NOTES for Eze 39:1-29
In this prophecy God promises to stand up for His people. The picture of the defeat of Israel's enemies horrifies the imagination. And yet, for you and me, this speaks not of God's cruelty or of His vengefulness, but of the strength of His love for Israel. God does not remain an outside observer of historical upheavals: He intervenes and acts Himself, or through a human being. His action is not limited to words; His Kingdom is not in word but in power.
But in order to see and recognize His power at work in the world, a bond with God is necessary: faith and prophetic insight are necessary. One way to acquire such faith is prayerful reading of the writings of the prophets, for whom God's love, faithfulness, and Kingdom were the most essential reality of their lives.