Hosea 12

Hosea 12:1

A New Heart and a New Spirit

Ezekiel is to tell Israel not to think that they owe their redemption and return to their land to themselves (Ezekiel 36:22). The LORD does it solely for His own holy Name’s sake. Never does God’s mercy on man lie with man, but God’s mercy always finds its origin in Himself in spite of man. When the LORD sanctifies His great Name, it is to let the nations know that He and He alone is the LORD.

To accomplish this, He vindicates the holiness of His great name in His people (Ezekiel 36:23). He vindicates in them His Name before the nations by bringing them back to their land, through which He shines as the God of truth and faithfulness. The nations will be impressed by His greatness, as He reveals Himself to His people as the Holy One, Who at the same time maintains His justice and lets His grace prevail.

He Himself will take the initiative and gather His people from all nations and bring them to their land (Ezekiel 36:24). The returned people will experience a tremendous spiritual renewal (Ezekiel 36:25). The LORD Himself will sprinkle clean water on them, making them clean, cleansed from all their filthiness and abominations. Water is a picture of God’s Word and of God’s Spirit (Ephesians 5:26; John 7:38-39). God’s Word, through the working of God’s Spirit, makes them aware of all their sins so that they will confess them.

Confession cleanses and creates room for God to give them “a new heart” and to put “a new spirit” within them (Ezekiel 36:26). He will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. A heart of stone speaks of depraved insensitivity to the LORD. The heart is as hard as stone (cf. 1 Samuel 25:37). A heart of flesh speaks of receptivity to the Word of God.

In their heart of flesh God will give His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:27). They will not only receive a new spirit in the sense of a new inner being, but God will give them His Spirit. Their heart of flesh will be open to God’s Word. As a result, they will walk in the statutes of the LORD and obediently keep His ordinances by observing them.

If everything is in harmony with the will of God, they will also be able to enjoy the rich blessing of living in the land. The greatest blessing, though, is that they will be a people to Him and He will be a God to them (Ezekiel 36:28).

The Lord Jesus refers to these verses in His conversation with Nicodemus about the new birth (Ezekiel 36:25-28; John 3:5-6). He is surprised that Nicodemus does not understand Him, since surely Nicodemus could have known from this section of the book of Ezekiel about what He is talking. The new birth happens through water and the Spirit. The new birth is entirely God’s work through His Word and His Spirit. It is only through this that people are born of God and become His children. No one can do anything about being born of God by himself. And once a person is born of God, no one can change it.

The situation Ezekiel describes will not be a temporary one, but a continuous and unchanging one. This is because the LORD has saved them from all their uncleanness (Ezekiel 36:29). He will call an abundance of blessing over the trees and the field for them instead of the former famine. That famine He had to impose on them because of their constant forsaking Him and sinning against Him. The abundant fruit of the trees and of the field will also result in them no longer receiving the reproach of famine among the nations (Ezekiel 36:30).

The abundant blessing will be in stark contrast to the evil ways they have gone and to their evil deeds (Ezekiel 36:31). The contrast will bring them to loathe themselves. When we receive goodness from God, we will also experience how unworthy we are of that goodness. Then it again dawns on us that the Lord does not bestow His goodness on us because of who we are, as if we were any better than others, but that He does so because of Who He Himself is (Ezekiel 36:32). Then with gratitude there is also shame. The awareness that we are unworthy of the LORD’s goodness is also an evidence of true repentance.

Hosea 12:2

A New Heart and a New Spirit

Ezekiel is to tell Israel not to think that they owe their redemption and return to their land to themselves (Ezekiel 36:22). The LORD does it solely for His own holy Name’s sake. Never does God’s mercy on man lie with man, but God’s mercy always finds its origin in Himself in spite of man. When the LORD sanctifies His great Name, it is to let the nations know that He and He alone is the LORD.

To accomplish this, He vindicates the holiness of His great name in His people (Ezekiel 36:23). He vindicates in them His Name before the nations by bringing them back to their land, through which He shines as the God of truth and faithfulness. The nations will be impressed by His greatness, as He reveals Himself to His people as the Holy One, Who at the same time maintains His justice and lets His grace prevail.

He Himself will take the initiative and gather His people from all nations and bring them to their land (Ezekiel 36:24). The returned people will experience a tremendous spiritual renewal (Ezekiel 36:25). The LORD Himself will sprinkle clean water on them, making them clean, cleansed from all their filthiness and abominations. Water is a picture of God’s Word and of God’s Spirit (Ephesians 5:26; John 7:38-39). God’s Word, through the working of God’s Spirit, makes them aware of all their sins so that they will confess them.

