And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall
see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid
upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I _am_ the Lord
their God from that day and forward. And the nations 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 hands of their enemies: so fell they all by the
sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their
transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
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; 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. 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; 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. 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 (verses 21-29).
The moral effect of this judgment is described in verses 21-24. The Lord
will then establish His glory among the nations. From this we learn that
the glory of the Lord will be made known world-wide to cover the earth
after this final invasion has come to pass, and this last judgment of
nations has been executed. The nations will be the witnesses of this
judgment. Of course these nations are those who have been converted and
are embodied in the Kingdom of Christ. And then the Lord is vindicated
for having dealt with Israel as He did. They went into captivity--the
dispersion among all the nations of the earth--on account of their
iniquities. God dealt righteously with them when on account of their
transgressions He hid His face from them. All God's ways are righteous
and in that day all His dealings in judgment will be openly justified.
Then comes the prophecy of the bright future of Israel. It is one of the
many found in this book of Ezekiel and the greater number in the other
prophetic books. The captivity of Jacob is ended. Mercy will be bestowed
upon the whole house of Israel. They have borne their shame; but now it
is all ended through the mercy of the Lord. He will bring them again
from the peoples, and gather them out of the enemies' lands and
sanctify them, by taking away their sins, in the sight of many nations.
None will be left behind; all will be gathered back. It is next to
inconceivable that, with so many promises in the Word of God as to
Israel's future restoration and blessing, that the greater part of
professing Christians can ignore these things and refuse to believe in a
glorious future of the Jewish race.
The last verse contains an important statement. The Lord says that He
hides His face no more from them. This in itself shows that all this is
not yet here; for still He hides His face from them. The hiding of His
face from them will be no more when His Spirit is poured upon them. "I
have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God."
There comes then a time when the house of Israel, the literal
descendants of Abraham, will receive an outpouring of the Spirit of God.
Such is also the message of Joel, in which restoration and spiritual
blessing, through the outpouring of the Spirit are blended together
(Joel ii).[35] We call attention to another passage which should be
linked with the statement in this chapter. Isaiah xxxii:13-18 is a very
striking prophecy. There is an announcement made first of all concerning
the judgment which is to fall upon Israel's land. "Upon the land of my
people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy
in the joyous city," etc. But this is not to last forever. An "until"
follows. "Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high." This is the
same future outpouring of the Spirit of God. Up to now it has not been.
The Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost came to form the body of Christ,
but this outpouring in connection with Israel has another significance.
We read, therefore, in the above passage what will happen when this
outpouring has come to pass. "And the wilderness be a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgment shall
dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of
righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall
dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet
resting places." It is a description of the Kingdom to come, when Israel
has found rest and when all the earth will receive the blessing, when
righteousness will have given peace, lasting peace to the world.
[35] See "The Prophet Joel," by A. C. G., where this interesting and
important chapter is explained in full.
[Illustration: GROUND PLAN OF EZEKIEL'S TEMPLE]
A. The Temple House, xli.
B. Altar of Burnt Offering, xliii:13.
C. Inner Court.
D. Gates to Inner Court, xl:28.
E. Separate Place, vli:10.
F. Hinder Building, xli:12.
G. Priest's Kitchens, xlvi:19.
H. Chambers for Priests, xlii:1.
I. Chambers, xl:44.
K. People's Kitchen, xlvi:21-24.
L. Gates into Outer Court, xl:6.
M. Pavement, xl:18.
N. Chambers in Outer Court (30) xl:17.
O. Outer Court.
---------------Temple Stream