Ezekiel 36:32b-38

Ezekiel 36:32b-38

32b Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

"Confounded" means "to wound". Yes, LORD, I am wounded and feel ashamed for wanting my OWN WAY. May my will be blended into Your will!

33 Thus saith the Lord God; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.

The WASTES (decayed places) shall be builded. This reminds me of Is. 58:6-14, and surely You shall make something BEAUTIFUL of my life and the lives of my children in spite of and even without me.

Oh, LORD, this is one of those times that I wish I could "dig" back into my old meditations. What beautiful promises for HEALING are there, and You put Your finger on many things in my life that needed to change. "To undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free" was a "biggy"! "If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger …" were the words that went deep into my heart. How I have wished that I could make my husband
and children into what I wanted them to be, but You are helping me, LORD, to "let go" and let them be who they are (even with their faults) – to trust in You to not only sanctify me but also to sanctify them in Your own way and in your own time. Many are the breeches and hurts I have made because I have not always been led by the power of Your Spirit. Many mistakes I have made, but YOU are building the old WASTE places! Hallelujah! I love Is. 58:12-

"And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, the repairer of the breech, The restorer of paths to dwell in."

34-35 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.

LORD, I may be stretching things a little here, but I thought some of the words in these verses and some of their "companion words" were interesting:


"wastes"- "…decayed places…"

"desolate" -…"stun (grow numb)…devastate…waste"

"tilled" -.."worshipper…"

"fenced" – "…mighty things…strong"

Yes, LORD, the ugly, desolate places in our lives are being "tilled", and the CHANGE is like a beautiful garden, the garden of Eden. We are becoming worshippers! You are "fencing" and
protecting us and are making us mighty and strong. You shall be praised!

36 Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.

Hallelujah! What a promise! When Your Spirit comes, we are changed. Others will see CHRIST IN (US), the hope of glory"! (Col. 1:27), and they shall KNOW that YOU have effected the change in our lives!

37 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.

Yes, LORD, this will I and my brothers and sisters in Christ (the spiritual house of Israel...Gal. 3:29)ask You for. We shall and DO ask you yo "build the ruined places" and "plant beautiful things in our lives!" And Your promise to us is that You will increase our numbers. Your kingdom will grow!

38 As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall now that I am the LORD.

Yes, Your kingdom will grow…as a "holy flock". Those who really KNOW You are a sanctified, consecrated, dedicated flock of sheep, Your little lambs…" (YOU are) our shepherd." (Ps. 23:1) We are a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a PECULIAR PEOPLE;
that (we should shew forth (Your) praises…who hath called (us) out of darkness into (Your) marvelous light." (I Pet. 2:9) The waste cities shall be filled with FLOCKS OF MEN: and they shall KNOW that You are YAHWEH! Amen!