Through Ezekiel and other prophets, God repeatedly denounced false prophets who predicted prosperity to suit the desires...
Through Ezekiel and other prophets, God repeatedly denounced false prophets who predicted prosperity to suit the desires of their listeners. One can say that the distinguishing feature of true prophecy, which comes from the Spirit of God, is the fullness of truth and an astonishing combination of tragedy and hope. This combination is based on the fact that people's real life is filled with suffering, and only the Cross of Christ brings light into it. And true prophets, messengers of the Almighty, never smooth over their words. Therefore, after the promise of the resurrection of the dead in the Kingdom of God, the prophet Ezekiel does not stop, but speaks the whole truth to the end.
Having seen the wondrous vision of dry bones being clothed again with flesh and filled with life, we together with the prophet seem to step back into the distance and see a picture depicting the meaning of history. It is a battle, a clash of God and His people with the forces of evil. So that we could see this and not die, and not despair in horror, the Lord speaks clearly of victory and resurrection, and only then shows us this battle. It takes place in history always, and continues after the victory of God has already become reality.
The people delivered by God do not hide in the cozy shelters of the garden of paradise - no, the saved people of God become a bastion in the battle with evil, and without this the fullness of God's plan cannot be opened to us. Ancient rulers of northern peoples, whose raids inspired terror in those who lived long before the era of the Babylonian exile, are taken as a symbol of the forces of evil. Faceless and terrible, this force comes against the land of Israel, but in the battle with it all the actions are performed by God Himself. The people of God, properly speaking, participate in the battle by their faithfulness to the God who saved them.
Since apostolic times, the Church has spoken of those who have accepted baptism as soldiers of Christ. This idea is most closely connected with the global battle against evil of which the prophet Ezekiel speaks to us here for the first time. We are all called to take part in it, and this participation consists in not surrendering to evil, in keeping faithfulness to the covenant of peace by which God saved us and gave us new life. As the Fathers of the Church emphasized more than once, the field of this battle is human hearts, and God acts in them when we open our hearts to Him.
"Without Me you can do nothing," the Lord Jesus Christ said to the disciples (and to us). These words apply first of all to the battle described by the prophet Ezekiel: none of us can withstand it by human strength. But, abiding in Christ as branches on the vine, we give Him the opportunity to conquer in us and through us.
Both in genre and in content, the prophecy about Gog's invasion is most closely connected with the Revelation of John the Theologian. Both of these witnesses of God, Ezekiel and John, speak of this as an inevitable, terrible, and difficult battle, in which our suffering is united with the suffering of the Son of God on the Cross. It is precisely in the sorrow and anguish of this battle that our suffering acquires meaning; it is precisely here that it becomes life-giving, because we are beside God, together with Him. And, of course, the most important thing for both Ezekiel and John is the good news that God has conquered.
38 The attempt of Gog and Magog on the land of Israel, Eze 38:1-13.
The terror occasioned thereby, Eze 38:14-20.
Their defeat by the immediate hand of God, Eze 38:21-23.
38:1 Saying - God now forewarns the Jews, what enemies and troubles would interpose, before he would fully deliver them.
38:2 Gog - This cannot be one single person, or prince, though perhaps it points out some one, by whom the troubles foretold were begun. Some believe the time is still to come, wherein this prophecy is to be fulfilled.And that it must intend those enemies of God's church who descended from the Scythians, and are now masters of Cappadocia, Iberia, Armenia, or are in confederacy with the Tartars, and those northern heathens. But others think, all the enemies of Israel in all quarters, both open and secret are here intended, and that the Antichristian forces and combination, are what the prophet foretells. Magog - Magog is, at least, part of Scythia, and comprehends Syria, in which was Hierapolis. taken by the Scythians, and called of them Scythopolis. It is that country, which now is in subjection to the Turks, and may be extended thro' Asia minor, the countries of Sarmatia, and many others, under more than one in succession of time.And in the last time under some one active and daring prince, all their power will be stirred up against Christians.
38:4 Handling swords - That is, very ready, expert and strong in using the sword.
38:6 Gomer - Inhabitants of Galatia. Togarmah - Paphlagonia, and Cappadocia. The north quarters - The more northern people, the numerous Tartars.
38:7 Be thou prepared - God and the church deride this mighty preparation.
38:8 After many days - In the latter days of the Messiah's kingdom among men. In the later years - These must be cotemporary with the many days already mentioned. Thou - Gog with all thy numbers.The land - The land of the Jews, a people recovered from captivity, into which the sword of their enemy had brought them.Always waste - It is already two thousand four hundred years since the ten tribes were carried away by Salmanezer.But it - The land of Canaan, that is, the people of it.
38:11 Unwalled - Weak, and without any considerable defences.
38:13 Sheba - This Sheba was southward, and contains all of that coast which assisted Gog. Dedan - By these are noted, the eastern nations that assisted. Tarshish - The inhabitants of the sea - coast westward, and Magog north. The young lions - Young men thirsty of blood, but more of spoil, resolve to join, if they may rob and spoil for themselves. Art thou come - This repeated enquiry seems to be an agreement to come to his assistance, on condition they might have, possess, and carry away what they seize.
38:14 Know it - Thou wilt be informed of it.
38:15 The north parts - From Scythia, from the Euxine and Caspian seas, and countries thereabouts.
38:16 I will bring - I will permit thee to come.Sanctified - Confessed to be a great God over all, a gracious and faithful God to his people, and a dreadful enemy and avenger against the wicked.Before - ln the sight of all the heathen that are with Gog, and much more in the sight of God's own people.
38:17 Spoken - All these enterprises I have spoken of, and will as well defeat as I did foretel them.
38:19 For - For my own people, and for mine own glory.Have I spoken - Against mine enemies Gog, and all his herd.A great shaking - A great disturbance and tumult, like an earthquake.
38:21 Sword - Israel. Throughout - From all parts of the land, which was full of mountains. Every man's sword - As it was in Jehoshaphat's time; and these swords may be meant by the sword God will call for through all, for they ranged all over his mountains.
38:23 Magnify - Undeniably prove that I am the mighty, just, faithful, wise, holy, and merciful God. Sanctify - Declare I am holy, and true to my word.