Ezekiel 37
The prophecies which have occupied us, have shown the abounding wickedness of the people of Israel which led to their banishment from the land; God’s dealings with them as a nation because of their sins; and their future restoration and blessing according to His mercy. Is there then an element of goodness in the chosen people that only needs culture and favorable conditions that it may spring forth in full vigor? Chapter 37 gives the answer, and Romans 11:1515For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (Romans 11:15) bears further witness that the restoration of Israel, when it takes place, will be as life from the dead.
By the power of God and in His Spirit, Ezekiel was carried out and set down in the midst of a valley that was full of bones; he was caused to pass by them round about, and saw that there were very many, and that they were very dry, —a vast sepulcher of those long dead. The scene represented the whole house of Israel, morally, in the sight of God (verse 11).
God asks His servant, “Son of man, shall these bones live?”
“Lord Jehovah” (the name habitually used in Ezekiel, and translated Lord GOD) “Thou knowest” is his answer; there is and could be no hope of life in such a scene of death apart from the power of God. By the Word of God, then, and by His Spirit, the dry bones before the prophet’s eyes are made to become clothed with flesh, and life enters the bodies; they stand upon their feet, an exceeding great army. it is the Israel of God viewed in their new birth of water (typifying the Word of God) and the Spirit, without which there can be no entering the kingdom of God, —as Nicodemus, who ought to have known Ezekiel 3(1 and 37, was reminded by the Lord in John 3:342.
The believing remnant (see Isaiah 53:11Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? (Isaiah 53:1)) will say, “Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost; we are cut off,” but God will give life to the nation which for many centuries has been spiritually dead; and bring them to the land of Israel. All of these Israelites will then be born again.
It will be seen that the resurrection of the believing dead is not in view in this passage; it refers to those among the children of Israel living on earth, who will be the subjects of a new work of the Holy Spirit leading them to repentance toward God in view of their Messiah’s near return. The unbelieving mass of Israel are not referred to in this chapter.
Verses 15 to 28 portray the reunion of Israel, the two tribes of Judah with the ten of Ephraim, forming one nation in their own land, with one King over them, even the Lord Jesus, ruling as the Son of David. That Kingdom will never give place to another, nor will God’s covenant of peace with them ever be broken. His sanctuary shall be in the midst of them, and His tabernacle over them; He will be their God, and they shall be His people. The nations, too, (for there will be nations in the Millennium), shall know that Jehovah hallows Israel (See Zechariah 8:20-2320Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. 22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. 23Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. (Zechariah 8:20‑23); Isaiah 2:2,32And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2‑3); Jeremiah 3;17,18).
“Forever”, “everlasting”, and “evermore” in verses 25, 26, and 28 are not eternal in their meaning, but “age-lasting”. At the conclusion of the Millennium (one thousand years) the eternal state will begin; then there will be nations no longer: the tabernacle of God will be with “men” (Revelation 21:33And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)) who will be on a new earth. (See also 2 Peter 3:7-137But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:7‑13)).
ML 02/16/1936