Verse 1: “And thou, son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD.”

In this verse, Ezekiel is called to prophesy to the mountains of Israel. This signifies that the message is for the people of Israel and is meant to be heard and heeded.

Verse 2: “Thus saith the LORD GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:”

The enemy has spoken against Israel, claiming ownership of their ancient high places. This is a direct challenge to the authority and prosperity of the Israelites.

Verse 3: “Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the LORD GOD; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:”

The LORD instructs Ezekiel to prophesy against the enemy’s actions, which have led to the desolation and possession of Israel by other nations. This has caused Israel to become a topic of disgrace and gossip among the people.

Verse 4: “Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the Word of the LORD GOD; Thus saith the LORD GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about;”

The LORD’S message is directed not only to the people of Israel, but also to the land itself. The entire nation, from the mountains to the valleys, and even the cities that have been forsaken, are included in this prophecy.

Verse 5: “Therefore thus saith the LORD GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.”

The Lord’s jealousy has been aroused by the actions of the heathen who have taken possession of His land with joy and spiteful intent. This has stirred Him to speak out against them.

Verse 6: “Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the LORD GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:”

Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy about the land of Israel and declare the LORD’S Words to the natural elements of the land. The LORD’S jealousy and fury have been kindled because Israel has borne the shame brought upon them by the heathen.

Verses 7-8: “Therefore thus saith the LORD GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame. But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.”

The LORD has sworn that the heathen who have shamed Israel will bear their own shame. Meanwhile, He promises that the mountains of Israel will flourish and bear fruit for the benefit of His people who are soon to return.

Verses 9-11: “For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown: And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded: And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”

The LORD declares His favor towards Israel and promises to bring about their restoration and prosperity. This includes multiplying the population, rebuilding the cities, and bringing an abundance of fruit and livestock. This restoration will be even greater than their previous prosperity, and they will come to know that it is the LORD’S doing.

Verses 12-15: “Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men. Thus saith the LORD GOD; Because they say unto you, Thou land devourest up men, and hast bereaved thy nations; Therefore thou shalt devour men no more, neither bereave thy nations any more, saith the LORD GOD. Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more, saith the LORD GOD.”

The LORD promises that Israel will once again be possessed and inhabited by His people, and they will no longer be deprived of inhabitants. The accusations made against the land will cease, and it will no longer endure shame, reproach, or the fall of its people.

Verses 16-19: “Moreover the Word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it: And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.”

The LORD almighty reminds Ezekiel of the past sins of Israel that led to their scattering among the nations. Their actions had defiled the land, making it like the uncleanness of a removed woman. As a result, the LORD poured out His fury on them, punishing them for shedding blood and worshiping idols.

Verse 20: “And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.”

Even when they were among the nations, the people of Israel failed to uphold the holiness of the LORD’S name. Instead, they profaned it by their words and actions.

Verses 21-23: “But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the LORD GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the LORD GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”

Despite their unrighteousness, the LORD had compassion for His holy name, which had been defiled by Israel among the nations. Therefore, He declares that for the sake of His holy name, He will act on behalf of Israel. He will sanctify His name, demonstrating His holiness to the nations, so that they may know that He is the LORD.

Verses 24-27: “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”

The LORD promises to gather the people of Israel from the nations and bring them back to their own land. He will cleanse them from their filthiness and idolatry, giving them a new heart and spirit that is obedient to His laws. Furthermore, He will place His spirit within them to enable them to walk in His ways and keep His commandments.

Verses 28-30: “And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your GOD. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.”

As a result of their restoration, the people of Israel will dwell in the land promised to their fathers, becoming the people of GOD, and He will be their GOD. The LORD assures them that they will be saved from all uncleanness and famine, and they will no longer endure the reproach of famine among the nations.

Verses 31-32: “Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the LORD GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.”

Following their restoration and renewal, the people of Israel will come to a realization of their past sins and deeds, causing them to feel repulsion and shame for their iniquities and abominations. The LORD emphasizes that He is acting for the sake of His holy name, and calls upon the house of Israel to be ashamed and confounded for their own ways.

Verses 33-36: “Thus saith the LORD GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.”

Once Israel is cleansed from their iniquities, the LORD will cause them to dwell in the cities and rebuild the wastelands. The desolate land will be cultivated and the ruined cities will be inhabited. The nations will observe this transformation and come to acknowledge that it is the LORD who has accomplished these things.

Verses 37-38: “Thus saith the LORD GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

The LORD declares that He will respond to the inquiries of the house of Israel and increase their population like a flock of sheep. The waste cities will be filled with people, and their solemn feasts will be celebrated like the holy flock in Jerusalem. Through these manifestations, the people will come to recognize that He is the LORD.

In this passage, Ezekiel delivers a message from the LORD about the restoration and renewal of Israel. The LORD promises to bring His people back to their land, cleanse them from their sins, and enable them to dwell in prosperity, thus revealing His power and holiness to the nations. This prophecy offers hope for the future of Israel and serves as a testimony to the faithfulness and mighty sovereignty of the LORD.

Let us Pray:

Dear LORD almighty HEAVENLY FATHER, we come before you with hearts of humility and gratitude, acknowledging that You are our almighty sovereign LORD of LORD’S and KING of KINGS over all creation. We thank You for Your promises of restoration and redemption, and we claim the truth of Ezekiel 36 over our lives and circumstances. We pray for a transformation of our hearts and minds, that You would remove the hardness and sin from within us and replace it with a heart of flesh. Help us to walk in obedience to Your commands and to be faithful stewards of the blessings You have given us. We ask for the restoration of our land and our communities, that You would bring healing and renewal to the places that have been broken and devastated. May Your mighty, glorious, fulfilling presence be evident in our midst, bringing hope and joy to those who are suffering. We pray for the nations of the world, that Your righteousness and justice would prevail over all the earth. Bring peace to the conflicts and reconciliation to the divided, and let Your kingdom come in every corner of the globe. Dear LORD almighty HEAVENLY FATHER, we trust in your faithfulness and we stand firmly on the promises of Your marvelous, righteous Word. May Your mighty, glorious, fulfilling name be glorified through the fulfillment of Ezekiel 36 in our lives and in the world around us. Thank you dear LORD, almighty HEAVENLY FATHER.
We pray all these things, throughout the mighty, glorious, fulfilling name of JESUS CHRIST. Amen!

Much LoVe, JoY, Peace and Blessings to You, through JESUS CHRIST, our LORD, SAVIOUR and REDEEMER!