View Ezekiel 37 in the note window.
The vision of the resurrection of the dry bones, ver. 1 - 10.
The explication of it, ver. 11 - 14
A type of the happy coalition which would be between Israel and
Judah, ver. 15 - 22.
A prediction of the kingdom of Christ, and of the glories and graces
of that kingdom, ver. 23 - 28.
1: And set me down - So it seemed to me in the vision. Which is a
lively representation of a threefold resurrection:
- Of the resurrection of souls, from the
death of sin, to the life of righteousness:
- The resurrection of the church from an
afflicted state, to liberty and peace:
- The resurrection of the body at the great day,
especially the bodies of believers to life eternal.
3: And he - The Lord.
7: Prophesied - Declared these promises. As I prophesied - While I
was prophesying. A noise - A rattling of the bones in their motion.
A shaking - A trembling or commotion among the bones, enough to manifest
a divine presence, working among them. Came together - Glided nearer and
nearer, 'till each bone met the bone to which it was to be joined.
Of all the bones of all those numerous slain, not one was missing, not
one missed its way, not one missed its place, but each knew and found
its fellow. Thus in the resurrection of the dead, the scattered atoms
shall be arranged in their proper place and order, and every bone come to
his bone, by the same wisdom and power by which they were first formed in
the womb of her that is with child.
8: Came up - Gradually spreading itself.
9: Prophesy - Declare what my will is. O breath - The soul, whose
emblem here is wind; which, as it gently blew upon these lifeless
creatures, each was inspired with its own soul or spirit.
10: And the breath - The spirit of life, or the soul, (Ge 2:7).
11: The whole house - The emblem of the house of Israel.
Are dried - Our state is as hopeless, as far from recovery, as
dried bones are from life.
12: I will open - Though your captivity be as death, your persons
close as the grave, yet I will open those graves.
16: One stick - A writing tablet or a tally, such as is fit to
be written upon. His companions - Benjamin and part of Levi, who
kept with the tribe of Judah. Ephraim - Ephraim was the most
considerable tribe in the kingdom of Israel, when divided from
the other two. The house of Israel - The other nine tribes, who
continued with Ephraim.
19: In mine hand - Under my government, care, and blessing. God will
make the two kingdoms one in his hand, as I make these two sticks one in
my hand.
22: One nation - They were one in David's time, who was a type
of the Messiah, and continued so to the end of Solomon's time, whose
name includes peace. So when the Beloved, the Peace - maker, the Messiah
shall be king, they shall be one again. And one king - The Messiah.
23: I will save - I will bring them safe out of them.
And will cleanse - Both justify and sanctify them.
24: David - The son of David. One shepherd - This king shall be
their one chief shepherd, others that feed and rule the flock, are
so by commission from him.
25: For ever - 'Till Christ's coming to judgment, the Jews
converted to Christ, shall inherit Canaan.
26: My sanctuary - I will set up a spiritual glorious temple, and
worship among you. For evermore - Never to be altered or abolished on
earth, but to be consummated in heaven.
27: My tabernacle - The tabernacle wherein I will shew my presence
among them. Their fathers had a tabernacle, but the Messiah shall bring
with him a better, a spiritual, and an heavenly.
They shall be my people - By my grace I will make them holy, as the people
of a holy God; and I will make them happy, as the people of the ever
blessed God.
