Ezequiel 36
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
Ezequiel 36
MacArthur - This chapter (Ezekiel 36) presents the prerequisite regeneration which Israel must experience before they can nationally enter into the promised blessings. This chapter must be understood to speak of a literal Israel, a literal land, and a literal regeneration, leading to a literal kingdom under Messiah. (Borrow MacArthur Study Bible page 1172) John Walvoord agrees noting that "This entire chapter requires a future millennial kingdom after the second coming of Christ for its complete and literal fulfillment (Jer 23:5-8). Just as the prophecies of judgment were literally fulfilled in connection with Israel and the nations, so her future restoration will be literally fulfilled and she will experience the marvelous grace of God. (Borrow Every Prophecy of the Bible page 184). For additional background, you may want to read Tony Garland's excellent discussion on Interpreting Symbols (From preface of his commentary on Revelation, one of the best commentaries from a literalistic perspective I have ever read = A Testimony of Jesus Christ - highly recommended). You might also want to read Bob Smith's succinct summary on Figures of Speech. Some attack the principle of literal interpretation of Scripture by stating that this method denies the Bible's use of figurative language (including types, symbols, figures of speech, etc). Dr Charles Ryrie counters such specious reasoning noting specifically that literalism does not preclude or exclude correct understanding of types, illustrations, apocalypses, and other genres within the basic framework of literal interpretation… (Literal interpretation) might also be called plain interpretation so that no one receives the mistaken notion that the literal principle rules out figures of speech. (Borrow Dispensationalism page 40) E R Craven adds that "The Literalist (so called) is not one who denies that figurative language, that symbols are used in prophecy, nor does he deny the great spiritual truths are set forth therein; his position is, simply, that the prophecies are to be normally interpreted (i.e., according to received laws of language) as any other utterances are interpreted-that which is manifestly literal being regarded as literal, that which is manifestly figurative being so regarded. (From a Note appended to the bottom of the page [see bottom of page 98 in link] - See Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., Moore, E., Craven, E. R., & Woods, J. H. A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures : Revelation, 1872) Irving Jensen writes that "Apocalyptic writing prophesies of things to come by means of much symbol and imagery. Daniel and Revelation are the two books of the Bible usually classified as apocalyptic. Ezekiel contains many apocalyptic passages." (See page 862Jensen's Survey of the OT) For a historical context note that Babylon attacked Jerusalem on three separate occasions (1) 605 BC - Daniel was taken captive (2) 597 BC - Ezekiel and 10,000 taken captive, (3) 586 BC-Judah and Jerusalem defeated. THE FALL OF JERUSALEM: THE MAJOR TURNING POINT IN EZEKIEL Ezekiel records the siege of the city of Jerusalem... Son of man, write the name of the day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day....14 "I, the LORD, have spoken; it is coming and I shall act. I shall not relent, and I shall not pity, and I shall not be sorry; according to your ways and according to your deeds I shall judge you," declares the Lord GOD.'" (Ezekiel 24:2, 14) Comment: Even though Babylon was 880 miles away from Ezekiel (in Babylon), God revealed to his prophet the beginning of the siege in Jerusalem on the very day it began This final siege began in January, 588BC (precisely dated in Ezek 24:1 corresponding to 2Ki 25:1, cp Jer 39:1, 52:4) and lasted approximately 2 years. The Lord had the prophet memorialize this horrible event and then describe it in a parable of a cooking pot (Ezekiel 24:3-14) to picture God's imminent judgment against the "bloody city" (Ezek 24:6). And then God gave Ezekiel the personally painful sign of the death of his beloved wife, and forbade the prophet to mourn her death as a heartbreaking sign to the people of Gods wrath upon the wayward nation (Ezekiel 24:15-24). Now it came about in the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth of the tenth month, that the refugees from Jerusalem came to me, saying, "The city has been taken." (Ezekiel 33:21) Comment: A fugitive who escaped from Jerusalem brings word of the holy city's fall to Nebuchadnezzar. The city had actually fallen some 6 months earlier (July, 586BC). The destruction of the city of Jerusalem marks the major turning point and a division of the book of Ezekiel into two sections (see table below). Prior to this time, Ezekiel's message had been judgment is coming, but after Ezekiel 33:21 God changes the prophet's message to hope and restoration of Jerusalem and the nation. Irving Jensen writes... It is at Ezekiel 24 that the prophet learns that when Jerusalem falls, his tongue will be loosed to speak a new message of hope; and people, sobered by the reality of Jerusalem’s destruction, will begin to give him a hearing. (Read Ezekiel 24:25-27.) (Jensen's Survey of the Old Testament) PROPHECY OF JUDGMENT Ezekiel 1-32 Jehovah Departs The LORD is not there PROPHECY OF RESTORATION Ezekiel 33-48 Jehovah Shammah — The LORD