It came to pa.s.s also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, wail for the mult.i.tude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit. Whom dost thou pa.s.s in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncirc.u.mcised. They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her mult.i.tudes. The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of h.e.l.l (sheol) with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncirc.u.mcised, slain by the sword. a.s.shur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword: Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living. There is Elam and all her mult.i.tudes round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncirc.u.mcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit. They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her mult.i.tude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncirc.u.mcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain. There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her mult.i.tude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncirc.u.mcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living. And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncirc.u.mcised, which are gone down to h.e.l.l with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living. Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncirc.u.mcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword. There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncirc.u.mcised, and with them that go down to the pit. There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might: and they lie uncirc.u.mcised with them that be slain by her sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit. Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his mult.i.tude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord G.o.d. For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncirc.u.mcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his mult.i.tude, saith the Lord G.o.d (verses 17-32).
Two weeks after the lamentation over Pharaoh, the prophet uttered this solemn and most impressive elegy over the mult.i.tude of Egypt and the heathen nations who have gone into sheol. It has been called a weird Dantesque funeral-march over the whole heathen world; but it is more than that. We look here into sheol and see the nations gathered there, stripped of their glory, in deepest abas.e.m.e.nt and shame. Their bodies are in the pit, the grave, and their souls in sheol, the unseen regions.
G.o.d"s patience was exhausted with them, the measure of their wickedness became full, then judgments swept them off the earth and they pa.s.sed away and descended into sheol. And what irony there is connected with it! "Whom dost thou surpa.s.s in beauty? Go down and be thou laid with the uncirc.u.mcised." And as the King came there with his mult.i.tudes, whom did they find there? a.s.shur, that is a.s.syria, is mentioned first: "a.s.shur is there and all her company." She was a cruel, pitiless, destructive power, and now she, who once caused "terror in the land of the living,"
is helpless, with all her power gone in the unseen world. Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom, the princes of the North and the Zidonians are named as being in existence there. Once great powers but now cut off; they lie with the uncirc.u.mcised in weakness and disgrace. While in chapter x.x.xi:16 the dead and gone nations were comforted over Pharaoh who descended into sheol; in this pa.s.sage Pharaoh, who sees these nations, now is himself comforted as he discovers his former enemies there.
A similar statement about sheol as a place of departed nations, who are nevertheless conscious, is found in the book of Isaiah. There the King of Babylon is seen in his descent into sheol. "Sheol from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it stirreth up the dead for thee, all the chieftains of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the Kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? Are thou become like unto us? Thy pomps are brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols, the worm is spread under thee, and the worms over thee?" (Is. xiv:9-11).
Solemn words these are behind which stands the undeniable truth of a conscious and eternal existence of the human race. But only the New Testament Scriptures give the full light upon the future state.
II. PREDICTIONS AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.
Chapter x.x.xiii-xlviii.
COMMISSIONS. JERUSALEM"S FALL ANNOUNCED.
Chapter x.x.xiii.
The previous chapter closed the predictions which were uttered by the Prophet before the destruction of Jerusalem, and now we come to the second part of this prophetic book, containing the predictions of Ezekiel after the fall of Jerusalem. And these predictions unfold the great future of Israel, their restoration and national revival, the spiritual blessings in store for them, the invasion of their land by the last enemy, Gog and Magog, their complete overthrow, and the deliverance of His people. After that, in the final nine chapters of this book, the Prophet records the vision of the coming and crowning glory of Israel, as they shall possess it when restored to their land. Here we learn how the departed glory will return and the Prophet describes a great temple and its worship. It is the millennial temple, that coming, earthly house to which the nations shall turn to worship the King. Then the name of Jerusalem will be "Jehovah-shammah"--the Lord is there (xlviii:35).
