Last week, we read about Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones. We continue this week with Ezekiel’s vision of the two sticks in Ezekiel 37, the interpretation, fulfillment of the prophecy and the lessons learnt from Ezekiel’s two visions.
The Vision of The Two Sticks
The vision of the two sticks was given to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 37:15-17. The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel telling him to take one stick and write Judah on it and take another stick and write Joseph on it (Ezekiel 27:16). Ephraim was one of Joseph’s sons and represented the ten tribes of Israel. The Lord then told Ezekiel to join the two sticks together and they would become one stick in his hand.
Interpretation of the Vision
God interpreted the vision of the two sticks in Ezekiel 37:18-28. He said that He would take the children of Israel from among the heathen wherever they are, gather them and bring them back into their own land (Ezekiel 37:21). There would no longer be two nations, but God would make them one nation and have one king over the nation (Ezekiel 37:22). The people would be saved, cleansed from sin, no longer defile themselves with idols, and they would be God’s people.
The Lord told Ezekiel that David would be king over them and the people would have one shepherd. Who was God referring to since David had already died years before this vision? We understand him to be Jesus Christ who was of the tribe of Judah and came from David’s lineage (2 Samuel 7:12-14). Thus, God talked about the coming of Jesus Christ who shall be king over them and be their shepherd. God would also make the covenant of peace with the people an everlasting one. Ezekiel was told by God that His tabernacle would be with the people, indicating that God would dwell with them. He would be their God and they would be His people (Ezekiel 37:27). In addition, the heathen would also know that Jehovah God unified and sanctified Israel and He would be in their midst forever (Ezekiel 37:28).
Fulfillment of the Vision
Historical and archaeological records show that Judah and Israel were unified after returning from captivity. Besides them, the Church is also an evidence of the fulfillment. The church, Christ’s spiritual body, is where the Lord dwells and fulfills what Ezekiel said the Lord promised about Him dwelling in Israel’s midst forever. The church is the spiritual Israel (Galatians 3:27-29). There are no ‘tribes’ and everyone is just a member in the Lord’s body with Christ as the head of the church.
Lessons Learnt
Several lessons can be learnt from Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones and the two sticks. First, brother Bobby Liddell wrote that there were several false theories with regards to the valley of dry bones. He said that some believed that it refers to the resurrection of the dead physically, the state of Israel being ‘resurrected’ to live as a nation in AD 1948 or a coming of a future kingdom whereby Christ would rule over this kingdom on earth. None of these theories are true. The passage in Ezekiel 37 indicates clearly that God said the dry bones represented the whole house of Israel and thus there would be hope given to Israel. Dry bones have no hope at all. Brother Liddell added that “the fulfillment of the prophecy of Ezekiel was not that the nation of Israel was formed in AD 1948 but was a restoration of Israel that began in 536 BC. The restoration was not political nor was it material but spiritual.” With regards to the false theory of premillennialism, nothing in the passage talks about it and God also explained what the vision meant.
God gives hope. Dry bones would have been dead for a very long time and there would be no hope of restoration or life being given to it. However, God is able to do the impossible, to give hope. Israel was taken into captivity by the Assyrians and Judah by the Babylonians. The people of Israel were also resettled in other places by the Assyrians to prevent any uprising. This gave place to intermarriages, pagan practices and the Samaritans being despised and having no relations with the Jews. Israel and Judah were separated for more than three hundred years. There did not seem to be any hope of reunification because of the Assyrian and Babylonian captivity. Brother Liddell wrote that the two sticks united as one were to “give hope that the righteous remnant, cleansed from their sins, would be returned, but that hope extended far beyond the return from exile, through hundreds of years to the coming of the promised Savior”.
In the fulfillment of these prophecies, we can see that our God is faithful and unchanging, keeping His promises. Like the Israelites in captivity, we can have hope even in the most hopeless situations, because whatever God says will happen, and will surely take place as He said it. Jesus promised that He will prepare a place for us in heaven (John 14:1-3). We have the assurance that this will definitely happen.
An important learning point, asbrother Gossett put it, is that a preacher must receive and understand the Word of God before he can deliver it (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15, 4:2). Ezekiel was appointed as a watchman by the Lord. It was his responsibility to keep watch and to warn of impending danger. Similarly, a preacher also has heavy responsibilities to watch out for the congregation and in his preaching exhort, edify, warn, rebuke, uplift and encourage. Ezekiel had the heavy responsibility of warning Judah and also speaking of the visions which were given to him and explaining them. God told him what to say and he received all the instructions from God. In the same manner, preachers have to be sure and knowledgeable of God’s word to be able to preach and teach accurately. James wrote that teachers shall receive a greater condemnation (James 3:1). The apostle Paul gave advice to Timothy to take heed to himself and to the doctrine, because when he did so, he would not only be able to save himself but also the souls of those who hear him (1 Timothy 4:16). Thus, it is of great importance that I be a diligent student of God’s Word so as to be a productive and faithful servant of His in laboring in His kingdom and preaching accurately.
Another lesson that can be learnt from Ezekiel preaching to Judah during trying times, as a captive of Babylon, is the idea of “in season, out of season” which comes to mind (2 Timothy 4:2). Anyone can be used by God and any time that God deems fit. The preaching of God’s word also has to take place not only in bad times but also in good times.
Ezekiel, like other prophets of the Old Testament, had difficult tasks to fulfill, in difficult times, oftentimes on his own. Like these other prophets, Ezekiel displayed great strength and did what God commanded him to do. It is something that I have to be mindful of and learn from Ezekiel to continue preaching and teaching even though I may be the only one doing the work or face opposition.
Conclusion
Ezekiel’s visions of the valley of dry bones and the two sticks offered the hope of salvation to Israel. This hope was offered despite all the gloom and doom that comes with being captive of enemy nations. Today, God continues to give the hope of salvation to those who are not Christians. He also gives hope and assurance to His children of eternal life in heaven if we remain faithful unto death. God is faithful and we can be assured that what He says will come to pass.
References:
Gossett, J. K., “Ezekiel, Old Testament Preacher Most Like Jesus”.
Liddell, Bobby, “Salvation of Israel” in Studies in Ezekiel.