Ezekiel

Ezekiel 39: God reveals judgment and mercy

Begin in prayer

Before seeing judgment give way to promised mercy, let us remember the holiness of God's name. Ask God to quiet our thoughts, meet with this household and open our eyes to Christ in Ezekiel 39.

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring.

Isaiah 44:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us understand Your judgment and restoration, and see Jesus, whose blood brings sinners forgiveness and peace with You. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God brings Gog onto Israel's mountains, disarms him and gives his fallen army to birds and animals, while fire strikes Magog and the islands. Israel burns the weapons for seven years and plunders those who plundered it. Seven months of burial and further searches for bones cleanse the land, and God summons creatures to feast on the slain. His glory becomes known among the nations, which also learn that Israel's sins brought captivity as He hid His face. God promises mercy for His holy name, gathering all His people while they bear their shame in safety. He will hide His face no longer, for He has poured out His Spirit on them.

As you read Ezekiel 39, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God makes His holy name known by overthrowing His enemy and restoring His people with mercy and His Spirit.

God's disarming of Gog answers the threat against Israel by making the invader unable to use the weapons he brought. Those weapons become fuel, and the plunderers are themselves plundered, reversing the gain for which the army came. The long burial and continuing search for bones show the scale of death and the need to cleanse the land afterward. God's feast for birds and animals turns the invading army into food at the table He prepares. The nations must also understand Israel's earlier captivity, because God says its trespass caused Him to hide His face and give it to adversaries. Thus neither Israel's exile nor its enemy's overthrow lies outside His just government. Mercy gathers His people again for His holy name, while bearing shame in secure dwelling keeps their past unfaithfulness before them. Leaving none behind displays the completeness of His gathering. Because He has poured out His Spirit, He promises no longer to hide His face, joining restored fellowship to His own gift.

How does Ezekiel 39 show us that God makes His holy name known by overthrowing His enemy and restoring His people with mercy and His Spirit?

God overthrows the enemy He brings.

God brings Gog to Israel's mountains, disarms him and makes him fall (verses 1 to 8). Birds and animals devour the army. Fire on Magog and the islands makes His holy name known.

God displays the extent of His judgment.

Weapons become fuel for seven years, and burials cleanse the land (verses 9 to 20). Searchers mark any remaining bones for burial. God calls the birds and animals to His great feast on the mountains of Israel (verse 17).

God restores His people through mercy.

God hid His face and gave Israel to enemies because of its sins (verses 21 to 29). He restores the whole house in mercy for His name. They bear their shame, and He promises His favor after pouring out His Spirit.

Memorize

neither will I hide my face any more from them; for I have poured out my Spirit on the house of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh.

Ezekiel 39:29

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin must I admit to God? Have I come to Jesus for mercy?

God explains Israel's captivity, “I hid my face from them”. Their own trespasses brought His judgment. Yet He promises to gather them in mercy and pour out His Spirit. The people who bear their shame will know the God whose holy name is displayed in their restoration.

Jesus died in His people's place on the cross, bearing God's judgment for all their sins. His blood established their peace with God, and His completed offering is enough to cleanse their guilt. He rose from the dead and lives to bring them into fellowship with His Father. Those who belong to Him receive the Holy Spirit.

Turn from your sins and rest your faith in Jesus. No repentant sinner who comes to Him will be refused forgiveness. Please bring your shame into the light before God. Ask the Savior for mercy and for the changed heart that welcomes His presence and obeys His Word.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus died and rose to bring guilty people forgiveness and peace with God. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please explain the burial and feast in your own words, keeping God's judgment on the enemy plain.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His mercy and the Spirit He gives to His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

1 John 4:13

Lord, thank You for mercy that brings guilty people near through Jesus. Forgive the sins we have hidden, and help each one repent and trust the Savior who died and rose. Please give us honest hearts that acknowledge our shame, receive Your forgiveness and welcome the obedience Your Spirit produces. Amen.