Ezekiel 37:1-28

Ezekiel: “They shall know that I am God”

God’s Plans for *Israel and the Nations

Ezekiel Chapter s 25 to 39

Ian Mackervoy

Chapter 37

The valley of dry bones – Ezekiel 37:1-14

v1 I felt the power of the *LORD. He brought me out by the Spirit of the *LORD. He put me down in the middle of a valley. The valley was full of bones. v2 He led me about the valley, among the bones. I saw that there were very many bones in the valley. And the bones were very dry. v3 The *LORD asked me, ‘*Son of man, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘*LORD my King, only you know.’

v4 The *LORD said to me, ‘*Prophesy to these bones. Say to them, “Dry bones, hear the word of the *LORD! v5 The *LORD your King says to you bones: I will cause breath to enter you. And you will live. v6 I will put muscles on you and I will give you new bodies. I will cover you with skin. Then I will put breath in you so that you will become alive. Then you will know that I am the *LORD.” ’

v7 So, I *prophesied as the *LORD had told me. As I *prophesied, there was a noise. The sound was of bones that shook. The bones came together, bone to bone. v8 I looked and I saw muscles come on the bones. Bodies grew and skin covered the bones. But there was no breath in them.

v9 Then the *LORD said to me, ‘*Prophesy to the wind. *Prophesy *son of man, and speak to the wind. “The *LORD your King says: Come from the 4 winds! Breath, come and breathe on these dead people. And they will live again.” ’ v10 So, I *prophesied as the *LORD had told me. And the breath came into them. They became alive and they stood on their feet. They became a very large army.

v11 Then the *LORD said to me, ‘*Son of man, these bones mean all the *Israelites. They say, “We have become like dry bones. We have no hope and we have no future.” v12 So, *prophesy and speak to them. “The *LORD your King says this to you, my people: I will open your graves. I will cause you to come up out of your graves. Then I will bring you, my people, into the country called *Israel. v13 Then, my people, you will know that I am the *LORD. You will know this when I open your graves. I will bring you up from your graves. v14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live. Then I will put you in your own country. You will know that I, the *LORD, have spoken. You will know that I have done it. This is what the *LORD your King says to you.” ’

Verses 1-3 Ezekiel records what he saw in a *vision. God gave him this *vision about the future of *Israel. In the *vision, the Spirit of the *Lord brought Ezekiel to a large valley. The Spirit took Ezekiel to see what was in the valley. He saw that the valley was full of bones. The bones were very dry. These people had been dead for a long time.

The situation of these bones was hopeless. They were dead and dry. These dead people could do nothing.

Only God’s power could make them alive again.

Verses 4-6 The *Lord told Ezekiel to speak to the bones. So, Ezekiel spoke the powerful words of God to them. These bones will live again. God will cause them to breathe. He will put the breath of life into the dead people. He will cover the bones with new and complete bodies. The people will become alive again. And they will know that God is the *Lord.

Verses 7-8 Ezekiel spoke the word of God to the bones. As he spoke, there was a strange noise. The bones shook. They began to move. Then bones joined to bones. They joined in the correct order. The bones formed the proper structures for the bodies. Then the *Lord covered the bones with muscles. He made the bodies complete with skin. But they were still dead.

In this *vision, the dead bodies mean the *Jews (verse 11). They will return to the country called *Israel. This is starting to happen even before they believe in Jesus as their *Messiah.

Verses 9-10 The 4 winds mean the 4 directions, that is, north, south, east and west. In other words, the whole world. The *Jews will return to the country called *Israel from all countries.

Wind, breath and spirit are all one word in the *Hebrew language. So, the *Lord told the wind, breath or spirit to blow on these dead bodies. It came into them and they became alive. These people stood up. They were a very large army.

God’s power had turned the dry bones into a powerful army. These people were dead to God. In other words, they had no relationship whatever with God. But God has made them alive. And they have become a strong army for him.

Verses 11-14 The bones in this *vision mean the whole nation that is called *Israel. The *Israelites include the families from both parts of the divided nation, called *Israel and Judah. God tells Ezekiel about their sad state:

• They said that they were like dry bones. It was as if they had been dead for a long time. They had lost the life (relationship) that they had with God. In other words, they were dead in their spirits.

