| Ezekiel 37:1-38:23 v. 1 The hand of the LORD – Figurative language representing the guiding hand of God. This expression is synonymous with "the Spirit of the Lord" (Eze. 11:5). Spirit of the LORD – This phrase is a representation of the guiding personage of God defined more clearly in the New Testament as God's Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:1-4, 16-18; 5:1-9; Gal. 4:6; Heb. 10:15; 1 Peter 1:12; 2 Peter 1:21; 1John 5:7, 8). brought me out…set me down – It is evident that the hand of the Lord is in total control of Ezekiel's person and position during this prophetic vision. Though it is most probably that what Ezekiel is experiencing is not a literal incident but more of a dream-like vision. the valley – Probably the valley of Dura that was by the Chebar River (Eze. 3:22). This valley represents, the scene of Israel's sojourn in her state of national and spiritual deadness. full of bones – These bones represent the utter hopeless condition of the people of Israel (v. 11). Rather than a vision of motionless bodies that may appear yet revivable, God shows Ezekiel a scene of dry and scattered bones clearly beyond any hope of recovery. v. 2 very many…very dry – representing of all the house of Israel being far beyond the point of resuscitation (v. 11) v. 4 Prophesy to these bones – Ezekiel had been instructed to prophesy to inanimate objects before (6:2; 20:47; 36:1). But prophesying to dead bones and commanding them to live would require much more faith. v. 5 breath – ruwach (Heb.) wind or spirit v. 6 sinews…flesh – The Lord promises through Ezekiel to do much more than just bring bones to life in the form of skeletons but to fully restore these dry bones by placing muscle, tendons and skin upon these dead, dry bones. Then you shall know that I am the Lord – This precise wording reveals God's desire to be properly known as Yahweh (Heb.) the One true God. v. 7 prophesied…prophesied – From the same Hebrew word naba, meaning to speak by inspiration and influence of Divine Spirit. v. 8 sinews…flesh…skin…but there was no breath – A "two-step" resuscitation. Possibly suggesting that Israel will be restored in two distinct phases, first physically then spiritually. v. 9 the four winds – Signifying that Israel would be gathered from all the directions of the earth (Is. 43:5, 6; Jer. 31:8; Rev. 7:1, 4). slain – harag (Heb.), meaning to kill, slay, murder, destroy. These bones representing all of Israel (v. 11) have been put to death, but not necessarily all on a battlefield. They may also be considered slain by God's judgment of their sin. v. 11 cut off – from the Promised Land of Israel and the promises of God v. 12 bring you into the land of Israel – A promise of national restoration of the Hebrew people back to their "Promised Land." This is a crucial element of God's covenant promise to His chosen people (Gen. 26:3, 4; 28:4,13,14). v. 13 opened your graves – As the imagery changes from scattered bones in a valley to dead bodies buried in graves the concept of a literal resurrection of the dead emerges (John 5:25, 28, 29). v. 14 I will put My Spirit in you – This promise of receiving God's Spirit can be found repeatedly in the Old Testament (Eze. 36:27, 39:29; Joel 2:28, 29; Zech. 12:10). v. 16 Judah – The tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob and later the name of the Southern kingdom after the nation split upon the death of Solomon. his companions – Referring to the tribe of Benjamin, which bound together with Judah at the time of national split after the death of Solomon. This may also be inferring to the many others who joined Judah who refused to give in to the idolatry of Jeroboam. write on it – Writing words on sticks or rods seems to be a way of commemorating an event (Num. 17:2). Joseph – Yowceph (Heb.), meaning "Jehovah has added." The eldest son of Jacob by Rachel. Ephraim – Ephrayim (Heb.) The preeminent of the ten northern tribes of Israel after the split. The word Ephraim often stands for all the ten tribes and for the kingdom of Israel, as distinct from that of Judah. his companions – the other nine northern tribes of Israel v. 17 join them…into one stick – representative of a complete unification of all of Israel with no more division (v. 19). v. 19 I will…one in My hand – Israel will experience genuine unity in submission to God's hand and under His control. v. 21 wherever they have gone – The Lord's promise of re-gathering His people to His land of promise is thorough and comprehensive. v. 22 I will make them one nation…one king – A Messianic promise of a future day when Israel will be one united kingdom never to be divided again under the headship of the Messiah. v. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore – Israel's patterns of idolatry and all her frequent and numerous backslidings will be forever broken. detestable things – shiqquwts (Heb.) disgusting things; filthy, especially idolatrous or (concretely) an idol; abominable filth transgressions – pesha (Heb.) a revolt (national, moral or religious); a breach of trust, rebellion, sin cleanse – taher (Heb.) to be pure, unadulterated, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy; be purged, purified My people…their God – This was the Lord's primary intention in His covenant with the house of Israel (Lev. 26:12; Jer. 7:23, 11:4, 30:22; Joel 2:27). v. 24 David My servant shall be king over them – Because David had been dead for over 400 years, it is clear that this is a confirmation of God's solemn promise to David that the future Messiah would come from his lineage and would rule over God's eternal kingdom (1 Chron. 