is There FATE OF JUDAH Before the Siege FOES OF JUDAH During the Siege FUTURE OF JUDAH After the Siege 593-588 BC 587-586 586-571 7 YEARS OF PROPHESYING HORROR & NO HOPE 15 YEARS OF PROPHESYING HOPE Ezekiel 1-3 Ezekiel Sees Glory & Receives Call Ezekiel 4 -24 Judgments Against Disobedient Judah Ezekiel 25-32 Judgment Against Gloating Nations Ezekiel 33-39 Prophecy of Restoration of Israel by Jehovah Ezekiel 40-48 Glory Returns to the Temple Joel Rosenberg writes that Ezekiel 36, 37 set the stage for the “War of Gog and Magog” by describing that Israel will be reborn as a country in the last days, the Jewish people will come back to the Holy Land from exile all over the world, the Jewish people will rebuild the ancient ruins and make the deserts bloom again (Ed: I have been to Israel and this is a beautiful reality today!). These things have all happened, and this suggests we are getting closer to the fulfillment of the next set of prophecies. PROPHECY AGAINST NATIONS THAT WERE AGAINST ISRAEL Keep the context in mind - In Ezekiel 35:1-15 God had prophesied judgment against Edom and Ezekiel 36:1-15 continues the prophecy against Edom. While this section is somewhat complex, the basic thrust of Ezekiel 36:1-15 can be subdivided into two parts (1) Ezekiel 36:1-7 is an oracle of divine judgment against Edom and the nations for appropriating Judah’s land and (2) Ezekiel 36:8-15 comprise an oracle of divine blessing of restoration and salvation for Judah and Israel. I must admit that Ezekiel 36 has proven to be a huge challenge to interpret, but I felt better after reading Block's introductory note... If Chapter 35 seems disjointed, Ezekiel 36:1-15 is even more so. Numerous repetitive and disruptive prophetic formulae appear to chop it up into little fragments. Indeed, it is difficult to determine when Yahweh is addressing his messenger and when he is addressing the mountains. The result looks like a patchwork quilt, except that quilts usually reflect more deliberate design. Wevers describes this as “a hodge-podge” of materials. (The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25-48 New International Commentary on the Old Testament). A C Gaebelein puts Ezekiel 36 into proper perspective reminding us that... With this chapter the great prophetic utterances of Ezekiel begin concerning the future restoration and blessing of Israel. From here on to the end of the book, all is still unfulfilled, nor can it be fulfilled until the Lord Jesus Christ comes again and is enthroned as King. Prophesy to the mountains of Israel - This was not the first time Ezekiel had prophesied to the mountains of Israel (See Ezekiel 6:2,3). In the previous chapter, Ezekiel had set his face against Mount Seir (representative of the land Edom, Ezek 35:1ff), but now the prophet addressed his comments to the mountains of Israel as the symbol or representative of the land of Israel. F F Bruce points out that... In Ezekiel 6:1-3 the mountains of Israel were apostrophized (apostrophe = In rhetoric, turning away from the audience [In Greek apostrophe = “turning away”] to address someone or something that cannot respond) in terms of denunciation because of the idolatry practised on them. Now they are apostrophized in tones of consolation: although they are at present occupied by alien invaders, because their rightful inhabitants are in exile, yet the invaders will soon be expelled and the rightful inhabitants restored to cultivate them and reap fruitful harvests from them (cp Ezek 36:8-11). (Bruce, F. F. New International Bible Commentary. Page 837. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House. 1979). Matthew
Ezequiel 36
MacArthur comments: The abundance of material blessings would be followed by the outpouring of spiritual blessings. When coupled with the other temporal phrases within the passage (“in those days” [Joel 2:29] and “before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes” [Joel 2:31]), the term points to a Second Advent fulfillment time frame. all mankind. Since the context is “your sons and daughters,” “all mankind” best refers to the house of Israel only. The nations are the recipients of God’s wrath, not the effusion of His Spirit (cf. Joel 3:2, 9ff.). ESV Study Bible (borrow) Note on Joel 2:28-32: Some past Jewish interpreters understood this passage to be referring to the messianic age. The early church followed this line of thinking, as Peter quoted this passage on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17-21). Bible Knowledge Commentary (borrow): The Lord announced that His “day” (Joel 2:31) would be accompanied by an outpouring of His Spirit on all people (lit., “all flesh”). The following context indicates that “all people” refers more specifically to all inhabitants of Judah (cf. the threefold use of your in Joel 2:28, as well as the parallel passages in Ezek. 39:29; Zech. 12:10). Jewish believer David Levy comments: In the Hebrew Bible, Joel 2:28-32 comprise a separate chapter (Joel 3) which describes three great spiritual experiences to be enjoyed by Israel: the coming of the Lord; salvation to the nation; and the permanent indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit. (Joel, the day of the Lord: Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry) D A Garret comments: The Bible several times associates the Holy Spirit with water or describes Him metaphorically as something that can be poured out (Isa 44:3; Ezek 