Ezekiel:36

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* Verse 1-15 - Those who put contempt and reproach on God 's people , will have them turned on themselves . God promises favour to his Israel . We have no reason to complain , if the more unkind men are , the more kind God is . They shall come again to their own border . It was a type of the heavenly Canaan , of which all God 's children are heirs , and into which they all shall be brought together . And when God returns in mercy to a people who return to him in duty , all their grievances will be set right . The full completion of this prophecy must be in some future event . * Verse 16-24 - The restoration of that people , being typical of our redemption by Christ , shows that the end aimed at in our salvation is the glory of God . The sin of a people defiles their land ; renders it abominable to God , and uncomfortable to themselves . God 's holy name is his great name ; his holiness is his greatness , nor does any thing else make a man truly great . * Verse 25-38 - Water is an emblem of the cleansing our polluted souls from sin . But no water can do more than take away the filth of the flesh . Water seems in general the sacramental sign of the sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost ; yet this is always connected with the atoning blood of Christ . When the latter is applied by faith to the conscience , to cleanse it from evil works , the former is always applied to the powers of the soul , to purify it from the pollution of sin . All that have an interest in the new covenant , have a new heart and a new spirit , in order to their walking in newness of life . God would give a heart of flesh , a soft and tender heart , complying with his holy will . Renewing grace works as great a change in the soul , as the turning a dead stone into living flesh . God will put his Spirit within , as a Teacher , Guide , and Sanctifier . The promise of God 's grace to fit us for our duty , should quicken our constant care and endeavour to do our duty . These are promises to be pleaded by , and will be fulfilled to , all true believers in every age . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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