Ezekiel 36:24 - Exposition

I will take you from among the heathen ; or, nations . The first step in the sanctification of Jehovah's Name. A promise already given ( Ezekiel 11:17 ; Ezekiel 20:41 , Ezekiel 20:42 ), and afterwards repeated ( Ezekiel 37:21 ). The mention of "all countries" shows the prophet's gaze to have been directed beyond the present or immediate future. The Israel of Ezekiel's time had not been scattered among and could not be gathered from all, countries; yet in the years that have passed since then Ezekiel's language as to Israel's dispersion has been literally fulfilled. Wherefore the inference is reasonable that the reassembling to which Ezekiel refers is an event that has not yet occurred, at least in its fullest measure and degree, but will only then be realized completely and finally when the scattered members of the house of Israel shall have been received into the Christian Church ( Romans 11:25 , Romans 11:26 ).