Wednesday after Jubilate
Scripture: Ezekiel 36:33-38 (NKJV)
36:33 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. 35 So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.”
37 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”’”
Devotion
As the Israelites returned to their former homeland after the exile, there would be a dramatic reversal in the land. “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.” Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it.’”
The recovery of the land would involve rebuilding the cities and cultivating the soil. In an amazing turnaround, the people would live as if they never left. So prosperous would it be that it brought back images of Eden itself. Even the surrounding nations would be forced to admit that such an enterprise had to involve the Lord’s hand. Whatever directions our lives may take, may we be thankful that the Lord is guiding and directing life’s events for our spiritual good.
We pray: Praise to God, immortal praise, for the love that crowns our days; bounteous Source of ev’ry joy, let Thy praise our tongues employ. All to Thee, our God, we owe, Source whence all our blessings flow. (TLH 572:1)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