• They said that they had no hope. There is no hope for people who have *turned away from God. *Israel had refused to obey God. They could not expect anything from God. *Israel could not hope to become a nation again. Only God can give real hope to people who are in a hopeless situation.
• They said that they had no future. In God alone is there life after death.

The *Israelites could do nothing to improve their terrible situation. And everyone who does not have a real relationship with God is in a similar situation. Such people have no life in their spirits. They are in a hopeless state, and they do not have a worthwhile future. They can do nothing to rescue themselves. They should trust completely in God. Only God can make people alive. Only God can give real hope and a worthwhile future to people. And that is what he promised to do for the *Israelites in this *vision.

The *vision then changed. In the first part of the *vision, the bones had scattered across a large valley. Here the bones are in graves. God will open the graves. The nation that seemed dead will become alive again. God will bring his people back to their country. *Israel will be a nation again. This is what has happened now. The *Jews are returning to the nation called *Israel.

The *Lord will cause *Israel to know him. The *Lord will send his Holy Spirit on *Israel. The *Israelites will become alive to God. In other words, they will have a real and active relationship with him. We have not seen this happen yet.

One king and one nation in *Israel – Ezekiel 37:15-28

v15 The *LORD spoke to me again. v16 ‘*Son of man, take a stick and write on it. Write, “For Judah and the *Israelites with him.” Then take another stick and write on it. Write, “For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and the *Israelites with him.” v17 Join the two sticks to make one stick. So, they will be one in your hand.

v18 The people from your country will come to you with this request: “Explain to us what you mean by this.” v19 Then tell them, “The *LORD your King says this to you. I will take the stick for Joseph and the *Israelites with him. This stick is in the hand of Ephraim. And I will put this stick with the stick for Judah. I will make them into one stick. The two sticks will be one in my hand.” v20 Hold in your hand the two sticks on which you wrote. Let the people see them. v21 Say to the people, “The *LORD your King says this to you. I will take the *Israelites from the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all directions and I will bring them into their own country. v22 I will make them one nation in the country, on the mountains of *Israel. There will be one king over all of them. They will never be two nations again. They will not be two *kingdoms.

v23 They will not *sin and make themselves *unclean with their false gods. They will not have those images of gods that I hate. They will *turn from their *sins. I will save them from their *sin when they *turned against me. I will wash (free) them from *sin and I will make them *clean. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

v24 My servant David will be their king. They will all have one *shepherd (ruler). They will live by my rules and they will obey my laws. v25 They will live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob. Your *ancestors lived in that country. They will live there, their children and their grandchildren until the end of time. And David my servant will be their ruler always. v26 I will make an agreement of peace with them and it will never end. I will put them in their country and I will make them increase in number. Then I will put my *temple among them and it will be there for all time. v27 I will live with them in that place. I will be their God, and they will be my people. v28 I will place my permanent *temple there among them. Then the nations will know that I, the *LORD, have chosen *Israel to be my own people.” ’

Verses 15-17 When the *Lord brings his people back to the country, they shall be one nation. They had been two nations. The southern nation, called Judah, ruled two of the *tribes of *Israel. The other 10 *tribes lived in the northern nation, usually called *Israel. Joseph was the *ancestor of the *tribe of Ephraim. But sometimes in the Bible, Ephraim means the 10 *tribes. After they return, the 12 *tribes will all be in the one nation called *Israel.

Verses 18-23 The *exiles asked Ezekiel what the sticks meant. He told them what the *Lord would do. The *Lord will take the two sticks in his hand. There he will make them to be one stick. The two sticks meant the two nations. The one stick meant the new, united country that the *Lord would establish.

The *Lord promised to bring the *Israelites from all the nations. He will bring them to the country called *Israel. There he will make them into one nation called *Israel. In our day, there is now that nation called *Israel. The *Jews are returning to their country.

There will be one king. He will rule over the one nation called *Israel. The king has not come yet. The people will *turn from their *sins. They will not *worship false gods. They will *turn again to the *Lord their God. They will be his people and he will be their God.

Verses 24-28 The king who will come is the *Messiah. Here he is called David. David is his *ancestor. The *Messiah is sometimes called ‘King David’s greater son’. Originally, David was a *shepherd who took good care of his sheep. When David became king of *Israel, he had the same attitude toward his people. He took good care of them. The *Messiah will be like a good *shepherd. He will take good care of his people. We know the *Messiah as Jesus Christ (see John 10:11).

