Ezequiel 37

Ezequiel 37

Pentecost writes that this chapter sets the stage for the events of Ezekiel 38-39 - Ezekiel 37 deals with the restoration of the nation Israel to her land. This is pictured as a gradual process, for the prophet sees the process of bone being joined to bone, tied together with sinews, clothed with skin. It is a regathering in unbelief, for the prophet observes that there was no life in the assembled carcass (Ezek 37:8). Ezekiel 40 carries us on to the Millennial Age. Thus the movements of Gog and Magog are seen, in the context, to transpire between the time of the beginning of the restoration of Israel to the land and the millennial age. It was full of bones - Remember that context is king in interpretation. We could guess that the bones are individuals, the nation of Israel or something else. But we do not have to guess if we carefully observe the context. Ezekiel 37:11 clearly states "these bones are the whole house of Israel." So what is your interpretation of the bones? Clearly the whole house of Israel. What does that mean "whole house"? What is a synonym for "whole" or conversely what is an antonym for "whole"? Divided or undivided. So clearly whole house refers to the undivided Kingdom of Israel, which in 931BC was split by the Sovereign Lord into a Northern Kingdom (10 tribes) and Southern Kingdom (Two tribes = Benjamin and Judah). Notice also that Ezekiel 37:11-14 gives a fuller interpretation of the vision. Remember that the best commentary on Scripture is always Scripture (Compare Scripture with Scripture). Always check the immediate context to see if that interprets the passage you are studying. You might then examine a good cross reference resource (unfortunately the cross references in the margin of your Bible are generally not the best compilation), such as the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK). Respected Bible expositor John MacArthur speaks very highly of the TSK noting that it is "The one book, aside from the Bible itself, that I value most in my studies." The great preacher Donald Grey Barnhouse testified to the value of using Scripture as a commentary on itself, remarking that "You very rarely have to go outside the Bible to explain anything in the Bible." Do you believe that statement? How quickly do you go to the notes of your study Bible or favorite commentary? That will answer whether you really believe Scripture is the best commentary (and whether you are willing to do a little "work" to compare other passages)! Remember that while the TSK is a good resource, we need to examine the context of every cross reference to be certain that it is referring to the same subject as the passage you are studying. A C Gaebelein makes the point that "What these dry bones represent and what their revival mean, is explained by the Lord Himself. It may be used in application in different ways, to illustrate certain truths, but the true and only interpretation is the one which is given by the Lord in verses 11-14. But there is an erroneous interpretation of a serious nature which is widely taught and believed among many Christians. Because “graves” are mentioned, beside the dry bones and their resurrection, it is being taught that the vision means physical resurrection. (Ibid) KJV Bible Commentary says that Ezekiel 37 "deals with resurrection is without question. Some think the primary emphasis is upon a physical resurrection of individuals, while others see a resurrection of national life following the Babylonian captivity. It appears to us that the emphasis here is upon a resurrection of national life, especially as inaugurated by the Lord Himself at His Second Coming. The dry bones that come to life are figurative of the national resurrection of Israel. That this cannot refer to the physical resurrection of individuals in this context is evident by several things. These bones are all seen in one valley in Chaldea, not buried or scattered; and the remains of Israel's people were not so disposed. Furthermore, these bones are revived in stages: first bone to bone, then sinews, then flesh, then skin, and finally breath. The physical resurrection, in contrast, is instantaneous (1Cor 15). Ezekiel 37:2 