While the predictions uttered by Ezekiel before the fall of Jerusalem have mostly been fulfilled, as we learned in our expositions, the great prophecies which we follow now, given after the fall of the city are still unfulfilled. These predictions are of great importance and of deep interest, for they give G.o.d"s program for His chosen people, how He will deal with them in His infinite grace and receive them nationally when the times of the Gentiles are over and He comes again. Because these things are now so very near, and we stand on the threshold of their fulfilment, they are for us of double interest. We shall therefore examine them more closely and also learn from present day events how all is now getting ready for the accomplishment of G.o.d"s revealed purposes.
In the introductory chapter of this section, Ezekiel as the watchman is commissioned to warn the house of Israel; then the messenger came announcing the fall of Jerusalem; the prophet"s lips were unsealed and he was no more dumb, but uttered again the Word of the Lord.
I. The Commission to the Watchman.
Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, when I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman"s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul (verses 1-9).
The commission to Ezekiel as watchman corresponds to the same commission as found in the first section of this book. (See chapters iii:16-21.) The watchman is to warn of impending danger by the blowing of the trumpet. If the warning is unheeded, the consequences rest upon the person who rejected the warning. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. And if the watchman is not faithful in sounding the alarm and disaster overtakes some on account of it, their blood will be required at the watchman"s hand. Ezekiel was set as a watchman unto the house of Israel. He received the message from the Lord and was to warn them. The divine message was that the wicked should surely die, and if the watchman neglected to deliver that message and warn the wicked he would die, while his blood would be required from the hands of the watchman. But if the wicked was warned and did not act upon the warning, he would die; the faithful watchman had delivered his own soul. Ezekiel was the faithful watchman while the false prophets did not deliver the message and perished with the unG.o.dly. How great then the responsibility of those who are called as watchmen! And how few the faithful ones who deliver the divine warning to the unsaved!
II. Principles of Divine Justice Announced.
Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord G.o.d, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered: but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways (verses 10-20).
The exiles knew that the just wrath of G.o.d rested upon them as a nation and that their sins were unforgiven. Therefore they asked "If our transgressions and sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?" They also accused the Lord of inconsistency by saying "the way of the Lord is not equal" (verse 20; see also xviii:25, 29).
The answer Jehovah sends them makes known the principles on which He will deal with them individually as a just G.o.d. "O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways." Judgment rested upon them as a nation but the individual still could turn to the Lord in repentance.
What a wonderful declaration it is which is recorded in verse eleven!
"Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord G.o.d, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" What compa.s.sion and mercy! As it was a day of judgment which had come upon them, true repentance was the needed thing. A past righteousness could not shield them from the judgment if sin had been committed. "As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness." The wicked confessing and forsaking his sin would find mercy and forgiveness, while those who were impenitent would surely die and not live. "None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him; he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live." And this gracious promise was given in antic.i.p.ation of the work of the cross, the redemption by the blood of Christ, by which G.o.d"s righteousness is declared in pa.s.sing thus over sins of Old Testament believers who turned to G.o.d (Rom. iii:25). The principles of Divine justice are summed up in verses 18 and 19: "When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby." Needless to say all this must be viewed as under the law-covenant. But their complaint that the way of the Lord is not equal was wrong; it was their way which was not equal. They were to be judged each according to what they had done.
III. The News of Jerusalem"s Fall. The Prophet"s Mouth Opened.
And it came to pa.s.s in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb. Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance. Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G.o.d; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood; and shall ye possess the land? Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour"s wife: and shall ye possess the land? Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord G.o.d; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence. For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pa.s.s through. Then shall they know that I am the Lord, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed (verses 21-29).
