Ezekiel 36:24-28
Ezekiel was a priest turned prophet who was likely forcibly removed from Jerusalem with other leaders during the exile. His message is harsh criticism at times, poetic vision at other times, comfort and promise at others. In his description, the Israelites are in exile because of their unholy ways; they have not kept the laws and particularly the ritual ordinances for worship, so they are being punished by being taken captive by the Babylonians. Despite their unfaithfulness, however, the LORD is faithful and the LORD remains holy. When it seems God has gone back on the Abrahamic covenant (land, people, blessing), Ezekiel interprets the exile as the way God is keeping God’s name holy despite the carelessness of the people. This “time out” that is exile will create a way for God to renew the covenant relationship with them.
In this section, God promises to renew Israel by gathering
them together from their scattered exile, cleansing them with clean water
(baptism/purification), replacing their hearts of stone (think of Pharaoh’s “hardened
heart” during the plagues!) with a heart of flesh, and pouring God’s own spirit
within them (the same way God breathed the Spirit/”breath of life” into humans
at creation). In short, this is their do-over; they get a clean start again, to
be God’s people. In the midst of the
pain and shame of this forced separation from their home (both their land and
their God), these are comforting words indeed.
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