Ezekiel 39:29 - Homiletics

The restored vision of God.

This is a great; we may say the supreme and final, result of the restoration of Israel. While the people are eagerly craving a return to their farms and villages, with temporal prosperity, the prophet teaches them that, though these advantages are to be received in the good time coming, a better blessing wilt be the restored vision of God enjoyed by means of the pouring out of his Spirit upon the house of Israel. This is the best, the highest, the most spiritual, result of Christ's redemption of the world.

I. THE BEATIFIC VISION OF GOD . God will no more hide his face.

1. The restoration of God ' s favor . The averted countenance signifies disapproval. God hides his countenance when he refuses to hold communion with those of his creatures with whom he is angry. Therefore we are here reminded that sin leads to an action on God's part—to his veiling his bright countenance. There m then a need, not only for man to be reconciled to God, but for God to change his grieved and wrathful attitude towards man. This is an essential element in the atonement, which is suggested by the word "propitiation" ( Romans 3:25 ; 1 John 2:2 ). When God ceases to hide his countenance he looks favorably on his people.

2. The enjoyment of God ' s presence . The favor of a king secures many privileges, and the favor of God the best privileges; but no gift of God can equal in value the enjoyment of his own presence To behold his countenance is to have the greatest of blessings.

3. An eternal blessedness . God will not hide his face any more. The hiding was an abnormal thing. The words before us suggest the idea that it is natural for God to reveal himself, and that the hiding was something temporally superinduced by man's sin. Not to know God is a monstrously defective experience. When the black cloud has been dispelled the sun will shine out in unwaning splendor. There is no fading of the glory of heaven. The blessedness of God's restored people is eternal.

II. THE INSPIRATION THAT RESTORES THE VISION OF GOD . This vision has been lost, and God now promises a restoration of it, indicating the means by which the happy result will be brought to pass. It is because God has poured out his Spirit upon the house of Israel. Revelation is a result of inspiration. This is the process in prophecy. God reveals his will through prophets, i.e. by means of inspired men. Here we see that the spiritual revelation of the saint, who may learn no new truth, but who is brought into the enjoyment of the favor of God and into communion with him, is also a result of inspiration.

1. Christ ' s redemption leads to a bestowal of the Spirit of God. John the Baptist promised that he who came after him would baptize with the Holy Ghost ( Matthew 3:11 ). Christ promised the Spirit as "the Comforter" ( John 14:16 , John 14:17 ). Pentecost followed the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Christ has ascended up on high to give gifts unto men; and the best of his gifts, the gift that includes all others, is that of the Holy Spirit.

2. The bestowal of the Spirit of God unveils the countenance of God .