A Great Promise
This promise to the captive Israelites in Babylon reached farther than their return to Palestine after seventy years. That return of the nation of Israel to their land did not result in a permanently reformed worship and morality as predicted here. In fact, their spiritual condition worsened, and according to the New Testament they finally nailed the Son of God to the cross. The promise reaches to a better day coming, which has already begun, where God’s people will be “eager to be completely faithful.”
Ezekiel 11:14-21
Promise of restoration of the faithful
The word of The LORD came to me, saying: Ezekiel, son of man, the people living in Jerusalem claim that you and the other Israelites who were taken to Babylonia are too far away to worship me. They also claim that the land of Israel now belongs only to them.
But here is what I want you to tell the Israelites in Babylonia: It’s true that I, the LORD God, have forced you out of your own country and made you live among foreign nations. But for now, I will be with you wherever you are, so that you can worship me. And someday, I will gather you from the nations where you are scattered and let you live in Israel again.
When that happens, I want you to clear the land of all disgusting idols. Then I will take away your stubbornness and make you eager to be completely faithful to me. You will want to obey me and all my laws and teachings. You will be my people, and I will be your God. But those who worship idols will be punished and get what they deserve.
I, the LORD God, have spoken.
