God always stands ready to bless His people, multiplying them with His loving abundance when they humbly seek His favor.
God speaks through Ezekiel, saying: “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock.’” (v.37). The phrase house of Israel refers to God’s covenant people who lived in the land of Israel in the ancient Near East. At the time of Ezekiel’s prophecy, around 593-571 BC, many Israelites were living in exile following the Babylonian conquest of Judah in 586 BC. Despite this tragedy, the Lord promised to restore and abundantly bless those who once dwelled in desolation. By portraying them as “like a flock,” God emphasizes His nurturing and protective role as a shepherd who gathers and multiplies His people, reversing their hopeless situation.
In the broader context of Ezekiel 36, the Lord pledges to purify Israel, remove the heart of stone, and give them “a new heart” and “a new spirit” (Ezekiel 36:26), signifying an internal transformation. Verse 37 assures that the Almighty remains open to Israel’s prayerful requests. Far from an empty ritual, this promise highlights the intimacy of petitioning God. As Jesus would later teach, our Father delights in giving good gifts when we ask in faith (Matthew 7:7-11). For New Testament believers, this same principle applies: we are invited to pray boldly, trusting that the Lord can and will provide for our needs in accordance with His will.
God’s promise to multiply His people is a demonstration of His faithfulness to fulfill every covenant pledge. He will redeem those who turn back to Him and shower them with abundant blessings, revealing that true restoration comes not only through outward renewal but also through hearts transformed by His Spirit.
Heeding God’s invitation transforms despair into hope and calls every generation to ask for His gracious hand of increase.
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Ezekiel 36:37 meaning
God speaks through Ezekiel, saying: “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock.’” (v.37). The phrase house of Israel refers to God’s covenant people who lived in the land of Israel in the ancient Near East. At the time of Ezekiel’s prophecy, around 593-571 BC, many Israelites were living in exile following the Babylonian conquest of Judah in 586 BC. Despite this tragedy, the Lord promised to restore and abundantly bless those who once dwelled in desolation. By portraying them as “like a flock,” God emphasizes His nurturing and protective role as a shepherd who gathers and multiplies His people, reversing their hopeless situation.
In the broader context of Ezekiel 36, the Lord pledges to purify Israel, remove the heart of stone, and give them “a new heart” and “a new spirit” (Ezekiel 36:26), signifying an internal transformation. Verse 37 assures that the Almighty remains open to Israel’s prayerful requests. Far from an empty ritual, this promise highlights the intimacy of petitioning God. As Jesus would later teach, our Father delights in giving good gifts when we ask in faith (Matthew 7:7-11). For New Testament believers, this same principle applies: we are invited to pray boldly, trusting that the Lord can and will provide for our needs in accordance with His will.
God’s promise to multiply His people is a demonstration of His faithfulness to fulfill every covenant pledge. He will redeem those who turn back to Him and shower them with abundant blessings, revealing that true restoration comes not only through outward renewal but also through hearts transformed by His Spirit.
Heeding God’s invitation transforms despair into hope and calls every generation to ask for His gracious hand of increase.