Confession cleanses and creates room for God to give them “a new heart” and to put “a new spirit” within them (Ezekiel 36:26). He will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. A heart of stone speaks of depraved insensitivity to the LORD. The heart is as hard as stone (cf. 1 Samuel 25:37). A heart of flesh speaks of receptivity to the Word of God.

In their heart of flesh God will give His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:27). They will not only receive a new spirit in the sense of a new inner being, but God will give them His Spirit. Their heart of flesh will be open to God’s Word. As a result, they will walk in the statutes of the LORD and obediently keep His ordinances by observing them.

If everything is in harmony with the will of God, they will also be able to enjoy the rich blessing of living in the land. The greatest blessing, though, is that they will be a people to Him and He will be a God to them (Ezekiel 36:28).

The Lord Jesus refers to these verses in His conversation with Nicodemus about the new birth (Ezekiel 36:25-28; John 3:5-6). He is surprised that Nicodemus does not understand Him, since surely Nicodemus could have known from this section of the book of Ezekiel about what He is talking. The new birth happens through water and the Spirit. The new birth is entirely God’s work through His Word and His Spirit. It is only through this that people are born of God and become His children. No one can do anything about being born of God by himself. And once a person is born of God, no one can change it.

The situation Ezekiel describes will not be a temporary one, but a continuous and unchanging one. This is because the LORD has saved them from all their uncleanness (Ezekiel 36:29). He will call an abundance of blessing over the trees and the field for them instead of the former famine. That famine He had to impose on them because of their constant forsaking Him and sinning against Him. The abundant fruit of the trees and of the field will also result in them no longer receiving the reproach of famine among the nations (Ezekiel 36:30).

The abundant blessing will be in stark contrast to the evil ways they have gone and to their evil deeds (Ezekiel 36:31). The contrast will bring them to loathe themselves. When we receive goodness from God, we will also experience how unworthy we are of that goodness. Then it again dawns on us that the Lord does not bestow His goodness on us because of who we are, as if we were any better than others, but that He does so because of Who He Himself is (Ezekiel 36:32). Then with gratitude there is also shame. The awareness that we are unworthy of the LORD’s goodness is also an evidence of true repentance.

Hosea 12:3

A New Heart and a New Spirit

Ezekiel is to tell Israel not to think that they owe their redemption and return to their land to themselves (Ezekiel 36:22). The LORD does it solely for His own holy Name’s sake. Never does God’s mercy on man lie with man, but God’s mercy always finds its origin in Himself in spite of man. When the LORD sanctifies His great Name, it is to let the nations know that He and He alone is the LORD.

To accomplish this, He vindicates the holiness of His great name in His people (Ezekiel 36:23). He vindicates in them His Name before the nations by bringing them back to their land, through which He shines as the God of truth and faithfulness. The nations will be impressed by His greatness, as He reveals Himself to His people as the Holy One, Who at the same time maintains His justice and lets His grace prevail.

He Himself will take the initiative and gather His people from all nations and bring them to their land (Ezekiel 36:24). The returned people will experience a tremendous spiritual renewal (Ezekiel 36:25). The LORD Himself will sprinkle clean water on them, making them clean, cleansed from all their filthiness and abominations. Water is a picture of God’s Word and of God’s Spirit (Ephesians 5:26; John 7:38-39). God’s Word, through the working of God’s Spirit, makes them aware of all their sins so that they will confess them.

Confession cleanses and creates room for God to give them “a new heart” and to put “a new spirit” within them (Ezekiel 36:26). He will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. A heart of stone speaks of depraved insensitivity to the LORD. The heart is as hard as stone (cf. 1 Samuel 25:37). A heart of flesh speaks of receptivity to the Word of God.

In their heart of flesh God will give His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:27). They will not only receive a new spirit in the sense of a new inner being, but God will give them His Spirit. Their heart of flesh will be open to God’s Word. As a result, they will walk in the statutes of the LORD and obediently keep His ordinances by observing them.

If everything is in harmony with the will of God, they will also be able to enjoy the rich blessing of living in the land. The greatest blessing, though, is that they will be a people to Him and He will be a God to them (Ezekiel 36:28).

