The Gospel According to Ezekiel, Chapters 35-36

God's Sovereignty Breaks Sin for Restoration

This evening we deal with more of the restoration passages of the book of Ezekiel, specifically chapters that relate to the sovereignty of God. We see what happens when the purpose of God breaks our sin and our attitude of sin, causing restoration to begin.

The purpose of God in these chapters is displayed to break our sin, our attitudes of sin, and our history of sin, creating opportunity for restoration—for things to function as God intended for his people.

We have dealt with issues that needed removal for restoration to be the focus of God's people. Given Israel's history of sin, many things prevented them from properly hearing, understanding, and receiving the message of restoration and realizing relationship with God.

Problems Hindering Restoration

There was a problem with how the people responded to God speaking. God informed Ezekiel that they come to hear him prophesy, saying to each other, "Let's go hear the word of the Lord." They treated it like a weekend excursion, enjoying the display like a concert or theater. Ezekiel acted out prophecies, but this was not entertainment—this was the word of God.

They were infatuated with the sensualism, entertained by the message, even when solid. Imagine today, where people heap up teachers who say what they want to hear, not what they need for restoration. God emphasizes: listen to, abide by, and acknowledge his words, existence, purpose, and obedience.

There was a problem with leadership. Human leaders failed as shepherds. The point is not to find more humans, but to recognize only the servant of David—Jesus Christ—is worthy. He is the singular shepherd, the only head of the church.

There was a problem with attitude toward sin. The desire to sin prevents repentance. It's not mere stumbling—it's willing participation from personal responsibility. Recognizing you are the source allows seeking ability to stop. The people permitted sin unchecked, hindering restoration. Sin's thorns prevent the message from sticking.

There is also the problem of opponents to God's people. Christians have literal enemies, as in the New Testament—Paul's foes, stonings, Jesus' words: "They hated me first." Examine your life: is there someone who hates you for Christ's sake? God vanquishes opponents, protecting and vindicating his people, whether now or in the age to come.

Finally, there is a problem with the land God's people dwell in. Man's sin impacts the land, necessitating a new heaven and new earth.

Having experienced God's judgments in Ezekiel's first half, we thirst for restoration waters. This refreshment naturally follows.

Judgment on Mount Seir (Ezekiel 35)

I will make Mount Seir waste and a desolation and I will cut off from it the one who passes through and returns. I will make you an everlasting desolation and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Because you have said, "These two nations and these two lands will be mine and we will possess them," although the Lord was there. Therefore as I live, declares the Lord God, I will deal with you according to your anger and according to your envy which you showed because of your hatred against them, so I will make myself known among them when I judge you. Then you will know that I have heard all your revilings which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, "They are laid desolate, they are given to us for food." And you have spoken arrogantly against me and have multiplied your words against me; I have heard it. Thus says the Lord God, "As all the earth rejoices, I will make you a desolation. As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so I will do to you. You will be a desolation, O Mount Seir and all Edom, all of it." Then you will know that I am the Lord.

In the restoration context, we pass from judgment portions where Ezekiel heavily judged Edom. Now, "re-judgment" against Edom—called Mount Seir, even singular "mount." Seir is Esau's domain (Genesis 36:8); Esau is Edom, representing his descendants whom God did not favor.

Malachi 1:1-4: "I have loved you," says the Lord. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet I have loved Jacob but I have hated Esau; I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness." ... "They may build, but I will tear down, and men will call them the wicked territory, the people toward whom the Lord is indignant forever."

God did not choose Edom due to their sinfulness, lawlessness, and enmity. By contrast, Israel is special—loved uniquely. This is comparative: God's particular love for his people, doing justice to haters. Grace is amazing; God's favor rests on Jacob's line through faith.

This should not swell pride—we are sinners deserving judgment, like Israel. It should sadden us over sin, grateful for unmerited unique love.

Restoration for Israel's Mountains (Ezekiel 36:1-15)

Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel ... "Because the enemy has said against you, 'Aha! And the everlasting heights have become our possession,' therefore prophesy and say, 'Thus says the Lord God, "Because they have made you desolate and crushed you from every side so that you became a possession of the rest of the nations ..."' ... "Surely in the fire of my jealousy I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who appropriated my land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with scorn of soul to drive it out for a prey." ... "Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because you have endured the insults of the nations. Therefore thus says the Lord God, 'I have sworn that surely the nations that are around you will bear their insult themselves.' But you, O mountains of Israel, you will put forth your branches and bear your fruit for my people Israel; for they will soon come. Behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you will be cultivated and sown. I will multiply men on you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities will be inhabited and the waste places will be rebuilt ... I will treat you better than at the first. Thus you will know that I am the Lord."

After judgments, this is fresh air: God multiplies instead of tears down, restores instead of destroys. Total restoration—even the land cursed in Genesis. He treated Israel well at first, yet promises better: paradise regained, with God as righteous ruler, treating graciously beyond desert. This is salvation.

Restoration for God's Sake (Ezekiel 36:16-38)

Israel defiled their land with sin, like a woman's impurity. God poured wrath, scattered them; nations profaned his name: "These are Yahweh's people, yet they came out of his land."

Therefore say to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord God, 'It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of my great name which has been profaned ... Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,' declares the Lord God, 'when I prove myself holy among you in their sight.'"

"For I will take you from the nations, gather you ... then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; from all your filthiness ... I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove the heart of stone ... and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes ... You will live in the land ... I will save you from all your uncleanness ... Then you will remember your evil ways ... and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities ... Not for your sake ... be ashamed and confounded for your ways ... On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited ... They will say, 'This desolate land has become like the Garden of Eden' ... I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock ... Then they will know that I am the Lord."

Internal Conflict and Hope

This creates internal conflict: severe conviction—God acts not for our sake, but his holy name. We deserve ruin; salvation is for God's glory. We loathe ourselves as sinners, hating sin that profanes God's holiness.

Yet this enables loving ourselves as God's people, with vindicated holiness as lifestyle. Salvation is guaranteed, permanent—not earned, but God's invasion: new heart, new spirit, his Spirit causing obedience. He changes our nature entirely.

God's holiness—mentioned thrice (Isaiah 6)—is eternally satisfying to him. Sin makes it "no big deal"; restoration mourns sin, desires holiness, exchanges stone for flesh.

Rejoice he vindicates holiness, not leaving us in ruin. Be ashamed, confounded at sin; despise ourselves as sinners, desire as holy chosen. Lord, do what you will—his word is reality. Live enjoying God. ```