Ezekiel 37 National Restoration

And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.     Ezekiel 37:14

Ezekiel 37:1-14 – The Process of National Restoration – Illustrated

The “bones” picture two facts about the nation of Israel and its people as a group:

1) The words, “full of bones” picture the great number of ____ spiritually dead __________ Israelites from the time of the nation’s apostasy just before the Babylonian Captivity until the yet future restoration.

2) The ____ extended length _________ of time that Israel has been apostate for a significant length of time is needed to reach a “dry” state.

Two observations about this passage:

1) Clearly, the people of Ezekiel’s day ____ understood _____ this illustration of resurrection.

Interpretation Principle:

God always chooses illustrations that are something His listeners/readers can easily picture and understand if they take the time and effort. He never offers an illustration that is completely beyond their experience.

2) The key to this chapter is God’s ______ “breath” __________ – vv. 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14. This is the same Hebrew word used for the ___________ Holy Spirit _______________.

Initiating the Process

1) Ezekiel and the men that follow after him are to _______ preach the Word _________ - v. 4

Biblical Principle:

We always must remember to use Scripture when giving a testimony or presenting the Gospel, for it is only the authority of God’s Word that can be heard by spiritually dead people – Romans 10:17.

2) The second aspect is that ________ the Spirit ______________ convicts the individual of sin – John 16:7c, 8.

Ezekiel 37:15-23 – A Restored United Kingdom

God again uses another illustration - “two sticks,” representing the two-kingdom division that occurred after Solomon. At this future time, they will be  ________ joined _________ to become one united nation. – v. 17.