Ezekiel was the quiet prophet; there was a long period of time in which Jehovah had forbidden him to speak at all; when his wife died he was not permitted to even mourn for her (3:26–27; 24:16–18). But when he did speak, his words were given to him directly from heaven.

Our text today is a word which Ezekiel was commanded to declare to the remnant of Jews. Firstly, the reasons for the judgment which had befallen them, and secondly, that captivity would in reality be a mercy. You know it is bad when being taken into captivity by the Babylonians is a good thing. The nation had been wickedly idolatrous and had departed from God—thus the severe judgment. However, God would never make a complete end of the people of Israel; there would always be a spared remnant (Isa. 1:9; 10:20; Rom. 11). Those who would escape the destruction of Jerusalem and be taken into captivity would be revived by God’s grace. God told them that while in captivity “among the nations” they would “remember Me.” This was a good thing, a beginning of a work among them. What a blessing! God Himself would be a sanctuary for them (Ezek. 11:16) while they were scattered among the nations and remember Him.

It may be difficult to say absolutely what this word from Ezekiel is describing. In what way would they remember Jehovah in the land of their captivity? Perhaps, for them, it was simply to remember He existed, that it was His hand that had spared them, and that they would turn to Him in faith. However, we do know what it means for us to remember Him! A loaf, a cup: the Lord’s Supper; blessed privilege in the day of His rejection, until He comes!