Title: The restored land and people/Ezekiel 36
The restored land and people
Ezekiel 36
1. Restoration of the Land of Israel (1-15)
① Proclamation of judgment against Edom and Gentile nations (1-7)
② Complete restoration of the land of Israel (8-15)
Following the previous paragraph, this paragraph also records the judgment of Edom. However, the record focuses on the restoration of Israel, not the judgment itself. Although Israel has sinned, is judged, and becomes captive, it is still the object of God's love and the center of God's work of redemption.
The content of this paragraph is
(1) The cause of judgment against the Gentile nations depends on what attitude they took toward the land of Israel (1-7).
The author speaks of the cause of judgment on foreign countries in two ways toward the land. One is to claim the land of Israel as their own (2,3,5). The nations claim that the land is now Israel's own, even though they know it has been the property of Israel from time immemorial. This claim is an act of disregarding God, the true owner of the land of Israel, and will ultimately be judged. Another is that Gentile nations invaded the land of Israel, making Israel a ridicule among all nations. This disgrace is also not limited to the land of Israel, but will be judged with an attitude of contempt for God.
(2) The restoration of Israel takes place in two ways (8-15).
The first is the perspective of changes in Israel's environment. The expressions ‘the mountains of Israel will produce branches’ (8) and ‘man and beast will increase’ (11) show that the surrounding environment in Israel will be improved. The second is the change in Israel's status (11, 15). The Prophet reveals that Israel, although previously a slander of the Gentile nations, will again secure a unique position and status among the Gentiles. The elevation of this status was the first purpose God had for the people of Israel.
2. Restoration of the Israelites (16-38)
① The first half (16-21) revealing that the Israelites' past was God's judgment stemming from idolatry
② The fact that the restoration of Israel is for the sake of God's own name and the specific method of restoration are presented (22-38)
If the previous paragraph is the restoration of the land of Israel, this paragraph focuses on the restoration of the people of Israel. That is, it focuses on individual change. The restoration of the whole community is recorded based on the fact that it cannot be achieved without individual change.
This section shows the essence of Ezekiel's theology.
(1) Humanism (16-23)
Ezekiel does not simply describe the changed appearance of the people of Israel, but also reveals through past history that they are essentially powerless beings who cannot save themselves, and that they are a nation that has failed to respond to God's Word. Ezekiel described Israel as an unclean woman, and attributed the failure to idolatry.
Ezekiel clearly teaches that human beings are powerless beings who cannot save themselves because of their evil nature.
(2) Soteriology (25-31)
Ezekiel offers two perspectives that are absolutely necessary for human salvation. One is God's initiative in salvation. The word ‘gift’ is used to explain the fact that salvation is obtained only by the sovereign grace of God.
Another is that true salvation comes only through the inner change of man. Through ‘a new heart and a new spirit’, the hardened heart is changed.
The content of this paragraph is
(1) The cause and purpose of the restoration of the people of Israel is solely for the name of the Lord (17-23).
(2) The key to the restoration of the Israelites is that the Lord dwells among them (24-31).
⑶ The restoration of the people of Israel entails total change (32-38).