Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ezekiel 36:33-36

"Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be builded. And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, whereas it was a desolation in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited. Then the nations that are left round about you shall know that I, Jehovah, have builded the ruined places, and planted that which was desolate: I, Jehovah, have spoken it, and I will do it." — Ezekiel 36:33-36 (ASV)

Thus saith the LORD GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate; I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.

Now, as he will do this, I do not doubt, in Palestine, in due season, so he always makes the most desolate places to be built when his people live near to him. Let us have courage, brothers, about London, about England, about the world. It is very wicked; but if we keep close to God, we are able to overcome this wickedness in Christ's name. Let us have comfort about these evil days in which most men seem to be departing from the Gospel.

We can "hold the fort" till Christ comes; let us just have courage. God will yet let us see better and brighter days. He was thought to be a good citizen who never despaired of his country, and he is a good Christian who never indulges a dreary thought about the ultimate triumph of Christ and the coming of his kingdom: for thine is the kingdom, even now, and the power and the glory, and so shall it be, for ever and ever.