You can sum up the words of Ezekiel as the good news of Jesus Christ. Ezekiel warned cities, nations, animals, and nature of judgment that was coming according to their evil actions. But after he warned them, he promised them blessings beyond measure according to his mercy.
All of God‘s promises are realized in his son Jesus Christ. Therefore, every promise that was prophesied by Ezekiel finds their fulfillment in the son of God.
Listen to a few of these prophecies:
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and follow My ordinances.”
Ezekiel 36:25-27
These are incredible promises, promises that take care of our past, present, and future. God not only forgives us, but gives us a deep cleaning. He retrofits us with parts that we never had before. Finally, he gives as a gift the desire and the will to do what he commands.
Why in the world would God do so much good for his children, even when they were still fighting against him? There are many reasons why God displays these acts of kindness: because of love, pity, anger at his enemies, and more. But could it be that the greatest reason is that his acts of lovingkindness most define who he is? Listen, there was a time when sin didn’t exist. God was not twiddling his thumbs in a “hardly-can-wait” posture.
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “It is not for your sake, house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I show Myself holy among you in their sight.’”
Ezekiel 36:22-23
We have the divine privilege of knowing the Lord and being part of the company of those who love him. Not for our sake, but for his name. Even the name of Jesus.
