18 - First Mention of Promise to Restore

In the previous verse 13 Ezekiel cries to the Lord when the Lord took the life of evil Pelatiah, “Ah Lord Jehovah! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?” This section is God’s answer and assurance to him that Israel and Jerusalem have a future. This is a theme, which is well developed throughout the entire book of Ezekiel. We find the introduction to it here. The fulfillment of this promise began with the return of a portion of the exiles under Zerubbabel; but it was not completed under either Zerubbabel or Ezra, or even in the Maccabean times. Ezekiel chapters 20 and 22 both speak of the Jews returning before a major persecution and after one too, which is the Zionist movement. The final and full restoration is during the Millennial Kingdom explained the 37th chapter. This present section of Scripture is a culmination of the past four chapters. Ezekiel was beginning to think that this was the end of Israel because of the huge amount of sin God allowed him to see regarding the Temple leaders in Israel. There has always been a remnant of Israel.