Main Idea: There is coming a day when every enemy of God will be thrown down.
A Look at the Text:
Today’s text continues to unveil the future for Gog and Magog (Ezek. 39:1). Likely, this is a picture of the future victory of God when every enemy will be thrown down (Rev. 20:8-9), as there has yet to be a known fulfillment of this prophecy.[1]
While Israel had been subjected to conquest because of their sins, this wouldn’t be the end of the story. God would come on the scene with a cataclysmic arrival (Ezek. 38:20) and would deliver His people. His glory would be made known before the nations (Ezek. 38:23).
Even with the help of birds and beasts devouring the fallen (Ezek. 39:17-20), the victory would be so great that it would take seven months to bury the dead (Ezek. 39:12). God’s glory would be unveiled amongst the nations (Ezek. 39:21), and His people would know that He, Yahweh, was God (Ezek. 39:22).
Though He had dealt harshly with Israel because of their sin (Ezek. 39:24), He would still restore them (Ezek. 39:25). He would take them home, and they would rebuild. A new temple would come that would exceed the glory of the former.
The new temple and the new order of worship will be the focus of the rest of Ezekiel’s book (chapters 40-48).
Bringing it Home:
Even while Israel was far from home, exiles conquered by a foreign power, God had a message of hope. There was a day when His enemies would be vanquished. There was a day of glory coming.
The people of God should take heart today that our God will one day be finally, eternally victorious. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:9-11). There will be no more opposition to God’s righteous reign, and we will dwell in a new creation in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13).
Even if life is presently difficult, we can have hope—God is on our side. In Christ, we who were once enemies of God (Rom. 5:10) are now made His children (1 John 3:1). Rather than being subjected to destruction on that final day, we will be subjects of His salvation. Even more, we will reign with Him throughout eternity.
Today might be filled with trials, but an eternal tomorrow is still to come, and God will surely be faithful to bring it to pass.
Challenge:
Do I trust God’s future promise when my present experience is contrary to it?
[1] Robert B. Chisholm, “The Major Prophets,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary, ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 327–328.