At last the long threatened and predicted fall of Jerusalem through Nebuchadnezzar, which had happened months before is announced to the exiles by one who had escaped. The hand of the Lord was then upon the Prophet in the evening, before the messenger had arrived, and had opened his mouth. In chapter xxiv:27 the promise had been given that when he that escaped came, the Prophet should be no more dumb. "In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and then thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb, and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the Lord." This dumbness does not mean that his mouth was silent and did not utter a word, for he prophesied in chapters xxv-x.x.xii. He was to be dumb as regards Israel and his testimony to his people; the intervening chapters, before the messenger came concerns other nations. And now the messenger had arrived, his mouth is opened again to prophesy concerning Israel. It seems the hand of the Lord was upon Ezekiel from the evening to the morning when the messenger announced "the city is smitten." The words recorded in the first part of this chapter are undoubtedly the prophet"s evening discourse, and form an introduction to this section. He is told to rebuke those that inhabit the waste places in the land of Israel. This is the remnant left in the land by Nebuchadnezzar, to whom the king of Babylon gave Geddaliah as ruler (2 Kings xxv:22). In spite of the great judgment which had come upon Jerusalem and upon the land, this remnant, which remained in the land, was unbroken and exhibited a strange self-confidence. They reasoned in this wise: "Abraham was one and he inherited the land; but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance." But they lacked the faith and righteousness of Abraham, and the Lord uncovers now their false claims and pretensions by showing their moral character. Their hearts were hardened; they lived on in their wicked, vile and idolatrous ways. "And shall ye possess the land?" asks Jehovah. And He answers, "As I live, surely they that are in the waste places shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the strongholds and in the caves shall die of the pestilence."
IV. Hearers of the Words of the Prophet, and Not Doers.
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pa.s.s (lo, it will come), then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them (verses 30-33).
How deplorable was their condition, listening to the Prophet"s words, saying one to the other, "Come, I pray you, what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord." They took before the Prophet the position as G.o.d"s people, professing it with their mouths, listening to all the Prophet said and yet refused obedience. With their mouth they showed much love, they spoke nice and pleasant words, but their hearts continued in the evil ways. As the Septuagint version paraphrases it, "because a lie is in their mouth." They were hearers of the words, but not doers. And such is to-day the sad condition of Christendom. What the Prophet had announced was coming to pa.s.s and when it came they would find out that a Prophet had been among them.
And even so to-day. The ma.s.s of professing Christians listen to the Word of G.o.d. They remain indifferent. Their hearts and consciences are not touched. But ere long they, too, will find out "that a Prophet hath been among them" and that the Word they rejected and refused to obey will condemn them.
CONCERNING THE SHEPHERDS.
Chapter x.x.xiv.
This chapter contains the first great prophecy given to Ezekiel after the fall of Jerusalem had been announced. It is a message of comfort and concerns the glorious future of the nation in coming days, when the true shepherd of Israel will appear in their midst. Here we find the majestic "I will" of the Lord, that blessed word of the grace-covenant of a sovereign G.o.d. It tells us what Jehovah in infinite mercy will do for His scattered and bleeding people, His own flock, the people who are still beloved for the fathers" sakes (Rom. xi:28). How He will gather His scattered sheep, bring them back from their wanderings among the nations, save them, feed them, heal and restore them, give them the true shepherd and make a covenant of peace with His people is now blessedly made known. We shall see that none of these gracious promises was fulfilled in the return of the remnant from Babylon, nor have these promises been accomplished since then. It all awaits the coming of their Shepherd-King, the true David, the Lord Jesus Christ. The chapter begins with a description of the sheep of Israel in their sad and deplorable condition and an indictment of the false shepherds.
I. The False Shepherds of Israel.
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G.o.d unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd; and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill; yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them (verses 1-6).
The shepherds of Israel were the kings and princes who ruled over the nation and had authority over them. The prophet Jeremiah also received a similar message against these evil shepherds who had spoiled the flock.
"Woe be unto the pastors (shepherds) that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord G.o.d of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord" (Jere. xxiii: 1-2). Shepherds are called to feed the flock; but these shepherds of Israel fed themselves. They were responsible for the deplorable condition of the flock. They ruled them with force and cruelty. There was no strengthening for those diseased, no healing for the sick, no recovery of them who were lost and driven away. Utterly selfish, they cared not for the sheep of His pasture; they neither feared G.o.d nor loved His people. They looked upon the people not as the flock of G.o.d, but only as their own to spoil, misuse and domineer over. Therefore, "They were scattered, because there is no shepherd; and they became meat for all the beasts of the field, where they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill; yea my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them" (verses 5-6).
