11 september

Bible In 365 Days                     

Ezekiel 37-39

Ezekiel 37

The wonderful vision of the valley filled with bones was now granted to the prophet. As he gazed on them, he was asked, "Son of man, can these bones live?" His utter abandonment to God, even in the matter of his conception, was evident in his reply, "O Lord God, Thou knowest." Over these bones he was then told to prophesy, commanding the people to hear the word of the Lord, proclaiming to them the promise that breath should enter into them and flesh be restored to them. He obeyed, and beheld the bones coming together, and being clothed with sinews and with flesh. As yet the wonder had proceeded only so far as the restoration of dry and scattered bones to corpses.

Again he was commanded to prophesy to the wind, calling it to come and breathe on the slain so that they might live. He obeyed, and beheld the corpses standing on their feet, a living army. This vision was the outcome of a proverb current among the people, "Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost, we are clean cut off." The application of the vision was made in the declaration that God would bring His people from their graves, and make them live.

Having thus foretold the renewal of the people, the prophet was instructed to take two sticks and inscribe on them for Judah and for Joseph, and all the house of Israel. These he was to join together, so that they should be one stick in his hand. When the people inquired what he meant by this, he was to tell them that the purpose of God was not only renewal, but also reunion.

The prophet then repeated the promise of the coming of the one Shepherd, under whose rule Jehovah's original intention for His people would be fulfilled. With them He would make a covenant of peace, and, as symbolized in the ancient economy, would dwell in the midst of them forevermore.

Again the underlying purpose of the whole history of Israel is revealed in the final promise, "The nations shall know that I am Jehovah."

Ezekiel 38

The final message concerning the nation dealt with matters far removed from the times of the prophet. In the dim distance he saw Gog of the land of Magog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, gathering against Israel. He saw them, however, gathering under divine compulsion to this very manifestation of antagonism, the message of Jehovah plainly declaring, "I will turn thee about and put hooks into thy jaws, and bring thee forth." This last antagonism would consist of a confederacy of Magog and other nations from the uttermost part of the earth. Their coming would be terrible, like a storm.

As the prophet looked into the future he saw the prophecy of Zechariah fulfilled in the case of Jerusalem, for she dwelt securely without walls, and was a city of villages. Against this safely-dwelling people, a vast alliance would move in malice. The prophet then showed that their coming ostensibly against Israel would really be a definite and positive act of rebellion against Jehovah. Therefore His wrath would proceed against them with the result so constantly referred to, that Jehovah would magnify Himself and sanctify Himself, and make Himself known in the eyes of many nations.

Ezekiel 39

Having thus described the order of events in the far distant future, the prophet proceeded to utter in greater detail his prophecy of the antagonism of God to those who thus would gather themselves against His anointed people. He first made it perfectly clear that the destruction of Cog would be by the direct act of Jehovah, and that in order that His holy name should be profaned no more the nations would know that He was the Holy One in Israel. This destruction, moreover, would be complete. The burial place of the last alliance against Jehovah and Israel would be Israel itself. The judgment would be characterized by fearfulness and terror, as God would establish His rule, and set His glory forth by His last method of judgment, among the peoples who had not been persuaded in any other way.

The last word in the messages dealing with the one nation is a repetition of the promise that Jehovah would bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and be jealous for His holy name. In that day of restoration, dwelling securely in their land, they would still bear their shame, that is to say, repentance for past failure would be profound, even in the day of restoration. By that attitude of mind Jehovah would be sanctified among them in the sight of the nations, but they would have the infinite healing of His unveiled face, and the abiding energy of His outpoured Spirit.