Ezekiel 37
-Ezekiel is taken out by the Spirit into the valley full of
dried out, dead bones. There were very many of these bones and they were very
dry, lifeless. The LORD asks the question, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
Ezekiel’s response expresses complete perplexity, “O Lord GOD, You know
(Ezekiel 37:1-3).” Then the LORD commands him to prophesy over the bones to
hear the word of the LORD. He will cause breath (ruwach, spirit, wind) to enter them so that they will have new
life. He will put sinews (nerves, tendons, muscles) on them and make flesh grow
back on them. They will have breath to come alive, and they will know that God
is the LORD (Ezekiel 37:4-6). As Ezekiel prophesied as commanded there was a
noise and a rattling. The bones came together bone to its bone. The sinew,
flesh, and skin came upon them, but there was still no breath. Ezekiel was then
told to prophesy to the breath to come from the four winds and breathe life
into the slain. Ezekiel obeyed and the resurrection took place as their breath
returned making them alive to stand on their feet, an exceedingly great army
(Ezekiel 37:7-10). These bones, it was revealed, are the whole house of Israel.
They had succumbed to the fact that they were dried up with perished hope,
completely cut off. God says that He is opening their graves and causing them
to come out of them as His people. He will put His Spirit within them bringing
them back to life. They will be placed on their own land, and then they will
KNOW that the LORD has spoken and accomplished this miracle (Ezekiel 37:11-14).
-Now the word of the LORD came again to his prophet telling
him to take two sticks labeled Judah (Southern Kingdom) and Ephraim (Northern
Kingdom). Ezekiel was told to join these two sticks in his hand to make them
one signifying the LORD making the two nations one kingdom in His Hand. God
will take the Jewish people from among the nations where they have gone and
gather them from every side to bring them back into the Promised Land, their
own land. “They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with
their detestable things or with any of their transgressions,” and the LORD will
deliver them “from all their dwelling places (backslidings) in which they have
sinned, and will cleanse them.” They will be His people, and He will be their
God (Ezekiel 37:15-23). His Servant David (a Messianic reference here) will be
King over them, and they will have but One Shepherd. His people will walk in
His ordinances and keep His statutes to observe them. They will live on the
land that the LORD gave to Jacob His servant for generations and generations
forever. God’s Servant David will be their Prince forever. A covenant of peace
will be made, which will be an everlasting covenant with them. God will place
them back on their own soil and multiply them setting His sanctuary in their
midst forever. God will dwell with His people as their Savior, Friend, and
King. They will be His people and He will be their God. “And the nations will KNOW
that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst
forever (Ezekiel 37:24-28).” This future promise has yet to be completely
fulfilled though we see some of its completion already as the regathering has
begun. One day Messiah Jesus will fulfill this prophecy completely as He
returns and sets up His Kingdom that will literally never end. The Jewish
people have an integral part to play in this resurrection of the dry bones as
one unified nation under the LORD God.
-*Application* Whether it’s a nation or your own life, God
wants to breathe in His Spirit to restore the dead things and bring them back
to life. His power is amazing to do the impossible. Trust in Him and see His
miracles come to fruition in your own life, family, and situation.
Verse to Memorize:
Ezekiel 37:14
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