The Lord Jesus refers to these verses in His conversation with Nicodemus about the new birth (Ezekiel 36:25-28; John 3:5-6). He is surprised that Nicodemus does not understand Him, since surely Nicodemus could have known from this section of the book of Ezekiel about what He is talking. The new birth happens through water and the Spirit. The new birth is entirely God’s work through His Word and His Spirit. It is only through this that people are born of God and become His children. No one can do anything about being born of God by himself. And once a person is born of God, no one can change it.

The situation Ezekiel describes will not be a temporary one, but a continuous and unchanging one. This is because the LORD has saved them from all their uncleanness (Ezekiel 36:29). He will call an abundance of blessing over the trees and the field for them instead of the former famine. That famine He had to impose on them because of their constant forsaking Him and sinning against Him. The abundant fruit of the trees and of the field will also result in them no longer receiving the reproach of famine among the nations (Ezekiel 36:30).

The abundant blessing will be in stark contrast to the evil ways they have gone and to their evil deeds (Ezekiel 36:31). The contrast will bring them to loathe themselves. When we receive goodness from God, we will also experience how unworthy we are of that goodness. Then it again dawns on us that the Lord does not bestow His goodness on us because of who we are, as if we were any better than others, but that He does so because of Who He Himself is (Ezekiel 36:32). Then with gratitude there is also shame. The awareness that we are unworthy of the LORD’s goodness is also an evidence of true repentance.

Hosea 12:4

A New Heart and a New Spirit

Ezekiel is to tell Israel not to think that they owe their redemption and return to their land to themselves (Ezekiel 36:22). The LORD does it solely for His own holy Name’s sake. Never does God’s mercy on man lie with man, but God’s mercy always finds its origin in Himself in spite of man. When the LORD sanctifies His great Name, it is to let the nations know that He and He alone is the LORD.

To accomplish this, He vindicates the holiness of His great name in His people (Ezekiel 36:23). He vindicates in them His Name before the nations by bringing them back to their land, through which He shines as the God of truth and faithfulness. The nations will be impressed by His greatness, as He reveals Himself to His people as the Holy One, Who at the same time maintains His justice and lets His grace prevail.

He Himself will take the initiative and gather His people from all nations and bring them to their land (Ezekiel 36:24). The returned people will experience a tremendous spiritual renewal (Ezekiel 36:25). The LORD Himself will sprinkle clean water on them, making them clean, cleansed from all their filthiness and abominations. Water is a picture of God’s Word and of God’s Spirit (Ephesians 5:26; John 7:38-39). God’s Word, through the working of God’s Spirit, makes them aware of all their sins so that they will confess them.

Confession cleanses and creates room for God to give them “a new heart” and to put “a new spirit” within them (Ezekiel 36:26). He will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. A heart of stone speaks of depraved insensitivity to the LORD. The heart is as hard as stone (cf. 1 Samuel 25:37). A heart of flesh speaks of receptivity to the Word of God.

In their heart of flesh God will give His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:27). They will not only receive a new spirit in the sense of a new inner being, but God will give them His Spirit. Their heart of flesh will be open to God’s Word. As a result, they will walk in the statutes of the LORD and obediently keep His ordinances by observing them.

If everything is in harmony with the will of God, they will also be able to enjoy the rich blessing of living in the land. The greatest blessing, though, is that they will be a people to Him and He will be a God to them (Ezekiel 36:28).

The Lord Jesus refers to these verses in His conversation with Nicodemus about the new birth (Ezekiel 36:25-28; John 3:5-6). He is surprised that Nicodemus does not understand Him, since surely Nicodemus could have known from this section of the book of Ezekiel about what He is talking. The new birth happens through water and the Spirit. The new birth is entirely God’s work through His Word and His Spirit. It is only through this that people are born of God and become His children. No one can do anything about being born of God by himself. And once a person is born of God, no one can change it.

The situation Ezekiel describes will not be a temporary one, but a continuous and unchanging one. This is because the LORD has saved them from all their uncleanness (Ezekiel 36:29). He will call an abundance of blessing over the trees and the field for them instead of the former famine. That famine He had to impose on them because of their constant forsaking Him and sinning against Him. The abundant fruit of the trees and of the field will also result in them no longer receiving the reproach of famine among the nations (Ezekiel 36:30).

The abundant blessing will be in stark contrast to the evil ways they have gone and to their evil deeds (Ezekiel 36:31). The contrast will bring them to loathe themselves. When we receive goodness from God, we will also experience how unworthy we are of that goodness. Then it again dawns on us that the Lord does not bestow His goodness on us because of who we are, as if we were any better than others, but that He does so because of Who He Himself is (Ezekiel 36:32). Then with gratitude there is also shame. The awareness that we are unworthy of the LORD’s goodness is also an evidence of true repentance.

