A Triumphant Festival and Restoration

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 39:17-29

 

Ezekiel 39:27-28

When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, ²⁸ then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them ^[a]captive any longer.

(NKJV)

 

In this text, the prophecy of Ezekiel shifts from the prophecies of Ezekiel 38-39:16, which foretell a future attack on Israel with God intervening miraculously to rescue His people. This text speaks to the current exiles, letting them know of a triumphant feast and total restoration in their future. The Church also has a triumphant feast and eternal restoration in its future.

 

This text has two parts. The First deals with God commanding Ezekiel to speak to every sort of bird and beast of the field. Ezekiel calls on the house of Israel to gather because the Lord is preparing a great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 39:17). The sacrifice will consist of rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, the fatlings of Bashan (Ezekiel 39:18). At the feast they shall eat till full and drink until drunk (Ezekiel 39:19). The house of Israel shall be filled at the Lord’s table with horses, riders, and mighty men, all men of war (Ezekiel 39:20).

 

The second part of the text deals with Israel’s restoration to the Land. God will set His glory among the nations with all of them seeing His judgment executed and laid on Israel’s enemies (Ezekiel 39:21). These judgments will also let the house of Israel know that the Lord is Lord God from that day forward (Ezekiel 39:22). The Gentiles will also know that Israel went into captivity because of their iniquities and unfaithfulness to God, with God hiding His face from them (Ezekiel 39:23-24).

 

This is why God shows Israel mercy and brings the captives back into the land (Ezekiel 39:25). The purpose of the exile was for Israel to bear their shame and unfaithfulness when they lived safely in their land (Ezekiel 39:26). When God, in mercy, brings the house of Israel back into their land from the peoples holding them captive with the Lord hallowed in the sight of many nations (Ezekiel 39:27). Because of the exile and restoration of Israel, they shall know the Lord is God with the promise they shall not be captive any longer (Ezekiel 39:28). God also promises He will not hide His face from them and will pour out His Spirit on the house of Israel (Ezekiel 39:29).   

 

The prophecy of Ezekiel now shifts from a future war and victory over Gog to addressing a triumphal festival, the restoration of the house of Israel to those in exile. One of the missing things in Israel during their time of exile was the annual feasts, especially the feast of Passover, where they sacrificed an unblemished lamb for their sins. In Ezra 6:19-22, this prophecy of Ezekiel is fulfilled with Israel celebrating the Passover. The restoration of the house of Israel is also complete with Cyrus, king of Persia, not only allowing the Jews to return to their land but also giving them what they needed to complete the temple (Ezra 1:1-11). This is an example of the great mercy of God that is new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23) and available to us through Christ (2 Corinthians 4:1). Thank you Lord, for your mercy and grace.

 

Whether we want to believe it or not, the Church functions as an ambassador for Christ in a lost world. Since this lost world is not friendly to the things of God, Jesus did not pray that his followers would be taken out of the world, but that God would keep them from the evil one (John 17:12-19). Like the house of Israel, the Church is in exile but has the promise of the triumphant wedding feast with its bridegroom (Revelation 19:9) and restored glorified bodies with us living for eternity with our Lord (Philippians 3:21; Revelation 21:3-4). As ambassadors of Christ, our calling is to deliver the gospel to the nations (Matthew 28:19-20) so they too can join us at the marriage supper of the Lamb and live with glorified bodies for eternity with Christ.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to make Jesus your savior or have grown lukewarm or cold in your walk with the Lord, I invite you to either commit your life to the Lord for the first time or rededicate your life to the Lord by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with baptism as a public confession of your faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.