Connect Ezekiel 36:7 with God's faithfulness in Deuteronomy 32:35. The Shared Promise of Divine Recompense - Ezekiel 36:7: “Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I have sworn with uplifted hand that surely the nations around you will themselves endure reproach.’” - Deuteronomy 32:35: “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; in due time their foot will slip. For their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.” Both verses carry three identical notes: 1. The same covenant Name—“the LORD.” 2. A sworn, personal claim—“I have sworn” / “Vengeance is Mine.” 3. An inevitable outcome—“will themselves endure reproach” / “their foot will slip … their doom is coming quickly.” God’s Faithfulness on Display - He keeps His oaths of judgment just as surely as His oaths of blessing (Numbers 23:19; Joshua 23:14). - History confirms it: Assyria fell (Nahum 3), Babylon collapsed (Isaiah 47), and every hostile empire that lifted its hand against Israel eventually tasted the reproach God foretold. - Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30 quote Deuteronomy 32:35 to remind believers that the same faithful God still controls vengeance today. Covenant Context, Prophetic Echo - Deuteronomy’s Song of Moses warned future generations that if enemies arose, God Himself would settle the score. - Ezekiel speaks centuries later, during exile, assuring the remnant that God had not forgotten that promise—He had “sworn with uplifted hand.” - The identical principle closes the gap between Sinai and Babylon: God remains loyal to His word even when His people are scattered. Why These Verses Matter Now • Assurance: God’s enemies never go unanswered; His timetable may stretch, but His oath stands (2 Peter 3:9). • Restraint: Because vengeance belongs to Him, believers release the impulse to retaliate (Proverbs 20:22; Romans 12:17-21). • Hope: National Israel’s future restoration (Ezekiel 36:8-11) rests on the same faithfulness that guarantees the nations’ reproach. If He keeps the hard parts, He will keep the glorious parts. Living the Truth - Trust His timetable when wronged. He has sworn to act. - Pray for hearts that forgive, knowing justice is already scheduled. - Anchor your confidence for all other promises—salvation, resurrection, eternal inheritance—on the unwavering faithfulness proven in Deuteronomy 32:35 and Ezekiel 36:7. |
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