Hosea 12:5

A New Heart and a New Spirit

Ezekiel is to tell Israel not to think that they owe their redemption and return to their land to themselves (Ezekiel 36:22). The LORD does it solely for His own holy Name’s sake. Never does God’s mercy on man lie with man, but God’s mercy always finds its origin in Himself in spite of man. When the LORD sanctifies His great Name, it is to let the nations know that He and He alone is the LORD.

To accomplish this, He vindicates the holiness of His great name in His people (Ezekiel 36:23). He vindicates in them His Name before the nations by bringing them back to their land, through which He shines as the God of truth and faithfulness. The nations will be impressed by His greatness, as He reveals Himself to His people as the Holy One, Who at the same time maintains His justice and lets His grace prevail.

He Himself will take the initiative and gather His people from all nations and bring them to their land (Ezekiel 36:24). The returned people will experience a tremendous spiritual renewal (Ezekiel 36:25). The LORD Himself will sprinkle clean water on them, making them clean, cleansed from all their filthiness and abominations. Water is a picture of God’s Word and of God’s Spirit (Ephesians 5:26; John 7:38-39). God’s Word, through the working of God’s Spirit, makes them aware of all their sins so that they will confess them.

Confession cleanses and creates room for God to give them “a new heart” and to put “a new spirit” within them (Ezekiel 36:26). He will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. A heart of stone speaks of depraved insensitivity to the LORD. The heart is as hard as stone (cf. 1 Samuel 25:37). A heart of flesh speaks of receptivity to the Word of God.

In their heart of flesh God will give His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:27). They will not only receive a new spirit in the sense of a new inner being, but God will give them His Spirit. Their heart of flesh will be open to God’s Word. As a result, they will walk in the statutes of the LORD and obediently keep His ordinances by observing them.

If everything is in harmony with the will of God, they will also be able to enjoy the rich blessing of living in the land. The greatest blessing, though, is that they will be a people to Him and He will be a God to them (Ezekiel 36:28).

The Lord Jesus refers to these verses in His conversation with Nicodemus about the new birth (Ezekiel 36:25-28; John 3:5-6). He is surprised that Nicodemus does not understand Him, since surely Nicodemus could have known from this section of the book of Ezekiel about what He is talking. The new birth happens through water and the Spirit. The new birth is entirely God’s work through His Word and His Spirit. It is only through this that people are born of God and become His children. No one can do anything about being born of God by himself. And once a person is born of God, no one can change it.

The situation Ezekiel describes will not be a temporary one, but a continuous and unchanging one. This is because the LORD has saved them from all their uncleanness (Ezekiel 36:29). He will call an abundance of blessing over the trees and the field for them instead of the former famine. That famine He had to impose on them because of their constant forsaking Him and sinning against Him. The abundant fruit of the trees and of the field will also result in them no longer receiving the reproach of famine among the nations (Ezekiel 36:30).

The abundant blessing will be in stark contrast to the evil ways they have gone and to their evil deeds (Ezekiel 36:31). The contrast will bring them to loathe themselves. When we receive goodness from God, we will also experience how unworthy we are of that goodness. Then it again dawns on us that the Lord does not bestow His goodness on us because of who we are, as if we were any better than others, but that He does so because of Who He Himself is (Ezekiel 36:32). Then with gratitude there is also shame. The awareness that we are unworthy of the LORD’s goodness is also an evidence of true repentance.

Hosea 12:6

The Sole Purpose: The Glory of the LORD

On the same day that the people are cleansed, the LORD will bestow all the deferred blessing on the people (Ezekiel 36:33). The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. The devastated land will be cultivated to bring forth food and fruit (Ezekiel 36:34). The land will remind all who passes by of “the garden of Eden”, paradise (Ezekiel 36:35). The people who pass through the land will be those who first scoffed that the LORD had not been able to preserve His people from destruction (cf. 1 Kings 9:8-9; Jeremiah 18:16; Ezekiel 5:14; Ezekiel 16:15).

So it will be in the realm of peace, when the Lord Jesus reigns as Messiah. The surrounding nations that did not perish in the great tribulation will know that He is the LORD, because He has rebuilt what was ruined and planted that which was desolate (Ezekiel 36:36). He will do it, because He has spoken it.