39:29; Zech 12:10; Ro 5:5). Joel easily turned this imagery to his advantage and created a parallel between the gift of rain and the pouring out of the Spirit...In short, the coming age would be an age marked by the presence of the Spirit (contrast 1Sa 3:1). (Volume 19A: Hosea, Joel The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers) Walvoord summarizes these OT passages promising the gift of the Spirit to Israel.. The millennial period for both Israel and the Gentiles will also be a time of special ministry of the Holy Spirit. In this period, according to Isaiah 32:15, the Spirit will be poured out from on high. A similar prophecy is found in Isaiah 44:3: “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.” Ezekiel predicts: “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). In Ezekiel 39:29 a further similar statement is found: “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 Jehovah.” The presence of Christ, the evident power of the Holy Spirit, and the context of the knowledge of the Lord and peace, righteousness, and joy will provide a basis for spiritual life in the millennium far more favorable than any preceding (time in Israel's history). (Borrow Israel in Prophecy) In Titus Paul records an allusion to "sprinkling" to make one clean in association with the bestowal of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit... He saved us (Who? When? What/Who appeared? See Titus 3:4-note), not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness ("Works", "Keeping of the law"), but (contrast = glorious "change of direction!") according to (not "out of" but proportionate to the infinite riches of) His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-note, Titus 3:6-7-note) Bob Deffinbaugh has a well done summary of The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and in his subsection on the Holy Spirit and the Nation of Israel he writes... The prophets made it clear that the coming kingdom which God had promised and for which they looked by faith (cf. Hebrews 11) was one that would be inaugurated by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (cf. Isaiah 32;12-20; 44:1-5; 59:20-21; Ezekiel 36:22-32; 37:11-14; 39:29; Joel 2:28-32, etc.). Among the ministries which the Holy Spirit would perform were the following (I will put them in the order in which I understand them to have been fulfilled, or in which they will be fulfilled, although the Old Testament saints were not aware of this order at the time): First, the Holy Spirit would deal with Israel’s rebellion and sin. The first aspect of the Spirit’s ministry had to do with judgment, not salvation. Thus, Joel (chapter 2) and Zechariah (12:10-13:9) speak of the Spirit’s ministry of bringing Israel to repentance by causing them to understand that they had rejected and crucified God’s Messiah. It is because of this that, “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son” (Zechariah 12:10+). Second, Israel will be cleansed of her sin. This is closely related to the first aspect of the Spirit’s ministry. Before cleansing can be achieved, repentance is necessary, which is the first step. The prophets spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit in close proximity with the cleansing of Israel. Ezekiel 36:25 and Zechariah 13:1+ speak very clearly of this cleansing of Israel, although no one knew exactly how this would be accomplished. Third, the Holy Spirit would renew Israel by giving them a new spirit, a new heart. Ezekiel is the prophet who spoke most of this matter of a “new heart” (cf. Ezekiel 11:18-21; 18:30-32; 36:22-32). The problem with Israel was not the law which they had been given, but their hearts. God promised, through His Spirit, to give His people a new heart, a heart which would dispose His people to love and to keep His laws, and thus to pave the way for the pouring out of His blessings on His people (cf. especially Ezekiel 36:26-32). The new covenant of which God spoke did not set aside the standards of the old, but rather granted men forgiveness of sins, and the enablement to live in accordance with God’s standards, not to earn their salvation but to live it out in a way that honored God. (The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament) (See also Dr John Walvoord's related article The Person of the Holy Spirit Part 11 - The Eschatology of the Holy Spirit) Ezekiel 36:28 "You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God You will live: Eze 36:10 28:25 37:25 39:28, be people, Eze 11:20 Ezek 37:23,27 Song 6:3 Jer 30:22,23 Jer 31:33 Jer 32:38 Ho 1:10 Zec 13:9 Mt 22:32 2Co 6:16-18 7:1 Heb 8:10 11:16 Rev 21:3,7 PROMISE OF THE LAND FULFILLED TO LITERAL ISRAEL You will live in the land - You is Israel. The church is not in view in this context. God is serious about this promise and repeats it many times in Ezekiel's prophecy = Ezek 11:17, Ezek 28:25, Ezek 34:13, Ezek 36:10, Ezek 39:27. The land - This phrase in the OT most often refers to the Promised Land of Canaan (but always examine the context), the land promised by Jehovah to Abraham in an unconditional, immutable, unbreakable covenant. Some today teach that God is "finished with Israel", but Ezekiel argues strongly against this viewpoint. The miraculous creation of the nation of Israel in May, 1948 after almost 2000 years of having no homeland should be strong evidence to every skeptic that God is clearly not finished with Israel! Warren