Such was the sad condition of the people Israel. And when the Lord Jesus appeared in their midst to seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel, He found them as sheep without a shepherd and He had compa.s.sion upon them (Mark vi:34). But they rejected Him and the Shepherd was smitten.
Zechariah"s prophecy was fulfilled. "Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts. Smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones" (Zech. xiii:7). The false shepherds, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, were a curse to the people and the leaders were against the Shepherd. They delivered Him into the hands of the Gentiles. And now for nearly 2,000 years the sheep have been scattered and peeled, wandering among the nations of the earth (Luke xxi:24). What is their hope and coming blessing we learn from this great prophecy.[28]
[28] What is said in this chapter of the false shepherds who ill-treated the flock of G.o.d, His ancient people, may also be applied to the false shepherds, the hirelings in the professing church. See Acts xx:28-35 and 1 Peter v:2-3.
II. The False Shepherds Convicted and Set Aside.
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; As I live, saith the Lord G.o.d, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; thus saith the Lord G.o.d; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them (verses 7-10).
Jehovah addresses the shepherds and condemns their wicked oppression of His own sheep. He remembers in mercy His flock which has been torn as a prey by their leaders, who acted like the wild beasts of the field. He requires now the flock from their hands and sets the false shepherds aside and announces that He will deliver His sheep. "For I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them." The rest of the chapter shows His deliverance and what the Lord will do for His people Israel.
III. The Deliverance of His Flock.
For thus saith the Lord G.o.d: Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord G.o.d. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord G.o.d; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet (verses 11-19).
"Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep and will seek them out." Jehovah arises in behalf of His scattered sheep. He will Himself exercise the office of a true shepherd, seeking out His flock. The cloudy and dark day (the times of the Gentiles) is gone and another morning breaks, the morning for which His people have waited so long.
What He will do at that time for His scattered sheep is now fully proclaimed. "I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be; there shall they lie down in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord." And all this has not yet come to pa.s.s. Some apply these words to the restoration of a remnant from the Babylonian captivity and see no future fulfillment of these promises. It is evident that the returning remnant did not possess these blessings. Others make a spiritual application and claim that it means the church and the blessing which Gentiles will receive as the sheep of Christ. This is the common path which most commentators follow. It needs no lengthy refutation, for Ezekiel, nor the other prophets know nothing of the church and the "other sheep," Gentiles saved by grace and with believing Jews const.i.tuting the one flock (John x:16; Ephesians iii:1-6). This is unrevealed in the Old Testament. These gracious words of promise have not yet been fulfilled, nor will they be fulfilled as long as the church, the body of Christ is being gathered out from all nations. All must wait till G.o.d"s purpose in this age is accomplished. When the church is complete as to its elect number, when the Lord has come for His saints and the true church has pa.s.sed from earth into glory, then will the Lord turn in mercy to His people Israel and these promises given by Ezekiel will be fulfilled.
But Jehovah will also feed them in that coming day of blessing with judgment. "I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment." The fat and the strong are the apostates of Israel. He will deal with the flock in judgment. Before He occupies the throne of His glory, when He separates the a.s.sembled nations as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats, He will judge His people Israel. "And as for you, my flock, thus saith the Lord G.o.d, Behold I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats." The unbelieving, apostate part of Israel will be cut off by the judgments of the great tribulation, but a G.o.d-fearing remnant will be saved. To this remnant the promises will be made good. "And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds, and they shall be fruitful and increase" (Jere. xxiii:3). With this remnant He will make an everlasting covenant. "And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land a.s.suredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul" (Jere.
x.x.xii:40, 41).