In Ezekiel 36:24-27, God once proclaimed to the nation of Israel, through His prophet Ezekiel:
24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
I asked Grok if this was already fulfilled for the nation of Israel, as they were the actual audience for this prophecy. I’ll say that it gave its best:
In verse 24, God says, “I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.” This speaks to a physical return from exile. Historically, many see this reflected in events like the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity starting around 538 BCE, when Cyrus the Great allowed them to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Fast forward to modern times, some interpret the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948—after centuries of diaspora—as a fulfillment of this gathering. Jews from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond returned to the land, echoing the idea of being brought back from “all the countries.”
Verses 25-26 promise a spiritual renewal: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses… I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” This suggests a transformation beyond just geography—a purification and change of character. For some Jewish thinkers, this points to a renewed covenant relationship with God, tied to repentance and adherence to the Torah. Historically, the post-exilic period saw reforms under leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah, emphasizing law and worship, which could align with this cleansing and renewal. Others might argue this spiritual shift is ongoing, linked to movements within Judaism over centuries or even a future messianic era still awaited by many Jews.
Verse 27 adds, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.” This hints at an inner empowerment to live righteously. Some see this partially fulfilled in the resilience of Jewish identity and practice despite persecution—through the Pharisees’ emphasis on oral law, the rise of rabbinic Judaism, or even the modern revival of Hebrew culture. Others hold that this full spiritual transformation awaits a future time of complete redemption.
So, how has God fulfilled this? It depends on perspective. Historically, the physical return from Babylon and the modern ingathering to Israel match verse 24. Spiritually, the renewal of verses 25-27 is seen by some as a process—partly realized through Jewish survival and faith, partly still unfolding. Traditional Jewish thought often ties the complete fulfillment to the messianic age, when peace and universal knowledge of God will reign.
So going through all this that was shared, what really resonates to me was that, as in other prophecies that were recorded and shared in the Bible – it seems as if whatever has been prophesied has happened, is happening, and will happen again. In a Hebrew course I happened to attend with my parents (yes, Dad was still alive back then), I remember them sharing (between having whoever was in attendance practice speaking and writing their Hebrew alphabet) that idea first – that prophecies in the Bible are ‘circular’ – meaning they don’t just happen, they will happen again.
Am I, therefore, led to believe that when it comes to the Word of God (which we have been praising in detail by way of Psalm 119) truly is eternal in nature? Or that true prophecy is timeless – fulfilled and being fulfilled at the same time, and will be fulfilled in the future?
Is that the ultimate point I have to share, as I eventually go through Daniel 10 (again), going to Daniel 11-12?
Right now, I’m just praying. Praying, in my head, and with all that is in me as I go ahead and type – Father, continue to tutor me, teach me, lead me. Father, thank You for Your Word, and the power You display through Your Word.
In our midweek service yesterday, I wanted to share something of substance, but unfortunately my head was not in the right place. At first, the rest of those in attendance took turns sharing praise reports of what was going on for them in the week. There were ups and downs, there was the vague, and the nice and precise – but when it came to my turn, I guess I didn’t have anything more to share than to say: In the darkness, the Light shines, and the Light shines brighter.
This was in light of the observation that recently, we’ve seen loss after loss, friends and relatives passing away. One of our friends in the congregation even said his dog died. I took all of that just to go ahead and say that the darkness we’ve been enduring actually serves the Lord in at least two ways: (1) for us to see the Light shining brighter, and (2) to remind us to move. The latter point came up after my Mom expressed her renewed desire to reach out to her relatives, just so she could be at peace with herself that she was able to share the Gospel with them before anything else.
And with all of this in mind, I suppose I continue to be thankful – why? Because no matter where we are, we have the light, and the light continues to shine, reminding us of God who is for us, and not against us; the Light reminds us of God, who is with us and will never be apart from us, all because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.
The light endures, the light continues to shine – it is as God said in the beginning – ‘Let there be light’. Light has shone, light shines, and light will shine.
We give thanks to God for Jesus Christ, who did only obey the rules for us, but who, through His obedience, became the fulfillment of the Law and the culmination of the Law, and is therefore the end of the Law for all of us who believe. Through Christ, we have been made righteous – and I dare say that because of what Christ has done, we can claim the promises of the Word for the righteous – also those indicated in the Old Testament.
For instance:
6 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.
Psalms 112:6-9
Because Christ has declared us righteous through His resurrection, and because the Holy Spirit affirms it, being poured upon us after Christ ascended to eternity – We can also say that we will never be moved. We give more glory to God, for as we are remembered forever, so our right standing with God shall be recalled, and so Christ shall be remembered.
Indeed, because of our right standing with the Lord, we are not afraid of bad news – or, we are not as easily shaken when bad news hits our shores; For our hearts are firm, trusting in the Lord.
Our hearts ARE steady – beautiful news for us in Christ, especially in this world and in this present reality, where all other foundations are being tested and shaken.
Through Christ we are steady, in the hopes of our seeing victory over those who call themselves our enemies and adversaries.
Finally, through the righteousness we have in Christ, we are able to distribute freely, and without regret in out hearts. We are able, not only to give to our friends and family, but we are able to give wholeheartedly and willingly to the poor.
We give, and the righteousness we have through Christ is beheld; Consequently, it is the righteousness of God in us that leads us to freely and confidently give.
And we have even more reason to give, in celebration of the righteousness we have and are in Christ – why?
Doesn’t Verse 9 sound familiar? It should – it was quoted by Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians:
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency/contentment in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
2 Corinthians 9:7-9
You know what this really tells me right now? It’s that while we’ve been focusing on our own attitude and our own giving, as quoted in these particular verses in 2 Corinthians 9, we ought to dig a little deeper, as in go to Psalm 112 – and find out that it’s our right-standing with God that brings us to give naturally and cheerfully… and vice versa: When we give naturally and cheerfully, we celebrate our absolute right-standing with God.
The Light we have and the Light we’re always in predicates who we are, as new creations in Christ;
Just as we love one another as Christ loves us, so we give, as Christ has given to us.
We give in celebration of all Christ has given us.
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