Israel will then be in perfect harmony with the LORD. They will ask Him things that He gladly answers (Ezekiel 36:37). They may think that there are only a few of them, a rest, a remnant, remaining. Therefore, they will ask Him to multiply the people. He will. He will make them as numerous in people as there are sheep. Sheep are sacrificial animals. The comparison shows that His people will be made up of people who dedicate themselves to Him as a living sacrifice (cf. Romans 12:1).

They will be like sanctified sheep being sacrificed to the LORD on the appointed times (Ezekiel 36:38). Every day of their lives will be like appointed time for them, a day of dedication and sacrifice to the LORD. The formerly destroyed cities will be filled with “flocks of men” (cf. Ezekiel 34:31). What a joy that will be to the LORD! He will receive all the glory for it, for He has done it.

Hosea 12:7

The Sole Purpose: The Glory of the LORD

On the same day that the people are cleansed, the LORD will bestow all the deferred blessing on the people (Ezekiel 36:33). The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. The devastated land will be cultivated to bring forth food and fruit (Ezekiel 36:34). The land will remind all who passes by of “the garden of Eden”, paradise (Ezekiel 36:35). The people who pass through the land will be those who first scoffed that the LORD had not been able to preserve His people from destruction (cf. 1 Kings 9:8-9; Jeremiah 18:16; Ezekiel 5:14; Ezekiel 16:15).

So it will be in the realm of peace, when the Lord Jesus reigns as Messiah. The surrounding nations that did not perish in the great tribulation will know that He is the LORD, because He has rebuilt what was ruined and planted that which was desolate (Ezekiel 36:36). He will do it, because He has spoken it.

Israel will then be in perfect harmony with the LORD. They will ask Him things that He gladly answers (Ezekiel 36:37). They may think that there are only a few of them, a rest, a remnant, remaining. Therefore, they will ask Him to multiply the people. He will. He will make them as numerous in people as there are sheep. Sheep are sacrificial animals. The comparison shows that His people will be made up of people who dedicate themselves to Him as a living sacrifice (cf. Romans 12:1).

They will be like sanctified sheep being sacrificed to the LORD on the appointed times (Ezekiel 36:38). Every day of their lives will be like appointed time for them, a day of dedication and sacrifice to the LORD. The formerly destroyed cities will be filled with “flocks of men” (cf. Ezekiel 34:31). What a joy that will be to the LORD! He will receive all the glory for it, for He has done it.

Hosea 12:8

The Sole Purpose: The Glory of the LORD

On the same day that the people are cleansed, the LORD will bestow all the deferred blessing on the people (Ezekiel 36:33). The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. The devastated land will be cultivated to bring forth food and fruit (Ezekiel 36:34). The land will remind all who passes by of “the garden of Eden”, paradise (Ezekiel 36:35). The people who pass through the land will be those who first scoffed that the LORD had not been able to preserve His people from destruction (cf. 1 Kings 9:8-9; Jeremiah 18:16; Ezekiel 5:14; Ezekiel 16:15).

So it will be in the realm of peace, when the Lord Jesus reigns as Messiah. The surrounding nations that did not perish in the great tribulation will know that He is the LORD, because He has rebuilt what was ruined and planted that which was desolate (Ezekiel 36:36). He will do it, because He has spoken it.

Israel will then be in perfect harmony with the LORD. They will ask Him things that He gladly answers (Ezekiel 36:37). They may think that there are only a few of them, a rest, a remnant, remaining. Therefore, they will ask Him to multiply the people. He will. He will make them as numerous in people as there are sheep. Sheep are sacrificial animals. The comparison shows that His people will be made up of people who dedicate themselves to Him as a living sacrifice (cf. Romans 12:1).

They will be like sanctified sheep being sacrificed to the LORD on the appointed times (Ezekiel 36:38). Every day of their lives will be like appointed time for them, a day of dedication and sacrifice to the LORD. The formerly destroyed cities will be filled with “flocks of men” (cf. Ezekiel 34:31). What a joy that will be to the LORD! He will receive all the glory for it, for He has done it.

Hosea 12:9

The Sole Purpose: The Glory of the LORD

On the same day that the people are cleansed, the LORD will bestow all the deferred blessing on the people (Ezekiel 36:33). The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. The devastated land will be cultivated to bring forth food and fruit (Ezekiel 36:34). The land will remind all who passes by of “the garden of Eden”, paradise (Ezekiel 36:35). The people who pass through the land will be those who first scoffed that the LORD had not been able to preserve His people from destruction (cf. 1 Kings 9:8-9; Jeremiah 18:16; Ezekiel 5:14; Ezekiel 16:15).

