Then you will know the I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your grave, My people. I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life. Ezekiel 37:13-14a
“Then they will know that I am the Lord” rings out like a musical refrain throughout the book of Ezekiel. Sixty-five times God declares His intention that His people should know Him. He desires for them to love and worship and obey Him. He desires relationship.
Ezekiel begins with God declaring that He will be revealed in the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. Finally, His people will see their rebellion and repent. Then they will know that He is the Lord. The focus of Ezekiel shifts to the surrounding nations (ch. 25-32). They will also be judged for their rebellion. They have not known or acknowledged God, but He will make Himself know to them. The final chapters of Ezekiel promise that God will be known through the restoration and spiritual renewal of Israel. Then, His people will know that He is the Lord.
The promise of spiritual renew is good news. Because try as they might, those people could not escape their rebellion. The principle of evil was present in them even though they wanted to do good (Rom. 7:21). Sin had used the holy Law to bring about their spiritual death (Rom. 7:7-12).
God’s promise of spiritual renewal was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus died for our rebellion so that the Spirit of God could dwell in us (2 Cor. 6:16). Finally, God can dwell in relationship with His people! Because of Jesus, we are free from the bondage of sin and death (Rom. 8:2). We are free to love and worship and obey God. Then, we will know that He is the Lord!