Ezekiel 39:23 says, And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. God sad that the heathen, all those nations around Isreal who worshipped other gods, would know that the nation of Israel fell because they stopped being obedient to Him and He stopped protecting them. If we fall as spiritually as Christians today, it will always be because we have stopped being obedient to God, and one day, everyone will realize this.
Verse twenty-four adds, According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. God said that He had hidden His face, or no longer looked on the people of Israel with His protection, because of their uncleanness and transgressions. If those who profess to be Christians, and even we who are, turn away from being obedient to God, He will no longer provide us with His protection spiritually, even if we prosper materially.
Verse twenty-five continues, 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; God said that He was going to restore the whole house of Jacob, or all the people of Israel. He was going to do this for the sake of His holy name. God may allow people who are called Christians to prosper today just to keep His name from being profaned by those who do not put their faith in Him, but if they are still not obedient to His word, this does not mean that they will be spiritually blessed forever. It is only by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord that we can be blessed spiritually.
Verse twenty-six states, 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. God said that this would happen after the people of Israel bore all the shame of their defeat when they refused to obey His commandments. I believe that if they were feeling shame about their defeat that they would know that they had failed to live up their covenant relationship with God. Until we feel shame about our sins and turn to God for forgiveness by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what happens in the world will be of little importance. I don’t believe that the people of Israel were restored because of their actions but because they were known as God’s people and their current state in the world was bringing dishonor to His name. I also don’t believe that this means that they were all to be spiritually redeemed forever. It would only be those who truly put their faith in God who would be.
Verse twenty-seven adds, 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; God said He was going to bring the people of Israel out of all their enemies lands and sanctify them in the sight of many nations. It will always be God Who delivers us from sin in the world today and this can only happen by our putting our faith in Jesus Christ. We might be physically delivered to keep God from being seen as unpowerful, but I don’t believe that we will ever be victorious spiritually simply because we profess to be Christians but don’t really put our faith in God and obey His word.
Verse twenty-eight continues, 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. God said that when He restored the people of Israel that they would know that He is God. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, which is the only way to be restored to a spiritual relationship with God, we have to know that God is the only God.
Verse twenty-nine concludes. 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. God said that when this happened, He would no longer be hidden to the people of Israel and that He would pour out His Spirit on them. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, God is no longer hidden from us, and He pours out His Spirit on us.
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