The chapter itself is too long for a single Lesson. It begins with another one of Ezekiel’s “mystical” (though authentic) experiences.
“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.” Verses 1-2, of Ezekiel 37. Hereafter I will only give the verse numbers in this Lesson, all being from this epochal chapter.
Next … “The Lord God said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.” Verse 4, “Preach!”
Then God Himself speaks to the “bones” themselves: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” Verses 5 and 6.
What did Ezekiel do? “So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.” Verse 7, he “did as he was commanded!” Can you hear the “noise?” A miracle indeed, clearly indicated!
Watch … “And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” Verses 9 and 10, the “wind” likely being a Type of the holy Spirit of God, Who is oftgen numerically described! (Revelation 1:4, in Heaven … John saw “the seven Spirits which are before his throne.”)
Now the Lord “interprets” for His Prophet, and for us … “Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.” Verse 12, by “whole house” He means ALL of Israel, north and south.
Now the Lord is preaching! “And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” Verses 13-14.
Resurrection, national resurrection!
Parts of which, simply harbingers of the full manifestation, we have seen occurring since Israel was re-born as a nation in 1948, May 14th.
Israel will be saved some day!
At the end of the Tribulation/beginning of the Millennium!
And Ezekiel has given us a pictorial exposition of that event.
Except, he is not though yet!
“The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying …” Verse 15, and the beginning of tomorrow’s Lesson.
We have seen and heard enough for one morning anyway. The Apostle Paul’s longing will be fulfilled some day!
Romans 10:1 … “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
And Paul craved this Day so much that he once described his yearnings: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites.” Quoting Romans 9:1-4a.
Wow!
No, not by a long stretch, Israel is not dead!
God still has plans for His people, that little Nation!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
I hereby heartily “bless” Israel! And refuse in any way to “curse” her! And pray for her “peace” to become a reality!
See Genesis 12:1-3 and Psalm 122:6 for the basis of my Bible-determined feelings.
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