Ezekiel 39:29

39:23-29 When the Lord shall have mercy on the whole house of Israel, by converting them to Christianity, and when they shall have borne the shame of being cast off for their sins, then the nations shall learn to know, worship, and serve him. Then Israel also shall know the Lord, as revealed in and by Christ. Past events do not answer to these predictions. The pouring out of the Spirit is a pledge that God's favour will continue. He will hide his face no more from those on whom he has poured out his Spirit. When we pray that God would never cast us from his presence, we must as earnestly pray that, in order thereto, he would never take his Holy Spirit from us.

Ezekiel 39:29 . Neither will I hide my face any more from them — I will never again withdraw my favour or protection from them, or turn from them in displeasure. For I have poured out — In abundant mercy; my Spirit upon the house of Israel — Which, as a Spirit of truth, shall enlighten their minds, and make them wise unto salvation; as a Spirit of grace, shall regenerate and create them anew; as a Spirit of power, shall strengthen them for every duty, and enable them to withstand and conquer every temptation; as a Spirit of holiness, shall cleanse them from sin, sanctify their souls, and stamp them with mine image; and, as a Spirit of adoption and consolation, shall inspire them with confidence and hope, and render every branch of obedience, and every exercise of piety and virtue, sweet and delightful to them. It appears by this promise, that there will be a new and plentiful effusion of God’s Spirit on the Jews and Israelites in the latter days, in order to their conversion, their establishment in grace, and their restoration to their own land: see Isaiah 59:20-21 , a passage applied by St. Paul to this very purpose, Romans 11:26-27 . Compare likewise Zechariah 12:10 , and Ezekiel 11:19 ; Ezekiel 36:27 , of this prophecy.

Verse 29. - I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel . Already Jehovah had promised to put his Spirit in his people ( Ezekiel 36:27 ; Ezekiel 37:14 ); now the fact that he has implemented that promise by a copious effusion of the same he cites as a proof that Israel shall no more forfeit his favor because no more shall she forsake his ways (comp. Isaiah 59:21 ). The same promise had been previously given by Joel ( Joel 2:28 ), and was afterwards renewed by Zechariah ( Zechariah 12:10 ). The citation of Joel's words by Peter on the Day of Pentecost ( Acts 2:17 ) shows that he regarded the remarkable effusion of the Holy Ghost on that memorable occasion as a fulfillment of the premise here recorded by Ezekiel. Yet the promise was not then exhausted. Rather it has often since been implemented, and will doubtless receive its consummation in the New Jerusalem. "No historical Church, Jewish or Gentile," writes Plumptre, "has ever yet realized the picture here sketched by Ezekiel. We ask, as before - Will it ever be realized on earth?

or must we look for it only in the heavenly city whose Builder and Maker is God?" NOTE. - In addition to what has been stated at the beginning of this prophecy ( Ezekiel 38:1 ) with reference to the general significance of this invasion by and overthrow of Cog, that it points to some tremendous conflict in the latter days between the powers of the world and the Church of Christ, a few words may be offered in support of the preposition that nevertheless there is no reason to expect that this conflict will take the form of an actual invasion of the land of Israel or of a real fire-and-sword battle with the Church, or that Gog will step upon the field as a veritable flesh-and-blood personality, and his armies find a grave in the manner sketched by the prophet. That the whole delineation is symbolic, and embodies spiritual truths under material emblems, will hardly be doubted by one who impartially weighs the following considerations, which have been admirably brought together by Fairbairn. 1. The designation given to the great assailant of the latter times - Gog, which discovers itself to be an ideal name, if by nothing else by the manner in which it has been formed. 2. The composition of his army, which is drawn from the four quarters of the globe, in fact, from the extremities of the earth, and consists of peoples not only remote from one another, but "the most unlike naturally to act in concert for any particular purpose." 3.

Compare Acts 2:17 . Peter distinctly appropriates these prophecies (marginal references) to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and the inauguration of the Church of Christ by that miraculous event. This was the beginning of the fulfillment. They shall find their consummation when time shall be no more.

Neither will I hide my face: see Ezekiel 39:23 . I will not turn from them in displeasure. From them; from the whole house of Israel. This is no assurance to any pretender of great interest in God, who yet lives in sin. Poured out, in abundant measures of wisdom and holiness, my Spirit; which is a Spirit of sanctification to make them holy, and a Spirit of strength to confirm them in holiness, and of adoption to sweeten obedience to them; they shall not, they will not depart from me, according to the promises, Ezekiel 11:19,20 36:25-27 37:23-28 Jeremiah 31:31 , &c.; Jeremiah 32:37-40 . It was sin that caused God to hide his face, and now grace shall be given to keep them out of sin, and to engage them to constant obedience, that God may rejoice over them to do them good in this their latter end.