their foolish posturing. To Him their words are nothing more than hollow drivel. He tells the mountains of Israel that He knows how the nations think about the land ( ). Of all the nations that speak evil of God’s people, only Edom or Esau is mentioned by name. He is the ringleader. The nations have appropriated for themselves the LORD’s land – He calls it “My land” in ( ). What joy they take in it. With all their hearts they rejoice over this annexation. They already see their flocks grazing on Israel’s pasture land. Only fools think and speak this way, people who do not take God into account. God does not address them in His answer, but His land. The attitude of the nations is the occasion for Him to pronounce a prophecy about His land in its entire expanse ( ). He is wroth at the insults which the nations have brought upon His land and which His land has endured (cf. ). Therefore, He says to His land, those nations will themselves endure their insults ( ).

‏ Ezekiel 36:6

Introduction

Ezekiel continues his encouraging messages. He has so far expressed hope for the future in terms of new leadership for the people (Ezekiel 34) and judgment on their enemies (Ezekiel 35). Now he is going to speak of the restoration of Israel to the land (Ezekiel 36).

The Invaders Driven Out

Ezekiel is to prophesy to “the mountains of Israel” (Eze 36:1). He has been given this command before, but then to proclaim judgment (Ezekiel 6). Now the LORD says to the land that it will again be filled with people (Eze 36:10-11 ; 37-38). This prophecy is contrasted with the prophecy about Mount Seir, which is Edom, for which there is no future (Ezekiel 35).

Israel is called to hear the word of the LORD. The occasion for the prophecy is what the enemy has said about Israel (Eze 36:2). The enemy referred to consists of the nations that have taken the land, such as Ammon and Tyre (Eze 36:3; cf. Eze 25:3 ; Eze 26:2), with Edom mentioned separately (Eze 36:5; cf. Eze 35:10 ; Eze 25:12).

The enemy, in his pride, thinks he can take possession of Israel. He speaks of “the everlasting heights” (cf. Gen 49:26; Deu 32:13) having become his possession. “The everlasting heights” is a beautiful description for Israel, which God has chosen for His everlasting possession. The enemy thinks that he can take possession of Israel because the people are scattered and therefore seem to have no right to the promised land (Eze 36:3). The enemy has no eye and no heart for God’s promises for His people.

The nations use big words about God’s land and speak ill of it (cf. Num 13:32). It is the rhetoric of people who pat themselves on the back because of their own righteousness, while portraying the people they want to attack as evil. With it they motivate themselves to go and take possession of the land. In their haughty thoughts, they have already given themselves the land. But God knows their foolish posturing. To Him their words are nothing more than hollow drivel.

He tells the mountains of Israel that He knows how the nations think about the land (Eze 36:4-5). Of all the nations that speak evil of God’s people, only Edom or Esau is mentioned by name. He is the ringleader. The nations have appropriated for themselves the LORD’s land – He calls it “My land” in Eze 36:5 (Lev 25:23). What joy they take in it. With all their hearts they rejoice over this annexation. They already see their flocks grazing on Israel’s pasture land.

Only fools think and speak this way, people who do not take God into account. God does not address them in His answer, but His land. The attitude of the nations is the occasion for Him to pronounce a prophecy about His land in its entire expanse (Eze 36:6). He is wroth at the insults which the nations have brought upon His land and which His land has endured (cf. Zec 1:13-16). Therefore, He says to His land, those nations will themselves endure their insults (Eze 36:7).