“Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I have spoken in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered the reproach of the nations…
“You, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home. For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. I will multiply people on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt. I will multiply on you man and beast, and they shall multiply and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I will let people walk on you, even my people Israel… And I will not let you hear anymore the reproach of the nations, and you shall no longer bear the disgrace of the peoples and no longer cause your nation to stumble, declares the Lord God.
“I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine… Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 36:6,8-12,15,24-30,36
God’s pledge to a scattered, battered Israel is balm to His people today. Even in the midst of world strife and uncertainty, the Lord is jealous for His own and on our side. Present disaster and upheaval are only precursors to true restoration, and suffering waste and want are stimuli to knowing God as Lord and ultimately his heavenly whole. His promise of one-day fruitfulness is real, and therefore engenders substantial hope. (Romans 8:31-34; Revelation 21:1-7)
How do these truths fortify ongoing perseverance when nations and communities war? How do they lighten daily burdens of angst, health, and toil? The Lord’s promise of spiritual revival should make a significant difference in daily motivation. His sure present and future blessing should yield its own fruit of joy, peace, and grace on the journey.
How are we spreading this hope? With whom do we generously share the fruit of delight in the Lord and hope in His sure promises?
Father, may I daily bear the fruit of hope, joy, and praise that upbuilds others and glorifies You.
As the rain and snow 