Ezekiel 16:59-63--The LORD's Everlasting Covenant

Ezekiel 16:59-63
English Standard Version

The LORD's Everlasting Covenant
59 “For thus says the Lord GOD: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, 60 yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you. 62 I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD, 63 that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord GOD.”

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We've spent quite a bit of time talking about how Israel and Judah (especially Judah) rejected the good gift that God had given to them.  He had adopted them as His own, but they ran away from Him to live a life of idolatry, sexual perversion and to do all kinds of abominable things that would shame the pagan nations around them.  However, the LORD had made an eternal, unconditional covenant with Abraham which was not based off of the goodness of his descendants, but was based completely on the Name and character of God Himself.  He swore by Himself, because there was nothing greater that He could swear by.

That does not mean however that the LORD will not discipline HIs children.  They will be dealt with according to their actions, but they will not be treated the same as the Gentile nations around them--in fact, the Gentile nations around them will receive some of the punishment that Israel and Judah rightly deserve because they were the ones that led Israel and Judah astray.  The LORD will remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the sons of Israel.  He will restore them and bring them back to the Land and He will be their God and they will be His people once again (actually, that will never change, even when they are in Exile).  They will return to the covenant and obey it, for He will give them a new spirit and a new heart to be able to do so.

They will no longer be barren, but they will be fruitful and multiply.  They will worship in awe and wonder, and they will no longer need to be ashamed.  The LORD will restore their honor and their place of prominence and privilege among the nations.  The LORD will atone for all their sins that they could not make blood sacrifices for while they were in Exile.  This was of great concern to the people because with the Temple and Altar of the LORD destroyed, would the people have to remain in their sins?  Were they forever condemned?  Were they just like the Gentiles?  It wasn't just about being removed from the Land for them, but being removed from the Temple and no longer being allowed to make sacrifices for atonement in the lands where they were exiled.  How good it was for the people to hear that when they returned to the Land that the sacrifices that they made anew would atone for all the sins of the people while they were gone.  Now, perhaps, you understand why it was of first importance to the exiles to return and rebuild the Temple--even moreso than to return and rebuild Jerusalem.  The LORD was gracious even in His judgment, and He promised them that His wrath was for a moment, but His covenant with them was forever.