He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. He caused me - God's sovereignty, man's responsibility. Among them - The exiles in Babylon who had heard of the defeat of Judah and Jerusalem and the destruction of the Holy Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, and were justifiably deeply distressed and relatively hopeless regarding God's future blessings on the nation of Israel. The prophecy of the dry bones being revived was the message of hope and encouragement they needed. Round about - Hebrew reads "and he made me pass over them, around, around." Behold...lo- (hinneh) (9x in 8v in Chapter 37 - Ezek 37:2, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 19, 21) Even though the NAS translates with two words, the same interjection hinneh is used twice. Hinneh calls attention to the text and directs the reader to give special attention. It is given to heighten the reader's or hearer's awareness that what follows is truth that must be heard and/or heeded. The idea is "Listen up! Pay attention!" Spurgeon on "behold" (in English) - “Behold” is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation. Behold (02009) (hinneh) is an interjection meaning behold, look, now; if. "It is used often and expresses strong feelings, surprise, hope, expectation, certainty, thus giving vividness depending on its surrounding context." (Baker) Hinneh generally directs our mind to the text, imploring the reader to give it special attention. In short, the Spirit is trying to arrest our attention! And so hinneh is used as an exclamation of vivid immediacy (e.g., read Ge 6:13)! Hinneh is a marker used to enliven a narrative, to express a change a scene, to emphasize an idea, to call attention to a detail or an important fact or action that follows (Isa 65:17, Ge 17:20, 41:17). The first use of hinneh in Ge 1:29 and second in Ge 1:31 - "And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day." Hinneh is oftn used in the idiom "Here I am" in Ge 22:1, 7,11 Ge 27:1,18, Ge 31:11, Ge 46:2 Ex 3:4 1Sa 3:4, 3:16, 12:3, 2Sa 1:7, Isa 52:6, Isa 58:9. Hinneh is used most often to point out people but also to point out things (Ge 31:41, 17:4). God uses hinneh to grab man's attention before He brings destruction (Ge 6:13, 17). God uses hinnehwhen He establishes covenants (Ge 9:9, 15:12, 17 [when Jehovah cut the Abrahamic covenant], Ge 17:4, cp Ge 28:13, 15), when He provided a sacrificial substitute for Isaac (foreshadowing His giving us His only Son!) (Ge 22:13). Hinneh marks the "chance (The Providence of God)" arrival of Boaz at the field where Ruth was gleaning (Ru 2:4-read about this "chance romance" - Indeed, "Behold!"). Hinneh is used to announce the Lord’s sending of a child as a sign and a prophecy of Immanuel-Emmanuel, the Messiah (Isa. 7:14-note). In fact W E Vine says that it is notable that when behold (hinneh) is used in Isaiah, it always introduces something relating to future circumstances. On the surface of the valley - Notice the bones were not buried in graves. They were very dry - Dry bones are dead bones and in context depict the nation of Israel which for the most part is spiritually dead (See Study of the Remnant for exceptions) Ezekiel 37:3 He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." Son of man - God's name for Ezekiel, but in the NT God's name for the Son of God. Can these bones live? - In a sense this is a rhetorical question. God can cause anything to live. O Lord GOD, You know - Good answer! Ezekiel correctly answers that only the Lord knows the answer to that question. In one sense this should be the mindset of every believer-we worship a God Who knows all, the beginning from the end, the alpha and the omega and everything in between. When we walk through the dark night spiritually, God grant us the remembrance that this One is our God. See Omniscience of God Ezekiel 37:4 Again He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.' Prophesy: Eze 37:11,15,16 Nu 20:8 1Ki 13:2 Mt 21:21 Jn 2:5 O dry bones - Ezek 36:1 Isa 26:19 42:18 Jer 22:29 Mic 6:2 Jn 5:25,28,29 Prophesy - A command to speak with divine inspiration, proclaiming what God wants to make known, which was heretofore unknown. O dry bones - In context, this is symbolic language. What do