God’s Presence, Gog and Magog, and the New Temple - Ezekiel 29-48
Have you ever longed for God’s presence in your life in a way that feels real and unshakable? The closing chapters of Ezekiel show us that God is not only concerned with Israel’s past and present but with His eternal plan to dwell with His people. This week’s reading in Ezekiel 29–48 invites us to look at His promises with eternity in mind.
God as the True Shepherd (Ezekiel 34)
In chapter 34, God declares that He Himself will shepherd His people because Israel’s leaders failed. He says, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak…” (vv. 15–16).
This shows us God’s heart to personally care for His people. It also sets the stage for Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who fulfills this promise by laying down His life for His sheep. As we read, we’re invited to pay attention to how God’s leadership contrasts with the failures of human shepherds.
The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37)
In chapter 37, God gives Ezekiel a vision of dry bones filling a valley. He explains, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel” (v.11). This vision promises that God will restore Israel from exile and ultimately points to a future national restoration when Israel will turn to Jesus as Messiah.
The immediate context is Israel’s hope in Babylonian exile, but prophetically it stretches toward the last days. For us today, it reminds us of God’s unmatched power to bring life to hopeless situations. As you read, notice how God ties His promises to His Spirit—the breath that revives the bones is the same Spirit who renews us.
The Vision of the New Temple (Ezekiel 40–48)
The final chapters of Ezekiel describe a detailed vision of a new temple and the return of God’s glory. In exile, Israel had seen God’s glory depart from the temple in Jerusalem, a devastating loss. But here God shows that His presence will return in full, filling His house with glory and peace.
While there is much debate about whether this vision is symbolic or literal, the core message is clear: God’s presence will one day dwell fully and permanently with His people. Revelation 21 echoes this hope when it says, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
Supernatural Worldview Insight
Gog and Magog remind us that the Bible sees history as more than just politics. Nations rise and fall, but behind them are spiritual powers opposed to God’s rule. Ezekiel pulls back the curtain to show that God’s plan is bigger than armies or borders—it’s about His decisive triumph over rebellion in both the natural and supernatural realms.
Reading these chapters with that perspective changes how we view the world today. Every human conflict is part of a much larger story, and in Christ, we already know the ending: victory belongs to the Lord.
Application and Encouragement
Ezekiel 29–48 closes the book with hope. God will shepherd His people, breathe life into what is dead, defeat every enemy, and dwell forever with those who are His. For us, the takeaway is simple but profound: no matter how scattered, hopeless, or surrounded we feel, God’s presence is our greatest promise and our eternal future.
Looking for more on how Ezekiel connects to God’s eternal plan? Read my post on Isaiah’s Prophecies of the Messiah to see how the Old Testament consistently points us forward to Jesus.