Heart Surgery

Ezekiel 36 answers chapter 35. The mountains of Edom would be desolate, but the mountains of Israel would flourish. The nations had mocked, saying Aha! and claiming the ancient high places. But God declared, I am for you. The hills would be tilled and sown, people and animals would multiply, and the towns would be rebuilt. The land itself would no longer be called a devourer of its people.

God then explained his motive. Israel had defiled the land, and in exile they profaned his holy name, because the nations said, These are Yahweh's people, and have left his land. So God would act not for Israel's sake, but for his holy name, to show himself holy before the nations. Grace here is not a reward. It is rooted in God's own character.

Verses 25-27 are among the greatest promises in the Old Testament. God would sprinkle clean water, cleansing from idols. He would give a new heart and put a new spirit within, removing the heart of stone and giving a heart of flesh. He would put his own Spirit within them, causing them to walk in his statutes. Jeremiah 31 speaks of a similar new covenant. In the New Testament, Titus 3:5 speaks of the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.