Ezekiel 39:1-29, God's complete victory (Gog's destruction) *Let us pr…

Ezekiel 39:1-29, God's complete victory (Gog's destruction) *Let us press on to know the Lord.

 Chs.38-39 are a prophecy of the spiritual war against Gog and Magog that will occur at the end of history. A formidable coalition of Gog rebels against God and invade Israel. However, God completely destroys them, reveals His holy name, and ultimately restores Israel. This demonstrates the victory of God, who rules over all things. Let’s listen to God’s teachings.

1. Everything is in God's hands(1-10).
 Sometimes, it seems as if powerful evil forces are gaining ground and threatening God's people. In chs 38-39, Gog's coalition invades Israel with a massive army and weapons. However, God says in vs 1-2, "I will turn you around and bring you from the far north, upon the mountains of Israel." While Gog appears to act on his own initiative, he is actually under God's plan and sovereignty. God uses even the most powerful evil forces as His tools to accomplish His will. Vs 9-10 prophesy that the weapons left behind by the invading forces will serve as fuel for seven years. This symbolizes that the immense power and means of evil forces will be completely neutralized, and instead, will benefit God's people.

*Application Question: Are there any entities like the "Gog" coalition(worries, problems, worldly values, etc.) that threaten or frighten you? Do you find peace, believing that all of these things are under God's rule?

2. God judges all evil and forces thoroughly for the sake of His holiness(11-20)
 God not only judges evil forces, but also reveals His holiness through the results. Vs 11-16 describe in detail the purification ritual of burying the unclean corpses of Gog's army. He purifies the land for seven months, leaving not even a single piece of the corpse behind. This demonstrates how holy God is and how He detests sin and impurity. No impurity can remain on His land. Vs 17-20 describe the "great banquet" that will befall the birds and beasts of the field, emphasizing the thoroughness and completeness of God's judgment.

 Rev.19 presents two banquets. The Lamb's wedding feast(9) for the saved saints, and God's great feast (17-18, a feast where birds eat the bodies of the fallen). The former is a feast God’s saints eat, a feast filled with the thrill and joy of salvation. On the other hand, the latter is a feast eaten by birds, a truly miserable feast. Which of the two feasts of the end will we participate in? 
 Rev.19:9,17-18, “9 And the angel said to me, Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!... 17.Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice to all the birds flying in midheaven, ‘Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18.so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, both small and great!’”

 Then the Gog coalition forces wage war, but God's fire comes down and consumes them all. Rev.20:7-10, “7.When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison. 8.He will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for battle. Their number is as the sand of the sea. 9.They spread out over the vast expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and burned them up. 10.And the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

*Questions: 1) What are some things in your life that hinder your relationship with God or undermine His holiness? How can you purify your life before God's holiness?
2) Of the two feasts of the end times, which one will you attend? How should you live by faith to participate as the bride in the wedding feast of the Lamb?

3. God zealously pours out His Spirit to restore Israel (21-29)
 The most important message is God's judgment and the two ultimate purposes of the war:
 1) The restoration of the relationship with Israel. Verse 22 states, "From that day forward, the Israelites will know that I am the Lord their God." They will all return and live safely in their land, with no one to make them afraid(24-25, 27-28). The returning people will repent of their sins(26). They will demonstrate God's holiness. Ultimately, they will recognize that the Lord is their God. Verse 28 also emphasizes, "I sent them into exile among the nations, but I will gather them and bring them back to their own land; I will not leave any of them in a foreign land. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.“

 2) Their captivity was a result of God hiding His face(23-24). When God hides His face, grace is not received and prayers are not answered. Therefore, we must always seek God's face. We and the church can only survive if we receive God's endless mercy and grace.
 But now, God, "zealous for my holy name"(25), brings them back. He heals, restores, and blesses them.
 
 And in verse 29, He makes a decisive promise: "I will no longer hide my face from them, for I have poured out my Spirit on the house of Israel." God will show grace and answer prayer. He promises not to abandon His people forever, but to be with them always through the Holy Spirit. This promise was fulfilled for us through the New Testament event of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit(Acts 2:1-4). At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended miraculously on the church in Jerusalem. Today, too, the Holy Spirit descends and indwells those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus as their Lord, Savior, and Christ. When He pours out the Holy Spirit upon us, we cannot avoid receiving His grace, we cannot remain unchanged.

 The greatest blessing He gives us today is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit can overcome the world's "Gog," wars, and misfortunes. May the Holy Spirit continue to work with us in His wondrous outpouring, grace, and answered prayers. I bless you in the name of the Lord.

*Question: 1) How much do you trust in God's faithfulness and unchanging love? Please do not hide from us the face of His shining grace and mercy, but let us see it intimately.
 2) How do you experience the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit in your life? Holy Spirit, I repent before You and long for Your Holy Spirit, so please be fully present.
 3) When you connect Ezekiel's promise that God will no longer hide His face but pour out His Spirit (the presence of the Holy Spirit) with the vision of the eternal kingdom of God after the Great White Throne Judgment (chapter 20 in Revelation (chapter 21, without death or sin), how do you envision the present eternal life you enjoy in Christ and the future perfect kingdom of God?

4. Conclusion: Chapter 39 reveals God's sovereign victory, His thorough judgment on evil and its forces, and His promise of unwavering love and restoration for His people. No matter what difficulties we face or what threats we feel, there is something we must remember: all things are under God's rule. He is the God who works all things together for good. God will never abandon His believers/people in Jesus for His name's sake. He shines His shining face, pours out His Holy Spirit upon us, and restores us. Let us live boldly today in this assurance.

5. Prayer: Victorious God, even today we live in a spiritual battle. The forces of sin and evil in the world are terrifyingly trying to devour us. May we all strive to know and experience You, Lord God, and live by faith and Your Word. Lord Jehovah God, we praise Your name. We give thanks to You, the God of mercy, who did not destroy the children of Israel, even though they rebelled against You in the wilderness, for Your name's sake. You said, "I will be sanctified among them." May your name be sanctified among your people even in this age. 

God, help us not to follow the ways of our ancestors, but to turn from the idolatry and sexual immorality of our hearts, and to follow your precepts and ordinances. Put your Spirit in our hearts, molding us into new beings and making us citizens of your kingdom, where your rule reigns. Lord, despite our rebellion, you have mercifully called us again, saying, "I will bring you out from among the nations." May your promise be fulfilled in our lives in this age.

 We believe that you have chosen and called us to participate in the wedding supper of the Lamb in Rev.19-20. May we worship you fully in our daily lives, living according to your word, so that we may stand before you with joy on the last day. May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, among these peoples, as it is in heaven. Purify us and make us a holy people to serve you on your mountain, the mountain of Israel. You said, "I will cause you to pass under my covenant, and I will cleanse you." Renew our lives and make us God's people who keep your covenant. O Lord, through your zeal and compassion, let your kingdom come, and let your people fear you and display your glory on earth.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.