Ezekiel 39:7-8, 21-29 (NRSV)
The promised spirit of God
My holy name I will make known among my people Israel; and I will not let my holy name be profaned any more; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. It has come! It has happened, says the Lord God. This is the day of which I have spoken. ...
I will display my glory among the nations; and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them. The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward. And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they dealt treacherously with me. So I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they all fell by the sword. I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their transgressions, and hid my face from them.
Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for my holy name. They shall forget their shame, and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they live securely in their land with no one to make them afraid, when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have displayed my holiness in the sight of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God because I sent them into exile among the nations, and then gathered them into their own land. I will leave none of them behind; and I will never again hide my face from them, when I pour out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord God.
Reflection
Gog and Magog, godless nations, learn of the power and glory of God.
It's time for all people to see and know how great and glorious God is in all the earth. God restores and protects his children.
When we feel separated from God due to our sinfulness, we can trust that God wants us to be near him. God draws near to us and gathers us in. God will not hide his face from us. We can always know that God is closer than you think. And God will pour out his Spirit upon us for we are his. What a word of hope! What an awesome God! Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, you certainly are faithful to me. Forgive my sinfulness and my pride when I draw away from you. Pull me in and close to you and pour out your wonderful Spirit upon me...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen
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