John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 11:17

"Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel." — Ezekiel 11:17 (ASV)

Now God expresses the effect of His grace. In the last verse, He had said that He would be a sanctuary. I have reminded you that these words should not be understood as referring to a visible place in which God was worshipped, but to that hidden influence by which He cherishes His people.

But if the exile had been perpetual, that promise might seem vain. Why then did God protect His people in exile, if He wished them to be consumed there? He did so because otherwise His covenant would have been in vain. Therefore, so that no one would object that God deceives His faithful ones when He declares that He would be their sanctuary, He now points out its result, namely, that He would restore them to their country.

Therefore, He says, I will collect you from the people, and gather you from the nations to which ye have been driven, and I will give you the land of Israel. Therefore, since a return to their country was a certain pledge of God’s love, He thus announces that they would eventually return. On the whole, the restitution of the Church is promised, which would confirm God’s covenant.

In that covenant, it had been said to Abraham, I will give this land to thee and to thy seed for ever (Genesis 13:15 and Genesis 17:8). God, therefore, to show His covenant still remaining entire and secure, which He had interrupted for a short time, here speaks about this restoration.

Furthermore, the Prophet’s frequent emphasis on God’s name, his recounting of His orders in God’s name, and his directing of his discourse to the captives—all this serves to confirm his message. This was crucial because in such a desperate state of affairs, it was difficult to wait patiently for what the Prophet taught: namely, that a time would come when God would collect them again and recall them home. Thus, the faithful were admonished to consider God’s power and to place their trust in this prophecy.