O Breath, and Breathe on these Slain, that they may Live

There are several accounts in the Bible that are totally unnatural, miraculous and out of this world. This chapter is one of them, for it recounts the resurrection of the dead from the bones that God showed Ezekiel. Apart from the resurrection of Jesus, Lazarus, and a few others mentioned in the New Testament, the only account of mass resurrection of dead bodies was at the Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus, when God opened up the tombs and the dead came back to life.

In this chapter, God was also making a point that in the future, perhaps during the rapture, God will raise up the dead. Besides telling this to Ezekiel, God demonstrated it by actually raising up a few (as many as an army according to Ezekiel) skeletons to life.

Before the judgment on God's children, their nation was divided in to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. They were both invaded, and the people scattered and many are still scattered in the world today. The prophecy God revealed to Ezekiel is that when God gathers His people, they will come together as one nation again, not divided anymore, as in the nation of present day Israel.

God will re-establish an everlasting covenant with Israel and will sanctify them. They will be blessed and live in the Promised Land again. God mentions David will rule over them and they will follow His statutes and judgments. It is very likely that this David actually refers to his descendant who is our Lord Yeshua.



Ezekiel 37
The Dry Bones Live

1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”

4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”

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. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

9 Also 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 may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”

One Kingdom, One King

15 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 16 “As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.’ 17 Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.

18 “And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not show us what you mean by these?’— 19 say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’ 20 And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.

21 “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

24 “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. 25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 28 The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”’”

Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice

Elihu starts by describing Job as being somewhat self-righteous and deluded that a mere mortal can claim that they are right and that God does wicked things. Of course God does no evil since he cannot stand evil and He is totally Good. At the end of this passage, Elihu adds rebellion to Job's sins. Despite these accusations, we see some of Elihu's description of a Just and Good God worth remembering. Of particular interest is in v14 where Elihu makes references to the Spirit and His breath. Note that the Spirit of God was as agent of Creation at the beginning. Also it was His breath that he breathe into the lifeless body of Adam to bring him to life.

Job 34

 1 Elihu further answered and said:
 2 “Hear my words, you wise men;      Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
 3 For the ear tests words      As the palate tastes food.
 4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;      Let us know among ourselves what is good.
 5 “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,      But God has taken away my justice;
 6 Should I lie concerning my right?      My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
 7 What man is like Job,      Who drinks scorn like water,
 8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,      And walks with wicked men?
 9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing      That he should delight in God.’
 10 “ Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:      Far be it from God to do wickedness,
      And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
 11 For He repays man according to his work,      And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
 12 Surely God will never do wickedly,      Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
 13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?      Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
 14 If He should set His heart on it,      If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
 15 All flesh would perish together,      And man would return to dust.
 16 “If you have understanding, hear this;      Listen to the sound of my words:
 17 Should one who hates justice govern?      Will you condemn Him who is most just?
 18 Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’      And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
 19 Yet He is not partial to princes,      Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
     For they are all the work of His hands.
 20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night;      The people are shaken and pass away;
      The mighty are taken away without a hand.
 21 “For His eyes are on the ways of man,      And He sees all his steps.
 22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death      Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
 23 For He need not further consider a man,      That he should go before God in judgment.
 24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,      And sets others in their place.
 25 Therefore He knows their works;      He overthrows them in the night,       And they are crushed.
 26 He strikes them as wicked men      In the open sight of others,
 27 Because they turned back from Him,      And would not consider any of His ways,
 28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;      For He hears the cry of the afflicted.
 29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?      And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
      Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
 30 That the hypocrite should not reign,      Lest the people be ensnared.
 31 “For has anyone said to God,      ‘I have borne chastening;      I will offend no more;
 32 Teach me what I do not see;      If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
 33 Should He repay it according to your terms,      Just because you disavow it?
      You must choose, and not I;       Therefore speak what you know.
 34 “Men of understanding say to me,      Wise men who listen to me:
 35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge,      His words are without wisdom.’
 36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,      Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
 37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;      He claps his hands among us,       And multiplies his words against God.”