So it will be in the realm of peace, when the Lord Jesus reigns as Messiah. The surrounding nations that did not perish in the great tribulation will know that He is the LORD, because He has rebuilt what was ruined and planted that which was desolate (Ezekiel 36:36). He will do it, because He has spoken it.

Israel will then be in perfect harmony with the LORD. They will ask Him things that He gladly answers (Ezekiel 36:37). They may think that there are only a few of them, a rest, a remnant, remaining. Therefore, they will ask Him to multiply the people. He will. He will make them as numerous in people as there are sheep. Sheep are sacrificial animals. The comparison shows that His people will be made up of people who dedicate themselves to Him as a living sacrifice (cf. Romans 12:1).

They will be like sanctified sheep being sacrificed to the LORD on the appointed times (Ezekiel 36:38). Every day of their lives will be like appointed time for them, a day of dedication and sacrifice to the LORD. The formerly destroyed cities will be filled with “flocks of men” (cf. Ezekiel 34:31). What a joy that will be to the LORD! He will receive all the glory for it, for He has done it.

Hosea 12:10

The Sole Purpose: The Glory of the LORD

On the same day that the people are cleansed, the LORD will bestow all the deferred blessing on the people (Ezekiel 36:33). The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. The devastated land will be cultivated to bring forth food and fruit (Ezekiel 36:34). The land will remind all who passes by of “the garden of Eden”, paradise (Ezekiel 36:35). The people who pass through the land will be those who first scoffed that the LORD had not been able to preserve His people from destruction (cf. 1 Kings 9:8-9; Jeremiah 18:16; Ezekiel 5:14; Ezekiel 16:15).

So it will be in the realm of peace, when the Lord Jesus reigns as Messiah. The surrounding nations that did not perish in the great tribulation will know that He is the LORD, because He has rebuilt what was ruined and planted that which was desolate (Ezekiel 36:36). He will do it, because He has spoken it.

Israel will then be in perfect harmony with the LORD. They will ask Him things that He gladly answers (Ezekiel 36:37). They may think that there are only a few of them, a rest, a remnant, remaining. Therefore, they will ask Him to multiply the people. He will. He will make them as numerous in people as there are sheep. Sheep are sacrificial animals. The comparison shows that His people will be made up of people who dedicate themselves to Him as a living sacrifice (cf. Romans 12:1).

They will be like sanctified sheep being sacrificed to the LORD on the appointed times (Ezekiel 36:38). Every day of their lives will be like appointed time for them, a day of dedication and sacrifice to the LORD. The formerly destroyed cities will be filled with “flocks of men” (cf. Ezekiel 34:31). What a joy that will be to the LORD! He will receive all the glory for it, for He has done it.

Hosea 12:11

The Sole Purpose: The Glory of the LORD

On the same day that the people are cleansed, the LORD will bestow all the deferred blessing on the people (Ezekiel 36:33). The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. The devastated land will be cultivated to bring forth food and fruit (Ezekiel 36:34). The land will remind all who passes by of “the garden of Eden”, paradise (Ezekiel 36:35). The people who pass through the land will be those who first scoffed that the LORD had not been able to preserve His people from destruction (cf. 1 Kings 9:8-9; Jeremiah 18:16; Ezekiel 5:14; Ezekiel 16:15).

So it will be in the realm of peace, when the Lord Jesus reigns as Messiah. The surrounding nations that did not perish in the great tribulation will know that He is the LORD, because He has rebuilt what was ruined and planted that which was desolate (Ezekiel 36:36). He will do it, because He has spoken it.

Israel will then be in perfect harmony with the LORD. They will ask Him things that He gladly answers (Ezekiel 36:37). They may think that there are only a few of them, a rest, a remnant, remaining. Therefore, they will ask Him to multiply the people. He will. He will make them as numerous in people as there are sheep. Sheep are sacrificial animals. The comparison shows that His people will be made up of people who dedicate themselves to Him as a living sacrifice (cf. Romans 12:1).

They will be like sanctified sheep being sacrificed to the LORD on the appointed times (Ezekiel 36:38). Every day of their lives will be like appointed time for them, a day of dedication and sacrifice to the LORD. The formerly destroyed cities will be filled with “flocks of men” (cf. Ezekiel 34:31). What a joy that will be to the LORD! He will receive all the glory for it, for He has done it.

Hosea 12:13

Introduction

Israel will experience a two-fold restoration: 1. There will be a national restoration, a people’s own existence with its own government. 2. There will also be a spiritual restoration, a new inner self, a new heart and a new spirit wrought by the Spirit.

