Advent: December 4, 2024

Ezekiel 39:25-29 (ESV) 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.”

Jacob gets renamed “Israel” as the one who strives with God face to face in a covenant relationship. This is significant.

When the LORD calls Israel, Jacob’s folks, his “Firstborn son” in Exodus 4:22, it is significant.

The fact that we find “Jacob” and “Israel” used throughout the Bible synonymously is significant. We see that here in verse 25 of Ezekiel 39.

At the Advent of Jesus, when he is referred to as the “God’s son”, we should note that this is significant.

Why is all this significant?

Because Jesus is presented as the faithful and obedient Son of God who is also the faithful and obedient Israel. Matthew 2:13-15 identifies Jesus as the faithful Israel by connecting Jesus’ being called out of Egypt to Israel’s being called out of Egypt. Significant. Jesus is God’s Son who is the perfect and obedient Israel of God.

Because Jesus is God and is the true and faithful Israel, he alone can make salvation available for anyone who comes to him by faith not just the physical descendants of Abraham.  

Jesus being God’s Son and the Israel of God makes him the One and Only. Everything begins and ends in Jesus.

So, what about Ezekiel 39:25-29? Are we going to speak to that?

In just a moment. First, let’s put on some “gospel” glasses to see some depth to what Ezekiel is prophesying.

All the Old Testament either predicts, prepares for, reflects, or results from Jesus’ person and work. That’s a good working framework for reading the Old Testament in the light of Jesus’ instructive lens he gave after the resurrection in Luke 24.

Luke 24:44-47 (ESV) Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Ezekiel is preaching to God’s people in time and space, and it has historical and theological significance for the people who heard his word. And because God’s word is from God and intends to take us to see Jesus, there are gospel things afoot here too.

Now about what Ezekiel said.

Israel has received the consequences of their sin. God brings righteous wrath on Israel. In doing so he has prepared them for his grace.

That punishment is not enough to pay for their sins. That punishment is the consequence of transgressing God’s law. They sowed wind and reaped the whirlwind. No, there will have to be future payment. Romans 3:21-26 tells us how God pulls this off. He’s gracious to “Passover” their sins until Jesus would pay for them. In passing over their sins, he graciously restores their life and makes life, he brings honors his name, and he pours his Spirit out on his people until Jesus will take the stripes of their rebellion for them.

Do you see it? Jesus, the faithful Israel, comes and lives the perfect sinless life unlike national Israel. He goes innocently to the active punishment of God on the cross in our place for our sins and is buried in exile from life for three days. On the third day, he rises to victory and returns to life having defeated death for all who would follow him in faith. Jesus purchases all the good he did for his people back in Ezekiel 39 when he passed over their sin by his miraculous and marvelous grace.

In Jesus’ coming, living, dying, rising, and ascending, he fulfilled the full intent of Ezekiel 39:25-29.

Jesus’ Advent is on every page in the Bible. Just get used to looking for the promise of God like we just did.

Advent. God has kept his word in Jesus about Jesus, and he shows us he kept his word in Jesus coming and fulfilling his word.