Ezekiel 39
-The prophesy continues against Gog, the prince of Rosh,
Meshech, and Tubal. The LORD will turn them around and drive them on as they
come against Israel from the remotest parts of the north into the mountains of
Israel. He will strike them and dash them giving them as food for every
predatory bird of the air and every beast of the field. He has spoken; it will
be accomplished (Ezekiel 39:1-5). The LORD will set fire upon Magog and those
who inhabit the coastlands in safety, and they will certainly KNOW that He is
LORD will full authority. He will make His Holy Name KNOWN in the midst of His
people Israel, and this Name will be profaned no longer. The nations will KNOW
that He is the only One, magnificent and true. It is coming; it shall be done.
This is the day of which He has spoken (Ezekiel 39:6-8).
-Fires will be made of the debris and weapons of war by the
inhabitants of the cities of Israel for seven years when this day of the LORD
is completed. They will not need to take wood from the field or gather firewood
from the forests. They will take the spoil of those who despoiled them seizing
the plunder of those who plundered them. Gog will be given a burial ground
there in Israel in the valley of Hamon-gog (Armageddon, Valley Plain of
Jezreel, Megiddo), and for seven months the dead will be found and buried there
in order to cleanse the land of its impurity. Men will be set apart to
constantly go through marking and burying body parts and bones for cleansing
during this time. The birds and beasts will be full to the point of being
glutted and drunk of the deceased’s fat and blood (Ezekiel 39:9-20). At that
time the LORD will set His glory among the nations as they see His judgment,
which He has executed on His enemies. Further, the nations will know that the house
of Israel went into their exile among the nations because they had iniquity and
acted treacherously against their Holy King making Him hide His face from them.
Their calamity was deserved because they turned from following their true God,
and He gave them into the hands of their adversaries to fall by the sword. But,
from this time forward, the house of Israel will know that the LORD is God
(Ezekiel 39:21-24).
-The LORD declares that now He will restore the house of
Israel’s fortunes and have mercy on them, the whole of them. He will be jealous
for His Name and act on their behalf for His permanent glory. As this happens,
the Jewish people will forget (or “bear” in some translations, this is the more
literal usage) their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated
against the King of Glory. They will again live securely on their own land with
no one to make them afraid anymore. As they are brought back and regathered,
God will sanctify Himself through them in the sight of many nations. “’Then
they will KNOW that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile
among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will
leave none of them any longer. I will not hide My face from them any longer,
for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ Declares the LORD
God (Ezekiel 39:25-29).” This coincides with Joel’s prophecy no doubt (Joel
2:28-29). Partial fulfillment was achieved at Pentecost, but fuller fulfillment
will come in the last days (Acts 2:1-24).
-*Application* You can cross reference Revelation 20 for the complete picture of what Ezekiel
sees in his vision. For us in the here and now, this passage is a reminder to
stay completely faithful to our God and Savior. He is sovereign and should have
absolute rule in our lives. If this is the case, we need not fear His
retribution.
Verse to Memorize:
Ezekiel 39:28-29
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