Ezekiel 36:1-7: a reflection

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 speaks to the desolate mountains of Israel, which the surrounding nations have mocked and scorned, seizing the land and gloating over its ruin. But God takes up the cause of his shamed people: Because you have borne the shame of the nations, God says, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath; the nations that scorned you will themselves bear their shame. God is jealous for his people who have been shamed and mocked; he takes up their cause, promising to vindicate them and turn the shame back on those who scorned them.

Notice that God takes up the cause of his shamed and mocked people. His people had been scorned, mocked, their land seized, made a byword and derision among the nations. But God did not leave them in their shame; he was jealous for them, took up their cause, and promised to vindicate them, turning the shame back on those who had scorned them. God does not stand by while his people are shamed and mocked; he is jealous for them, and takes up their cause to vindicate them. Their shame moved him to act on their behalf.

That is a comfort, for God takes up the cause of his people when they are shamed and scorned, and will vindicate them. When we are mocked, scorned, shamed for belonging to God, we can feel abandoned, as though God did not care; but God took up the cause of his shamed people, jealous for them, and promised to vindicate them. God is not indifferent when his people are shamed for his sake; he is jealous for them, and will vindicate them in his time. When you are shamed or scorned for belonging to God, do not think he is indifferent; he takes up the cause of his shamed people, jealous for them, and will vindicate them, as he promised to turn the nations' scorn back on themselves. Trust the God who is jealous for his shamed people and takes up their cause, rather than feeling abandoned in your shame; for God does not leave his people in their shame, but is jealous for them, and will vindicate them in his time.

Lord, you speak to the desolate mountains of Israel, which the surrounding nations have mocked and scorned, seizing the land and gloating over its ruin. But you take up the cause of your shamed people: because you have borne the shame of the nations, you say, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath; the nations that scorned you will themselves bear their shame. You are jealous for your people who have been shamed and mocked; you take up their cause, promising to vindicate them. Show me that you take up the cause of your shamed and mocked people. Your people had been scorned, made a byword among the nations. But you did not leave them in their shame; you were jealous for them, and promised to vindicate them. You do not stand by while your people are shamed; you are jealous for them, and take up their cause. Their shame moved you to act. Give me the comfort of that, for you take up the cause of your people when they are shamed and scorned. When I am mocked, scorned, shamed for belonging to you, I can feel abandoned, as though you did not care; but you took up the cause of your shamed people. You are not indifferent when your people are shamed for your sake; you are jealous for them, and will vindicate them in your time. When I am shamed or scorned for belonging to you, keep me from thinking you are indifferent; you take up the cause of your shamed people, Lord. Help me trust the God who is jealous for his shamed people and will vindicate them, rather than feeling abandoned in my shame.