Chapter 36 Israel Will Be Restored.
This glorious picture of the restoration of Israel emphasises their spiritual restoration in the land, a restoration which will make the nations recognise that He is Yahweh. This in the end is always God's purpose for Israel, that through them and their witness all nations will come to the light of Yahweh (Genesis 12:3; Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6-7; Isaiah 56:7; Isaiah 60:3; Isaiah 66:18; Zechariah 14:9; Zechariah 14:16-21).
The idea of ‘Israel' has always been both inclusive and exclusive. Those of any nation who sought to enter the covenant with Yahweh were welcomed and adopted into Israel (Exodus 12:48). Those who disobeyed His covenant would be rejected (Exodus 32:33; Leviticus 20:6; Hosea 1:9; Zephaniah 1:4-6; Romans 11:20. That indeed was the significance of the death penalty for many transgressions in the Law. They were cut off from Israel). Thus the stranger was officially always welcomed and could become an Israelite by adoption, circumcision and commitment (Exodus 12:48; Deuteronomy 23:3 also assumes it with reservations). Indeed a great multitude from many nations were so adopted in Exodus 12:38, and entered into the covenant at Sinai. Throughout Israel's history the same happened, and thus we have such people as Uriah the Hittite clearly recognised as Israelites.
The Jews in the period before the birth of Jesus also recognised Gentiles who turned to Israel's God, and were circumcised, as on equality with them (in theory at least). And the great controversy over circumcision in the early church was precisely because Christians were seen as becoming a part of the true Israel, as Paul regularly stressed (Romans 11:17; Galatians 3:7; Galatians 3:29; Galatians 6:16; Ephesians 2:13-14; Ephesians 2:19). Indeed he saw Israel as an olive tree into which branches could be grafted, and from which branches could be cut off. Believing Gentiles were grafted in, as they always had been. Unbelieving Jews were cut off. And if unbelieving Jews wished to be restored to being Israelites they must be grafted in again by believing (Hosea 2:23; Romans 11:17; Romans 11:23). It was the church which was now the true Israel (Galatians 6:16; Revelation 7:4-8; Revelation 12:17).
Thus Peter and James could describe Christians as ‘the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion' (James 1:1) or as ‘the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion' (1 Peter 1:1) (the Dispersion was the name given to Jews scattered around the world). Neither give any hint that they are distinguishing between Jewish and Gentile Christians, which would be remarkable if it were so, especially as Peter in his letter refers to Gentiles as non-Christians.
So ‘Israel' has always been a fluid conception and the church was seen to be Israel in truth, not just some vague idea of a ‘spiritual Israel'. Indeed the above facts exclude anyone else as being finally seen as Israel by the church. The Jews were the Jews. The church was the true Israel, foreknown by God (Romans 11:2 compare Romans 8:29). It is true that Paul calls the Jews ‘Israel' in Romans 9-11, but he also specifically says there that they were not really Israel (Romans 9:6). The elect were Israel. The rest were blinded. Indeed all who are truly Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26). So he did not see the old Israel as really Israel any more. It was not a question of Israel being superseded by the church, the church was seen as the true continuation of Israel. We must bear this in mind as we consider this chapter.
The first part of the chapter splits into two parts. Ezekiel 36:1-7 reflect on God's judgment on the surrounding neighbours, and Ezekiel 36:8-15 confirm the blessing that is to come on Israel.