Bn – I Will Bring You from the Far North and Send You Against the Mountains of Isra’el Ezeki’el 39: 1-6

I Will Bring You from the Far North
and Send You Against the Mountains of Isra’el
Ezeki’el 39: 1-6

I will bring you from the far North and send you against the mountains of Isra’el DIG: How is this a summary of the previous chapter? What new information is given? What will be the ultimate purpose of all this destruction?

The battle continues from the previous chapter. We can be confident of this interpretation because of the Law of Recurrence. This law describes the fact that in some passage of Scripture there exists the recording of an event followed by a second recording of the same event giving more details to the first. Hence, it often involves two blocks of Scripture. The first block presents a description of an event as it happens in chronological sequence. This is followed by a second block of Scripture dealing with the same event and the same period of time, but giving further details. Ezeki’el 38:1-23 gave us a complete overview of the invasion of Isra’el from the north and the subsequent destruction of the invading army. This is now followed by a second block of Scripture, Ezeki’el 39:1-16, which repeats some of the account given in the first block, but gives some added details regarding the destruction of the invading army. Therefore, Ezeki’el 39:1-8 is a summary of the invasion and destruction of Gog and the alliance.

God wanted Ezeki’el, the son of man, to prophesy against Gog. Once again, the statement the son of man begins a new section. This is what ADONAI ELOHIM says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal (Ezeki’el 39:1). This is a summary of the invasion from the previous chapter.

I will turn you around from a planned attack elsewhere and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north, or Russia, and send you against the mountains of Isra’el (Ezeki’el 39:2). The invaders will break through the coastal plain and enter the central mountain ranges of Isra’el. Little did they realize that Jerusalem would be their Waterloo. Before the six-day war, virtually all the mountains of Isra’el were not located in Isra’el, but actually in Jordan. The only part of the mountains controlled by Isra’el at that time was a small passage called the Yerushalayim corridor. It came in from the coastal plain, cut Tziyon in half and went out again to the coastal plain. It has only been since the six-day war that the mountains of Isra’el have been in Isra’el. Therefore, this prophecy could not have been fulfilled before 1967. The emphasis here is what the LORD causes to be done.

Then we have the destruction of the invading army. I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand (Ezeki’el 39:3). They will be heavily armed, but their weapons will do them no good because the nature of the destruction will be a combination of natural and supernatural means (Ezeki’el 38:17-22). On the mountains of Isra’el you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you (Ezeki’el 39:4a). Ezekiel was very specific about the place of the destruction of the invaders; it will be on the mountains of Isra’el. Both Joel 3 and Zechariah 14 describe the second coming of Christ. In 38:13 we were told that the reason Gog invaded the Land was to obtain plunder, but now we are told that he and his allies become the spoil.

Because of the amount of carnage, burial will not be the order of the day. God will send ravenous birds and beasts to devour the carcasses of the dead invaders. This once mighty army will become food to all kinds of carrion birds and wild animals (Ezeki’el 39:4b). The looters will become the loot. You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares ADONAI ELOHIM (Ezeki’el 39:5). The absence of a proper burial is especially despised in the Near East. Thus, in verses 3 through 5, the LORD describes the destruction of the invading armies and has summarized Chapter 38:17-22. But then in verse 6 we begin to receive some new information.

Now the Holy Spirit reveals something new. Not only will Gog and his armies be destroyed in Isra’el, but also the land of Magog itself will suffer massive destruction. God declares that He will send fire on Magog (Ezeki’el 39:6). This same method of destruction will be seen again when Gog and Magog rebel after the thousand-year reign of Christ’s messianic Kingdom (Revelation 20:9). Even as the armies and allies of Magog are being destroyed in the Land of Isra’el, the land of Magog itself will suffer significantly. This fire will be like the sulfur rained down on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (see my commentary on Genesis, to see link click Fa – The LORD Rained Down Burning Sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah).

The fire will also descend on those who live in safety in the coastlands. This refers to the islands off of the coastland of the invading forces. They will also suffer a destructive judgment, and those who try to escape by trying to make it out to the islands off the coast will find themselves unable to do so. Though the judgment on the armies of the invaders will occur in Isra’el, the catastrophe will extend to their homelands.

And the ultimate result will be that they will know that ADONAI is sovereign over all the earth (Ezeki’el 39:6). Once more He will relate His purpose for Isra’el to the whole world. It is the concept of concentric circles. Jerusalem is set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her (Ezeki’el 5:5), and reaches out irresistibly to the farthest confines of the circumference. God is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens (Psalm 113:4). ADONAI’s true character will appear in its proper light as both righteous and mighty. There is no more important concept in the entire universe.

Dear Heavenly Father, How wonderful is your love for Isra’el. You had to discipline Your firstborn, Isra’el (Exodus 4:22), and send them into exile (2 Kings 17:7) as you promised You would do if they did not obey and follow You (Deuteronomy 27-28). You also made a wonderful and gracious promise to them that when (they) you return to ADONAI your God and listen to His voice according to all that I am commanding you today – you and your children – with all your heart and with all your soul, then ADONAI your God will bring you back from captivity and have compassion on you, and He will return and gather you from all the peoples where ADONAI your God has scattered you.  Even if your outcasts are at the ends of the heavens, from there ADONAI your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. ADONAI your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, and you will possess it; and He will do you good and multiply you more than your fathers.  Also, ADONAI your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants – to love ADONAI your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live (Deuteronomy 30:2-6, see also Jeremiah 12:15, Amos 9:14-15). We notice the importance of their turning back to God “with all your heart and with all your soul.” Praise You, God, that though You are loving, You are holy and Your character is both righteous and mighty. We love You! In Your holy Son’s name and the power of His resurrection. Amen