Ezekiel 39
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CHAPTER 39
A Prophecy Against Gog, Continued (39:1–29)
1–6 In verses 1–16, Ezekiel summarizes the events of the previous chapter and adds some new details. It seems clear that in the great battle with Gog the Israelites themselves will not have to do any fighting; God will disarm their enemies (verse 3). The soldiers of Gog will fall on the mountains and in the open fields, and the birds and wild animals will eat their bodies (verses 4–5).
7–10 The forces of Gog will be so numerous that when they are defeated their weapons will provide Israel with enough firewood to last seven years!
11–16 It will take seven months to bury the bodies of all Gog’s hordes (verse 12). It will be essential to bury all of them so that the land can be cleansed. Dead bodies were considered unclean by the Israelites (Leviticus 19:16). After the bodies have been buried, it will be necessary to search for any additional remains (verses 14–15) that may have been scattered by the birds and wild animals (see verses 17–20).
17–20 Indeed, God plans to give the birds and animals a feast! He calls it a sacrifice; the birds and animals will eat the fallen enemy soldiers much as the Israelites ate the flesh of sacrificed animals. A similar “feast” is pictured in Revelation 19:17–18.86
21–29 These verses provide a concluding summary of Chapters 33–39. God’s judgment upon ungodly nations would reveal His glory. Even the punishment He inflicted on His own unfaithful people would reveal His righteousness and justice. He dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their offenses (verse 24). For a time, He hid [His] face from them—a sign of His displeasure.
But now He will bring the remnant of His people back from captivity; He will have compassion on them (verse 25). No longer will He hide His face from them; instead, He will pour out His Spirit upon them (verse 29).
God began to pour out His Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts Chapter 2), and since then He has been pouring out His Spirit on all those who believe in Christ, the Son of David, the Messiah who the Old Testament prophets said would come and reign on David’s throne forever.