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Ezekiel 39 (ESV)
25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 26 They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies’ lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. 29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”
REFLECTION:
The Battle of Gog showed that the rejuvenation of the kingdom of God is not only to let the dry bones gain life, but also to “have it abundantly.” Therefore, God not only wants to lead His people out of Egypt for the second time, “I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies’ lands”, but also to let them cross the Red Sea a second time and truly enter the Promised Land, so as to “dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid.” This is not only the result of the work of the Good Shepherd, but also the promise and blessing of God. Today, God has poured out the Holy Spirit into every believer, and we have lived securely under the care of Christ the Great Shepherd. However, today’s world is also like Gog, often coming to attack us, and we often feel weak under the attack of the world. We are like Israel “without walls, and having no bars or gates” (38:11). We are often frightened by the environment and fail to see God as our refuge. Therefore, God will personally fight for us, “get glory over Pharaoh and all his host” (Exod 14:4), and to manifest glory to the nations. Only after we experience God in the Battle of Gog, can we truly realize that God is our God. Therefore, faith takes a leap. Since then, we will no longer be provoked by the flesh, and will no longer be affected by the environment or frightened by the enemy, but enter the rest in Christ to “dwell securely in our land with none to make us afraid.” May all of us rely on the Lord to win in the battle!
PRAYER:
Look back before God what you have experienced so far of being protected by God in practical matters or in your spiritual growth, count God’s blessings, and be grateful to God; ask God to give you a more obedient heart, so that you can establish a closer relationship with God, no matter what happens in the future, you will be able to live securely in the arms of God without any fright.
HYMN:
My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness – youtu.be/Qntf2Y_VNok