17:7-14). one shepherd – speaking of Jesus Christ's future rule over all of God's kingdom (Eze. 34:23, 24, John 10:11, 14) walk in My judgments – to obey God's laws observe My statutes – to obey God's decrees and ordinances v. 25 Jacob – Son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel. Thus, in context to promise something to Jacob is to promise it to the people of Israel descended from his loins. prince – nasiy (Heb.) an exalted one; a king or sheik v. 26 covenant of peace – God promises Israel a future treaty of eternal safety, happiness, and rest. This promise has been made four times in the NKJV bible (Num. 25:12; Is. 54:10; Eze. 34:25, 37:26). My sanctuary – miqdash (Heb.), meaning sacred place, holy place. God's holy temple that had been destroyed but will be restored (Eze. 40-48). v. 27 My tabernacle – mishkan (Heb.), meaning residence, dwelling place. God's personal promise to dwell with them and be in them (John 14:17; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 3:16). v. 28 The nations also will know – God's plan is to be known among all the nations (Eze. 39:7; Ps. 102:15; Mark 16:15). sanctify – qadash (Heb.) to be set apart or consecrated; to purify and dedicate Ezekiel 38 v. 1 now the word of the Lord – The first of two chapters, 38 and 39, that form two oracles that present a yet unfulfilled prophecy about a huge army attacking Israel. v. 2 Gog, of the land of Magog – This phrase appears only one other place in scripture (Rev. 20:7-10), where there will be a similar attack upon Israel at the close of the Millennium. the land of Magog – the land of the Scythians, which is in present-day southern Russia Rosh – Rosh (Heb.) could refer to a people group, but it is not used this way in the rest of the OT. The word is used more than 600 times in the OT as the adjective "chief," often with reference to the "chief priest." Thus it could be translated "Gog, of the land of Magog , chief prince of Meshech, and Tubal." Meshech, and Tubal – Both are in the area of modern-day Turkey. v. 4 hooks into your jaws, and lead you out – This represents an unmanageable beast which is compelled to follow its leader. God is in control of the nations. He raises and He brings down. a great company – This army is very large. Note verse 9, "You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud," and verse 15, "a great company and a mighty army." v. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya – Persia is present-day Iran; Ethiopia is the land just south of Egypt, and Libya is just to the west of Ethiopia. v. 6 Gomer – present-day Armenia, known in NT times as Cappadocia the house of Togarmah – present-day eastern Turkey v. 8 After many days...in the latter years – This sets the time of the assault. It will be at a time when Israel has been re-gathered from the nations of the world and is dwelling in the land during a time of peace. Some see this as following the glorious age when the Messiah will reign (Eze. 36-37, Rev. 20). However, it is best to understand it as following the time of peace which the Anti-Christ will grant to Israel (Dan. 9:27; 11:22, 24), but broken by his act of "abomination of desolation" (Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:3-4), thus making it synonymous with Revelation 19. now all of them dwell safely – Peace covers the land, but the storm is about to break. v. 10 thoughts will arise in your mind...an evil plan – Gog resolves to invade a peaceful and quiet people, the motive for which is stated in the next two verses, v. 11-12. v. 11 a land of unwalled villages – Israel is living in peace and security, dwelling in open unfortified exposed places. v. 12 to take plunder and to take booty – The motive of the attack is rob and pillage an unsuspecting and quiet people. against a people gathered from the nations – Speaks again about a re-gathered Israel. v. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish – These were great trading cities located somewhere in the Mediterranean, the exact locations of which are unknown. Tarshish is mentioned in Jonah 1:3. all their young lions – Refers either to the rulers of these cities or the towns that lay around them. The point is that even these rich, prosperous cities took note of Gog's greed. v. 14 will you not know it? – An ironic question put rhetorically to Gog. Of course at that time everyone will know of Israel's peace and security. v. 15 riding on horses – Horses represent power and speed. Perhaps the Tribulation has so devastated industry that armies must rely on horses. Or, perhaps God gives the vision to Ezekiel using a metaphor he can understand. v. 16 so that the nations may know Me – Yada (Heb.) means to know, to ascertain by seeing, that is, not just to understand, but to realize, to see the significance of something. This word in its various phrases appears throughout Ezekiel and is one of the primary themes of the book. It appears no less than eight times in chapters 38 and 39 alone (38:16, 23; 39:6, 7, 22, 23, 28). I am hallowed in you, O Gog – The word in Hebrew for hallowed is qadash meaning "to be set apart or consecrated, sanctified, holy." God will use Gog for His purposes, that all will see and understand that God is holy. v. 17 he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets – This refers to God's speaking through the prophets about these days and times (Joel 3:9-17; Amos 5:11-12; Zeph. 3:8; Dan. 2:41-44). (Zechariah would not write until after the time of Ezekiel.) v. 19 a great earthquake – God will employ a great earthquake to make His presence known. v. 21 Every man's sword will be against his brother – Such fear will strike the attackers that they will turn on each other. This is similar to an attack on Jerusalem recorded in 2 Chronicles 20. v. 22 I will rain down on him...flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone – God will complete the work of earthquake and fear with great and mighty acts, acts that only He can provide. These descriptions are very similar to those of Revelation (6:12-17; 11:19; 16:17-21; 19:11-21). v. 23 Then they shall know that I am the LORD – The result will be not only that God rescues His people, but that He will be seen as the great and might creator God that He is. Romans 14:11 says, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." | 
37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 
The Dry Bones Live
Door-to-Door Evangelism