We see these two sides of restoration in this chapter and also that these two sides will take place in chronological order: first national restoration and then spiritual restoration.

This chapter is the answer to all who see no restoration for Israel, not in Ezekiel’s day and not in our day. In Ezekiel’s time, the destruction of the temple means the loss of their faith. The people are absolutely convinced of the final end of the nation and that there will be no restoration (Ezekiel 37:11; cf. Ezekiel 11:17-20). The LORD responds to their hopelessness through a vision (Ezekiel 37:1-14), a symbolic act (Ezekiel 37:15-25), and a covenant (Ezekiel 37:26-28).

The Vision of the Bones

Ezekiel is shown a special vision (Ezekiel 37:1). Therefore, the hand of the LORD comes upon him (cf. Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 3:14; 22; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 33:22; Ezekiel 40:1). The LORD takes him up in the spirit and brings him outside his house and residence and sets him down, in the middle of a valley (cf. Ezekiel 3:22). The valley is covered with bones of men. The valley is not a burial ground, but a battlefield (cf. Ezekiel 37:10). The battlefield is filled with bones of the slain who have been left unburied. It is a great reproach not to be buried (cf. 2 Samuel 21:12-14; Psalms 141:7; Jeremiah 8:1-2; Jeremiah 22:19; Ezekiel 6:5). That reproach has come upon Israel.

The LORD makes him go around about the bones in the spirit on all sides (Ezekiel 37:2). This allows him to take in the whole spectacle. He notes that there are very many of them and also that they are very dry. It has been a massacre done thoroughly. All life has long since disappeared from them.

Then the LORD asks Ezekiel if these bones will come back to life (Ezekiel 37:3). The only answer Ezekiel can give is that the LORD knows. His answer indicates that he does not know the answer to the question or even holds it to be impossible to know, for the scene really offers no hope of life. At the same time his answer indicates that he is convinced that the LORD does know the answer and is also able to give life where the situation is so hopeless (cf. Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17-18). He, like every Old Testament believer, believes in the resurrection as an act of the LORD’s power (Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Hosea 6:2).

After his answer, which shows confidence in the LORD, he is commanded to prophesy over the bones (Ezekiel 37:4). He is to address the dry bones and command them to hear the word of the LORD. Humanly speaking, it is foolishness to speak to dry dead bones as if they could hear and obey as living beings. But to God, that is no problem. It shows His Godhead. He calls things that are not, as if they were, and He brings life where death reigns (Romans 4:17b). It is the same in a spiritual sense. We were dead in trespasses and sins, but when the voice of the Son of God sounded to us, there came a passing out of death into life (John 5:24-25).

The Lord GOD speaks through Ezekiel to the bones that He will give breath, or spirit, of life in them, by which they will come to life (Ezekiel 37:5; cf. Genesis 2:7; Numbers 16:22; Psalms 104:29; Ecclesiastes 3:21). To accomplish this, He will give the bones everything they need to form a body, such as sinews, flesh and a skin (Ezekiel 37:6; cf. Job 10:11). He will also give them breath, or spirit, so that the bones will be able to come to life. By this act of the LORD, the bones will know that He is the LORD. The glory of this event is for Him.

Ezekiel does as he is commanded (Ezekiel 37:7; cf. Ezekiel 12:7; Ezekiel 24:18). His prophesying has immediate results. First there is the noise, a rattling. That rattling is heard because the bones begin to move. They each take their own place in relation to the other bones. Thus they join together to form ordered skeletons. Then Ezekiel sees how the sinews and flesh come on them and how the LORD covered them with the skin (Ezekiel 37:8). But there is no breath, or spirit, in the bodies yet. They still remain corpses.

To bring the breath, or the spirit, of life into the bodies, the LORD uses Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:9). Ezekiel must prophesy to the breath, or the spirit, to get into the dead. He is to call the breath, or the spirit, to “come from the four winds”, which is a reference to the fact that the Israelites are scattered to all corners of the earth and must be gathered together from there (cf. Jeremiah 31:8a; Isaiah 43:5-6). This breath, or this spirit, of life comes from God and blows through all nature and gives life to all creatures.

Ezekiel again does as commanded by the LORD (Ezekiel 37:10). Then the breath, or the spirit, comes into them and the bodies come to life. A great army thus arises. Ezekiel is visibly impressed by the size of that army and speaks of “an exceedingly great army”.

