34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.
34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it.
34 And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by.
34 The neglected land will be worked again, no longer overgrown with weeds and thistles, worthless in the eyes of passersby.
34 The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by.
34 The fields that used to lie empty and desolate in plain view of everyone will again be farmed.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 36:34
Commentary on Ezekiel 36:25-38
(Read Ezekiel 36:25-38)
Water is an emblem of the cleansing our polluted souls from sin. But no water can do more than take away the filth of the flesh. Water seems in general the sacramental sign of the sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost; yet this is always connected with the atoning blood of Christ. When the latter is applied by faith to the conscience, to cleanse it from evil works, the former is always applied to the powers of the soul, to purify it from the pollution of sin. All that have an interest in the new covenant, have a new heart and a new spirit, in order to their walking in newness of life. God would give a heart of flesh, a soft and tender heart, complying with his holy will. Renewing grace works as great a change in the soul, as the turning a dead stone into living flesh. God will put his Spirit within, as a Teacher, Guide, and Sanctifier. The promise of God's grace to fit us for our duty, should quicken our constant care and endeavour to do our duty. These are promises to be pleaded by, and will be fulfilled to, all true believers in every age.