I would like to begin this teaching by first trying to understand the meaning of the expression “THUS SAY THE LORD UNTO THE NATIONS”
NB: The complexity of our theme is that it is not a formal theme generally easy to approach but an expression directly linked to the prophetic.
As in every ministry that God has entrusted to the Church, the body of Christ, there are particular expressions and words linked to the exercise of each ministry.
For example, if we pronounce the word build we think directly of the apostolic ministry, if we pronounce the expression win souls we think of the evangelical ministry, if we pronounce the word sheep we think directly of the pastoral ministry if we pronounce the word teaching we let us think of the doctoral ministry, in the same way that the expression “THUS SAITH THE LORD” is linked to the prophetic in the Bible.
WHAT DOES THUS SAY THE LORD MEAN?
Thus saith the Lord is a prophetic expression usually used in the Old Testament that resembles a sort of heavenly signature or royal seal.
And the prophet often expresses himself like this at the beginning or end of his message to confirm that what comes out of his mouth does not come from him but from heaven.
We can read the Bible in Ezekiel 36:2-11 on which I want to base my message.
The prophet Tristan who initiated this program entitled our theme;
“Thus says the LORD concerning the nations.
ABOUT THE NATIONS IN THE BIBLE:
Often in the Bible, when we see the word nations in the plural, we directly understand that the Lord is addressing nations other than Israel. And when this expression comes out of the mouth of the prophet concerning the nations in general, the message that comes out and sometimes the expression of the wrath of God is accompanied by judgment against his nations because of their evil work.
Biblically we also know that the nations in the plural constituted all the countries outside of Israel and that these countries were generally favored as enemies of Israel and also enemies of God. Because he who makes himself an enemy of a child of God also makes himself an enemy of God.
At any time the evil works of the nations and their wickedness would reach the throne of God, This brings forth the wrath of God and his judgment on his nations.
I want to tell someone that the wickedness of your enemies is now over and God who knows your situation is ready to judge your enemies.
When God promises to judge the nations or your enemies, it is often accompanied by messages of deliverance and restoration for His people.
In this theme we will base ourselves on the biblical text of Ezekiel 36: 2-11 on which I wish to base my teaching.
To understand it well. I have divided this writing into 6 parts:
FIRST PART OF THE WRITINGS:
(Ezekiel 36:2-3)
Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the enemy has said concerning you: Ah! ah! These eternal heights have become our property! 3Prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Yes, because people on every side have wanted to devastate you and swallow you up, so that you may become the property of other nations, because you have been the object of speech. and the words of the people,
WHAT THE ENEMIES DO TO ISRAEL:
In the first part, the prophet speaks of the realities, the sufferings and the mockery that Israel goes through in the face of its enemies. the nations wanted to seize Israel, make it their property, devastate it and swallow it up, that is to say, destroy it and make it disappear.
Three words to remember from the first part:
1)Property
2)Devastate
3) Engulf
PART TWO OF THE WRITINGS:
(Ezekiel 36:4)
4Hear the word of the Lord Yahweh, O ye mountains of Israel; Thus says the Lord GOD, To the mountains and to the hills, To the streams and to the valleys, To the deserted ruins and to the abandoned cities, Which have been a prey and a mockery To the other nations around.
THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROPHECY:
In the second part, the prophet prophesies in a hierarchical manner using metamorphic language to identify the 6 categories of people from the nation of Israel who were to be the beneficiaries of this prophecy.
“Thus says the Lord GOD”
1) In the mountains (Those who are high placed (dignitaries)
2) In the hills (Middle class)
3) To the streams (The weak or the poor)
4) To the valleys (the working class)
5) At the deserted ruins (The Desperate)
6) To abandoned cities (The abandoned by society)
NB: “Who served as prey and levy (Mockery) to other surrounding nations.”
PART THREE OF THE WRITINGS:
(Ezekiel 36:5)
5Thus says the Lord GOD: Indeed, in the heat of my jealousy I speak against the other nations and against all Edom, who have given my land to themselves for their possession, with all the joy of their heart and the contempt of their soul, In order to plunder its products.
THE WRATH OF GOD:
In the third part the prophet expresses God's anger against the evil works of his nations.
PART FOUR OF THE WRITINGS:
(Ezekiel 36:6-7)
6Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, Say to the mountains and to the hills, to the streams and to the valleys: Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I speak in my jealousy and in my wrath, because you bear the ignominy of nations. 7Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I lift up my hand; It is the nations around you who will themselves bear their ignominy.
THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD:
In the fourth part, the prophet expresses the perfect will of God to remove ignominy from his people and to impose it on their enemies.
PART FIF OF THE WRITINGS:
(Ezekiel 36:8-10)
8And you, O mountains of Israel, shall sprout your branches, and bear fruit for my people Israel; Because these things are about to happen. 9Behold, I will favor you, I will turn to you, and you will be cultivated and sown. 10I will put many men over you, the whole house of Israel; The cities will be inhabited, and they will rebuild on the ruins.
RESTORATION AND DELIVERY:
NB: In the fifth part, through his prophet.
God promises his people deliverance and restoration, as well as what he wants to do in the lives of his people.
1) You will push your branches
2)You will bear fruit
3)I will be favorable to you,
4)I will turn to you,
5)You will be cultivated and sown.
6) I will place men over you in large numbers,
7) The cities will be inhabited,
8)And we will rebuild on the ruins.
“For These Things Are About to Happen”
PART SIX OF THE WRITINGS:
(Ezekiel 36:11)
11I will multiply man and beast upon you; They will multiply and be fruitful; I want you to be inhabited as before, And I will do you more good than before; And you will know that I am the Lord.
ADDITIONAL BLESSINGS:
In the sixth part, the prophet declares additional blessings that God wants to bestow on the nation of Israel and its people.
1)I will multiply men and animals
2)They will multiply and be fruitful
3)I want you to be inhabited as before
4)And I will do you more good than before
5)And you will know that I am the Lord
TO REMEMBER:
This prophetic message is addressed to the ministers of God, to the ecclesial body of Christ, to the local churches, to the special individuals whom God has set apart for the advancement of his kingdom, to those who are called to play a great role in the end-time revival and to the nations chosen by heaven to bring the good news to the ends of the earth.
Through his messages we understand that God has a plan for the restoration and restoration of his church and certain ministries that have been rejected, destroyed and fought to play an important role in the great harvest of the end times.
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