bones do for a body? They provide support. Just break a bone, like I did in 2011 and you will quickly discover the function of bones. Hear the word of the LORD - God's Word is life giving. The Spirit uses God's Word to bring life. Compare Jesus' words... It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (Jn 6:63) For (Term of explanation = explains Deut 32:46. What is Moses explaining?) it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life (What is Israel's life? And ours beloved!). And by this word you will prolong your days in the land (See the contrast in Deut 30:17-18), which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. (Deut 32:47) The Word of the LORD - 257x in 255 verses in NAS (Note prominence in the Exilic Prophet Ezekiel! The Temple destroyed and yet the God in His mercy still spoke His Word to a disobedient, disciplined people - Is that not true in our individual lives beloved? How great and merciful, mercy filled is our God! - Ge 15:1, 4; Ex 9:20-21; Num 3:16; 15:31; 36:5; Deut 5:5; 34:5; Josh 8:8, 27; 1 Sam 3:7, 21; 15:10, 23, 26; 2 Sam 7:4; 12:9; 22:31; 24:11; 1 Kgs 2:27; 6:11; 12:24;13:1-2, 5, 9, 17-18, 20, 26, 32; 14:18; 15:29; 16:1, 7, 12, 34; 17:2, 5, 8, 16, 24; 18:1, 31; 19:9; 20:35; 21:17, 28; 22:5, 19, 38; 2 Kgs 1:17; 3:12; 4:44;7:1, 16; 9:26, 36; 10:10, 17; 14:25; 15:12; 20:4, 16, 19; 23:16; 24:2; 1 Chr 10:13; 11:3, 10; 12:23; 15:15; 22:8; 2 Chr 11:2; 12:7; 18:4, 18; 30:12; 34:21; 35:6; 36:21-22; Ezra 1:1; Ps 18:30; 33:4, 6; 105:19; Isa 1:10; 2:3; 28:13-14; 38:4; 39:5, 8; 66:5; Jer 1:2, 4, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 31; 6:10; 7:2; 8:9; 9:20; 13:2-3, 8; 14:1; 16:1; 17:15, 20; 18:5; 19:3; 20:8; 21:11; 22:2, 29; 24:4; 25:3; 27:18; 28:12; 29:20, 30; 31:10; 32:6, 8, 26; 33:1, 19, 23; 34:4, 12; 35:12; 36:27; 37:6; 39:15; 42:7, 15; 43:8; 44:24, 26; 46:1; 47:1; 49:34; Ezek 1:3; 3:16; 6:1, 3; 7:1; 11:14; 12:1,8, 17, 21, 26; 13:1-2; 14:2, 12; 15:1; 16:1, 35; 17:1, 11; 18:1; 20:2, 45,47; 21:1, 8, 18; 22:1, 17, 23; 23:1; 24:1, 15, 20; 25:1, 3; 26:1; 27:1; 28:1, 11, 20; 29:1, 17; 30:1, 20; 31:1; 32:1, 17; 33:1, 23; 34:1, 7, 9; 35:1; 36:1, 4, 16; 37:4, 15; 38:1; Da 9:2; Hos 1:1; 4:1; Joel 1:1; Amos 7:16; 8:12; Jonah 1:1; 3:1, 3; Mic 1:1; 4:2; Zeph 1:1; 2:5; Hag 1:1, 3; 2:1, 10, 20; Zech 1:1, 7; 4:6, 8; 6:9; 7:1, 4, 8; 8:1, 18; 9:1; 11:11; 12:1; Mal 1:1; Luke 22:61; Acts 8:25; 11:16; 12:24; 13:44, 48-49; 15:35-36; 16:32; 19:10, 20; 1Th 1:8; 4:15; 2Th 3:1; 1 Pet 1:25 Ezekiel 37:5 "Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will: Eze 37:9,10,14 Ge 2:7 Ps 104:29,30 Jn 20:22 Ro 8:2 Eph 2:5 Says the LORD - Notice how God uses a man, Ezekiel, to speak His Word. In this sense, the prophet Ezekiel not only spoke forth the Word of God, but spoke before those the events would transpire. Today, there are prophets who speak forth the Word of God (using the inspired Word, not new revelation), but in my opinion no longer speak forth before things happen in the same sense as did Ezekiel. Behold- (hinneh) is repeated to call the reader to give special attention to what follows. Hinneh is found almost 1000x in the OT - God continually seeks to get wayward man's attention! We don't seek Him, but like the "Hound of Heaven" He pursues us with His great love in Christ! I will cause breath to enter you - I will speaks of God's Sovereignty and Omnipotence. Breath is Hebrew ruah/ruach which is also translated spirit. Life from the dead (bones) requires divine intervention. God is describing a supernatural event. I will - 16x in 10v = Ezek 37:5, 6, 12, 14, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27. God's Sovereignty will permeates Ezekiel 37. I will cause - 18x in 18v in NAS - Ps 45:17; 132:17; Isa 38:8; Jer 15:11, 14; 19:7; 33:15; 49:2; Ezek 32:4, 12; 34:26; 36:11-12, 33; 37:5; Zech 8:12; 11:6; Rev 3:9 That you may come to life - That is a term of explanation (or here of purpose - explaining the purpose) which obviously explains what happens when breath enters the bones. Ezekiel 37:6 'I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.'" I will - 177x in 137 verses in Ezekiel - most describe the "will" of God. You will know that I am the LORD - What is the purpose of the fulfillment of this prophecy. That Judah (and all Israel) would know that it was Jehovah Who had spoken these words. Know (repeated in Ezek 37:14) (yada) does not mean simply to have knowledge of something. Yada is used in a number of Scriptural context in a protective sense and refers to God’s providential care and love, which includes the eternal security of believers and His divine provision. It means that God looks out for the righteous. (Ps 1:6) Yada can also speak of intimate acquaintance or of knowing by experience (especially in the Septuagint or Lxx which uses the verb ginosko). The idea of knowing the LORD is repeated numerous times in Ezekiel 6:7, 13. Ezek 7:4, 9. Ezek 11:10, 12, 20:38, 28:22-26. 32:15, 34:27. 35:9, 12, 15. 38:23. 39:6, 22, 28. Clearly Jehovah desires to make His Name known! Specific phrase "will know that I am the LORD" most in Ezekiel - 59x in 59v in NAS - Ex 14:4, 18; Isa 49:23; Ezek 6:7, 10, 13, 14; 7:4, 27; 11:12; 12:15, 20; 13:14, 21, 23; 14:8; 15:7; 17:24; 20:38, 42, 44; 22:16; 23:49; 24:24, 27; 25:5, 7, 11, 17; 26:6; 28:22-24, 26; 29:6, 9, 16, 21; 30:8, 19, 25-26; 33:29; 34:27; 35:4, 9, 15; 36:11, 23, 38; 37:6, 13, 28; 38:23; 39:6-7, 22, 28; Joel 3:17 Ezekiel 37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. So - A term of conclusion So I prophesied as I was commanded - A good example for all God's saints to emulate! Remember that so-called "delayed obedience" is really a charade which masks our covert (not to God though) "disobedience." Behold- (hinneh) is repeated again (cp Ezek 37:2, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 19, 21) to call the reader to give special attention to what follows. Ezekiel 37:8 And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. And I looked - Why? Because God told Ezekiel "Behold!" What is God telling you to "Behold" dear reader? Obey Him. Look. You may be surprised at how that which was murky becomes clarified by the illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit who always honors obedience (under grace not law). Charles Haddon Spurgeon obeyed and "looked" (when he heard Isaiah 45:22KJV preached - see Spurgeon's Personal Testimony = a must read) and God saved him and then went on to show him great and mighty things he did not know. And O, the blessing Spurgeon's obedience has been and continues to be to countless numbers of souls. Behold- (hinneh) is repeated again to call the reader to give special attention to what follows. But - term of contrast But there was no breath in them - Notice the critical contrast - bodies but no breath. No life. Ezekiel 37:9 Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life."' Then - Always be attentive to the conjunction then, an expression of time, which can be especially in prophetic writings as it gives the reader a clear sense of the sequential occurrence of events. Then means "soon after that", "next in order of time", "following next in order" or "next in a series." When you encounter a "then," try to interrogate this time sensitive word with the 5W/H'S. You can always ask what happens "then?" Robin Mark has a great song that mentions the "Days of Elijah" - this song is sure to get your blood pumping as they say... These are the days of Elijah, Declaring the word of the Lord: And these are the days of Your servant Moses, Righteousness being restored. ... And though these are days of great trial, Of famine and darkness and sword, Still, we are the voice in the desert crying 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord!' Behold He comes riding on the clouds, Shining like the sun at the trumpet call; Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee, And out of Zion's hill salvation comes. These are the days of Ezekiel, The dry bones becoming as flesh; And these are the days of Your servant David, Rebuilding a temple of praise. These are the days of the harvest, The fields are as white in Your world, And we are the labourers in Your vineyard, Declaring the word of the Lord! There's no God like Jehovah. There's no God like Jehovah! Ezekiel 37:10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. As He commanded me - Immediate obedience! Ezekiel 37:11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.' INTERPRETATION OF THE DRY BONES Then - expression of time These bones are the whole house of Israel - God is speaking of the nation of Israel We are completely cut off - That is indeed the way it looked at the time of Ezekiel's prophecy - the Northern Kingdom of 10 tribes had been taken captive by the Assyrians and now the Southern Kingdom composed of Judah and Benjamin had been defeated by Nebuchadnezzar and taken into exile in Babylon. Jehovah however is a covenant keeping God and so in this section He prophetically promises and pictures the fact He was not finished with Israel. Why? As mentioned in these notes but always worth reiteration -- because of His unconditional covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). Beloved, when you begin to understand that most (? all) of what God does to His people is based on covenant, you who have entered the New Covenant but grace through faith will come to understand that you can rest secure in the promise that He will never desert you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5-note) Our hope has perished - The Hebrew word for hope is tiqvah which means "wait or to look for with confident, eager expectation, calling for patience, reminding us that the fulfillment of hope lies in the future". Tiqvah is translated in the Septuagint by the Greek noun elpis which means absolute assurance of future good, the way Scripture most often defines "hope" - not so, but hope sure! God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the despairing exiles that they are incorrect. Their hope has not perished. While this prophetic hope, this absolute assurance that God will do good to Israel in the future, will not necessarily be fulfilled in his hearer's lifetime, it will most assuredly be fulfilled! (Cp Joshua 21:45, 23:14, Nu 23:19, Titus 1:2-note, Heb 6:18-note) Ezekiel 37:12 "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Behold- (hinneh) is repeated again to call the reader to give special attention to what follows. I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people - My people is spoken to Israel - context rules this interpretation - we are in the "context" of the OT and there is no mention of the church. To reiterate (because so many fail to see the plain sense of this text) God is addressing this prophetic promise to Israel (not to the Church! See related topic - Israel of God - Is God "Finished" with Israel in His prophetic plan?) The context helps us understand that the "graves" refers to places other than the land of Israel. My people - "He calls them “My people” when receiving them into favor; but “thy people,” in addressing His servant, as if He would put them away from Him (Ezek 13:17; 33:2; Ex 32:7). (Jamieson, R, et al - A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments) Ezekiel 37:13 "Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. Then - As discussed in Ezekiel 37:9, always be attentive to the conjunction then, an expression of time, which can be especially in prophetic writings as it gives the reader a clear sense of the sequential occurrence of events. As you interrogate this time sensitive word with the 5W/H'S. one question you need to ask in this context is "When is then? What will mark this time?" Ezekiel tells us that this time will be characterized by Israel knowing that Jehovah is the LORD. The second fact Ezekiel gives us is that God will "open their graves." When will they know Jehovah? While there are increasing numbers of Jews in Israel and around the world who are coming to know Jehovah Jesus by grace through faith in the New Covenant He gave first to them (Jer 31:31, 32, Hebrews 8:8-note; See New Covenant in the Old Testament; Why the New is Better; Abrahamic vs Old vs New), the fulfillment of this passage awaits the Second Coming of the Messiah, the Deliverer, at which time "all Israel will be saved." (Ro 11:26) When I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves - This is figurative language which describes giving spiritual life in Christ to those who are spiritually dead in Adam (1Cor 15:22) and unless they receive Christ as their new life, they will spend eternity separated from the glory of Christ. Dear reader, you have received Christ by grace through faith haven't you? John