The *Israelites will obey God’s laws. They will live in their country. Nobody will hurt them. They will be safe from any attacks. They will have children and grandchildren until the end of time. The *Lord will build his *temple again. And it will stand until the end of time. God will live among his people.

The nations will know that the *Israelites are God’s special people. God chose *Israel to be his own people.

In the end, the *Lord will destroy this earth. And he will make a new earth. But the rule of Jesus the *Messiah will never end. (See2 Peter 3:5-13; Revelation 21:1; Isaiah 65:17; Hebrews 1:10-12.) And the special relationship that God has with his people will never end. This is true about all God’s people, whether they are *Israelites or not. (See Revelation 21:3-4; Revelation 22:2-5.)

Defeat of the armies that attack the country – Ezekiel 38:1-39

• This passage describes the final defeat of *Israel’s enemies. Of course, this event has not happened yet. My opinion is that this battle is still a long time in the future. First, God will establish the *Israelites in their country, and they will *turn back to God (Ezekiel chapter 37). I believe that there will then be the 1000 year period in Revelation 20:6. During that period, Jesus the *Messiah will rule in Jerusalem. In Ezekiel Chapter s 40 to 48, God showed a new *temple to Ezekiel. My opinion is that this *temple will be in Jerusalem during those 1000 years. After those 1000 years, the devil will persuade a great army to attack Jerusalem. Revelation 20:7-9 describes that battle and, like Ezekiel Chapter s 38 and 39, it mentions Gog and Magog. At that battle, God will complete the defeat of all his enemies. Then God will establish a new heaven and a new earth. These will be places of perfect peace, and God will always live with his people (Revelation chapter 21).

The *prophecy against Gog – Ezekiel 38:1-23

Israel ~ Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel. Israel became the name of the northern nation when it separated from Judah. However, Ezekiel sometimes uses the word ‘Israel’ to refer to Judah.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. It probably means ‘always God’. This name has a relationship with the special promises that God gave to his people.'son of man ~ Ezekiel. ‘Son of man’ was the title that God used for Ezekiel. It emphasised that Ezekiel was a mere man. Ezekiel would have to depend on God’s Spirit to make him strong. Only then could Ezekiel do what God told him to do.
prophesy ~ to speak a prophecy.
prophecy ~ a message from God; a gift of the Holy Spirit.
prophesy ~ to speak a prophecy.
prophecy ~ a message from God; a gift of the Holy Spirit.'son of man ~ Ezekiel. ‘Son of man’ was the title that God used for Ezekiel. It emphasised that Ezekiel was a mere man. Ezekiel would have to depend on God’s Spirit to make him strong. Only then could Ezekiel do what God told him to do.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
vision ~ something that God shows to a person but not with the physical sight. Visions are often in the form of dreams.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. It probably means ‘always God’. This name has a relationship with the special promises that God gave to his people.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Messiah ~ The Jews expect a king to come who will save them. That king, called the Messiah, will rule both them and all people.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Hebrew ~ the language of Israel.
Israel ~ Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel. Israel became the name of the northern nation when it separated from Judah. However, Ezekiel sometimes uses the word ‘Israel’ to refer to Judah.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
turn ~ to change your behaviour, your friends, or your God; or, to carry out actions in order to oppose someone.
kingdom ~ the place or territory where a king rules.
sin ~ Sin means the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. People are called sinners because of their sins.
unclean ~ unfit for sacred purposes. Unclean food is food that the Jews should not eat because of their religion. When the temple was unclean, it was not right for the worship of God.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God or other gods. The Jews had one in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God.
worship ~ an act to give honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
clean ~ acceptable to God.
shepherd ~ someone who takes care of sheep.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God or other gods. The Jews had one in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God.
worship ~ an act to give honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
tribe ~ The Israelites were divided into the 12 families of the sons of Jacob. These families are the 12 tribes of Israel.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Israel ~ Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel. Israel became the name of the northern nation when it separated from Judah. However, Ezekiel sometimes uses the word ‘Israel’ to refer to Judah.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
exile ~ When people have to live in a foreign country they are in exile. Such a person is called an exile.
worship ~ an act to give honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
prophecy ~ a message from God; a gift of the Holy Spirit.