How does Ezekiel 36:4 emphasize God's concern for His "desolate ruins"? Hearing the Groan of the Land “Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities that have become a prey and derision to the rest of the nations around them—” (Ezekiel 36:4) Why God Singles Out the “Desolate Ruins” • Direct address to the landscape shows He is not indifferent; He speaks even to stones and soil. • “Desolate” marks the visible heartbreak of Israel’s sin and the nations’ scorn—God sees what everyone else sees and cares about it. • By naming the ruins alongside mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys, the Lord brands them as part of His covenant territory, not forgotten wasteland. • The sentence forms a courtroom announcement; God publicly acknowledges the damage so that His promised restoration will be just as public. Evidence of Personal Concern • Isaiah 49:16—“See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.” The same God whose hands bear Israel’s name keeps the picture of the walls, even when the walls are rubble. • Psalm 102:13-14—Servants “take pleasure in her stones and favor her dust.” God implants that same affection in His people because it already burns in His own heart. • Jeremiah 33:10-11—He hears the silence of deserted streets and vows to fill them again with voices of joy. God’s Concern Turns into Promises (Ezekiel 36:5-12) 1. Judgment on nations that mocked the ruins (vv. 5-7). 2. Multiplication of people and livestock (v. 11). 3. Rebuilding of cities and cultivation of waste places (v. 10). 4. Israel will “possess” the land again, no longer prey (v. 12). Take-Home Truths for Today • God notices every “ruin” in a believer’s life—nothing is too broken or hidden. • He identifies with the desolation before He announces restoration; honesty precedes healing (1 John 1:9). • What He restores, He restores publicly, so His glory is unmistakable (Ezekiel 36:23). Living It Out • Stand on God’s willingness to address your own shattered places just as directly. • Expect His Word to bring life where loss was most visible. • Celebrate early signs of rebuilding; they preview the complete renewal He has promised. |
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