A New Heart and a New Spirit
The word of the LORD explains that when Israel lived in the land, it defiled it by bloodshed and idolatry, so God scattered the people among the nations according to their ways. Yet their exile caused His holy name to be profaned because the nations saw the people of the LORD removed from His land. Therefore God declares that He will act not for Israel's sake but for the sake of His holy name, showing His holiness before the nations by gathering His people back into their own land.
A16gain the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 17“Son of man, when the people of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds. Their behavior before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman’s impurity. 18So I poured out My wrath upon them because of the blood they had shed on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered throughout the lands. I judged them according to their ways and deeds. 20And wherever they went among the nations, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave His land.’ 21But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone. 22Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went. 23I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations— the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes. 24For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land.
God promises to sprinkle clean water on His people, cleanse them from impurity and idols, remove their heart of stone, and give them a heart of flesh. He will put His Spirit within them and cause them to walk in His statutes. They will dwell in the land as His people under His salvation, abundance, and removal of famine. Yet this grace is meant to produce shame and self-loathing for former abominations, because God is not acting on the basis of Israel's worthiness.
25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. 28Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and I will not bring famine upon you. 30I will also make the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field plentiful, so that you will no longer bear reproach among the nations on account of famine. 31Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and abominations. 32It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD — let it be known to you. Be ashamed and disgraced for your ways, O house of Israel!
On the day God cleanses Israel, He will repopulate cities, rebuild ruins, and cultivate desolate land until observers compare it to the garden of Eden. The surrounding nations will know that the LORD rebuilt what was destroyed and replanted what was desolate. God will also answer Israel's plea by multiplying the people like flocks for sacrifice in Jerusalem at feast time, so that ruined cities are filled with human life and all recognize that He is the LORD.
33This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be resettled and the ruins to be rebuilt. 34The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through. 35Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36Then the nations around you that remain will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt what was destroyed, and I have replanted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it. 37This is what the Lord GOD says: Once again I will hear the plea of the house of Israel and do for them this: I will multiply their people like a flock. 38Like the numerous flocks for sacrifices at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”