They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 37:23
“The process of purification envisioned involves two actions, in both of which Yahweh functions as the agent. First, Yahweh will rescue the Israelites from their apostasies. The verb, hôšîa’,”to save,” usually envisions deliverance from external enemies but like 36:29, the present usage envisions the people’s sin as the enslaving power.
Second, Yahweh will cleanse or “purify” them. The verb tihar recalls 36:25-28, which, in offering a fuller description of the cleaning process, had associated the experience with a heart transplant and an infusion of Yahweh’s Spirit. The link is confirmed by the reference to covenant renewal, expressed in both instances by citing the covenant formula.
The declaration, “They will be my people, and I will be their God,” signals the full restoration of Israel’s relationship with Yahweh. The present association of covenant renewal with the termination of idolatry, disgusting conduct, and rebellion is reminiscent of 14:11, and it intentionally announces the reversal of 5:11. Provoked by their defiling and abominable acts, Yahweh had abandoned His people. Now that He has purified them, He may return and normalize the covenant relationship with them.”
Daniel I. Block in The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25–48 (NICOT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998) 414. Today marks the last post in my recent exploration of the prophets. I am shifting gears as tomorrow I fly to South Korea and the Philippines to teach. I will turn to themes related to my teaching on Faith and Finances for individuals and Faithful Financial Administration for organizations as I speak on behalf of ECFA at numerous events for CCFK in South Korea and CCTA in the Philippines.
Why save Ezekiel for last?
My wife, Jenni, has been exploring this book lately which is not for the weak and faint of heart. After chapters of shining light on the sins of God’s people (such as charging interest and taking profit from the poor instead of helping them freely, see Ezekiel 22:12) and sharing the jealousy and zeal of God for the cleansing of His people, we see the proclamation of the heart transplant in this text cited above and included below, Ezekiel 36:25-28.
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
How does this relate to generosity for us?
The heart transplant God promises for His people Israel will be made available to everyone through Jesus Christ our Lord. So, we too will become moved by the Spirit to honor God, and the Spirit will produce fruit in us. One fruit of the Spirit is “generosity” (Galatians 5:22-23). So the only possible way any human being can abandon idolatry and exhibit generosity is to get a heart transplant from our Lord Jesus Christ. That said, I conclude with one question for you, or anyone you know who wants to grow in generosity.
Have you had a heart transplant yet?