Context No. 2456 of 4322 · Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36:1-7: in context

1You, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, “You mountains of Israel, hear the LORD’s word. 2The Lord GOD says: ‘Because the enemy has said against you, “Aha!” and, “The ancient high places are ours in possession!”’ 3therefore prophesy, and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Because, even because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that you might be a possession to the residue of the nations, and you are taken up in the lips of talkers, and the evil report of the people;” 4therefore, you mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: The Lord GOD says to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken, which have become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are all around; 5therefore the Lord GOD says: “Surely in the fire of my jealousy I have spoken against the residue of the nations, and against all Edom, that have appointed my land to themselves for a possession with the joy of all their heart, with despite of soul, to cast it out for a prey.”’ 6Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and tell the mountains, the hills, the watercourses and the valleys, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because you have borne the shame of the nations.” 7Therefore the Lord GOD says: “I have sworn, ‘Surely the nations that are around you will bear their shame.’

God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the mountains of Israel themselves, the desolate land the surrounding nations have mocked and claimed as their own. The enemy has crowed, Aha, the ancient heights are ours now. But God speaks in jealousy for his shamed land and people: because you have borne the scorn of the nations, I have sworn that the nations who despised you will bear their own shame instead.

What stands out is that God takes the mockery personally. The desolate hills and the humiliated people are his, and their reproach is not beneath his notice; he is jealous for them the way one is jealous for something loved. To those who have borne contempt, this is a strange comfort. God is not indifferent to the scorn heaped on his own. He speaks up for the shamed land, promises to reverse the reproach, and turns the mockery back on the mockers. The disgrace his people carried will not be their permanent portion.

When I have borne scorn or humiliation, do I believe God takes it personally and will one day reverse the reproach?

Sources

Ezekiel 36:6: Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because you have borne the shame of the nations.
Ezekiel 36:7: I have sworn, Surely the nations that are around you will bear their shame.
Isaiah 61:7: Instead of your shame you will have double; and instead of dishonor they will rejoice in their portion.