Hosea 12:14

Introduction

Israel will experience a two-fold restoration: 1. There will be a national restoration, a people’s own existence with its own government. 2. There will also be a spiritual restoration, a new inner self, a new heart and a new spirit wrought by the Spirit.

We see these two sides of restoration in this chapter and also that these two sides will take place in chronological order: first national restoration and then spiritual restoration.

This chapter is the answer to all who see no restoration for Israel, not in Ezekiel’s day and not in our day. In Ezekiel’s time, the destruction of the temple means the loss of their faith. The people are absolutely convinced of the final end of the nation and that there will be no restoration (Ezekiel 37:11; cf. Ezekiel 11:17-20). The LORD responds to their hopelessness through a vision (Ezekiel 37:1-14), a symbolic act (Ezekiel 37:15-25), and a covenant (Ezekiel 37:26-28).

The Vision of the Bones

Ezekiel is shown a special vision (Ezekiel 37:1). Therefore, the hand of the LORD comes upon him (cf. Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 3:14; 22; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 33:22; Ezekiel 40:1). The LORD takes him up in the spirit and brings him outside his house and residence and sets him down, in the middle of a valley (cf. Ezekiel 3:22). The valley is covered with bones of men. The valley is not a burial ground, but a battlefield (cf. Ezekiel 37:10). The battlefield is filled with bones of the slain who have been left unburied. It is a great reproach not to be buried (cf. 2 Samuel 21:12-14; Psalms 141:7; Jeremiah 8:1-2; Jeremiah 22:19; Ezekiel 6:5). That reproach has come upon Israel.

The LORD makes him go around about the bones in the spirit on all sides (Ezekiel 37:2). This allows him to take in the whole spectacle. He notes that there are very many of them and also that they are very dry. It has been a massacre done thoroughly. All life has long since disappeared from them.

Then the LORD asks Ezekiel if these bones will come back to life (Ezekiel 37:3). The only answer Ezekiel can give is that the LORD knows. His answer indicates that he does not know the answer to the question or even holds it to be impossible to know, for the scene really offers no hope of life. At the same time his answer indicates that he is convinced that the LORD does know the answer and is also able to give life where the situation is so hopeless (cf. Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17-18). He, like every Old Testament believer, believes in the resurrection as an act of the LORD’s power (Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Hosea 6:2).

After his answer, which shows confidence in the LORD, he is commanded to prophesy over the bones (Ezekiel 37:4). He is to address the dry bones and command them to hear the word of the LORD. Humanly speaking, it is foolishness to speak to dry dead bones as if they could hear and obey as living beings. But to God, that is no problem. It shows His Godhead. He calls things that are not, as if they were, and He brings life where death reigns (Romans 4:17b). It is the same in a spiritual sense. We were dead in trespasses and sins, but when the voice of the Son of God sounded to us, there came a passing out of death into life (John 5:24-25).

The Lord GOD speaks through Ezekiel to the bones that He will give breath, or spirit, of life in them, by which they will come to life (Ezekiel 37:5; cf. Genesis 2:7; Numbers 16:22; Psalms 104:29; Ecclesiastes 3:21). To accomplish this, He will give the bones everything they need to form a body, such as sinews, flesh and a skin (Ezekiel 37:6; cf. Job 10:11). He will also give them breath, or spirit, so that the bones will be able to come to life. By this act of the LORD, the bones will know that He is the LORD. The glory of this event is for Him.

Ezekiel does as he is commanded (Ezekiel 37:7; cf. Ezekiel 12:7; Ezekiel 24:18). His prophesying has immediate results. First there is the noise, a rattling. That rattling is heard because the bones begin to move. They each take their own place in relation to the other bones. Thus they join together to form ordered skeletons. Then Ezekiel sees how the sinews and flesh come on them and how the LORD covered them with the skin (Ezekiel 37:8). But there is no breath, or spirit, in the bodies yet. They still remain corpses.

To bring the breath, or the spirit, of life into the bodies, the LORD uses Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:9). Ezekiel must prophesy to the breath, or the spirit, to get into the dead. He is to call the breath, or the spirit, to “come from the four winds”, which is a reference to the fact that the Israelites are scattered to all corners of the earth and must be gathered together from there (cf. Jeremiah 31:8a; Isaiah 43:5-6). This breath, or this spirit, of life comes from God and blows through all nature and gives life to all creatures.

Ezekiel again does as commanded by the LORD (Ezekiel 37:10). Then the breath, or the spirit, comes into them and the bodies come to life. A great army thus arises. Ezekiel is visibly impressed by the size of that army and speaks of “an exceedingly great army”.