Ezekiel

Ezekiel 37: God gives life and unity

Begin in prayer

Before reading of dry bones coming to life, let us hear the Lord who answers His people's lost hope. Ask Him for still hearts, His presence with this family and eyes to see Christ as we read Ezekiel 37.

I will signal for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them; and they will increase as they have increased.

Zechariah 10:8

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us understand Your power to give life and see Jesus, the King who gathers His people and brings them near. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God brings Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones and commands him to speak His word over them. An earthquake comes, bones join, bodies form, and breath enters them so they stand as a great army. God identifies the bones as hopeless Israel and promises to open their graves, bring them home and give them His Spirit. Two joined sticks then picture His gathering Judah and Joseph into one nation under one king. God will cleanse them from their sins, and His servant David will shepherd them as their lasting prince. An everlasting covenant of peace brings God's sanctuary and dwelling among His people, showing the nations that He makes Israel holy.

As you read Ezekiel 37, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God gives His hopeless people life, gathers them under one King and dwells with them forever.

God identifies the dry bones with Israel's own despair, giving the vision an explanation before any meaning needs to be guessed. Ezekiel cannot answer whether the bones can live and leaves that question with the Lord who knows. Bodies without breath show the difference between being assembled and receiving the life God gives. His promise to open their graves and put His Spirit within them answers the complaint that they are cut off. Joined sticks address another wound, the division between Judah and Joseph that His gathering will end. One nation and one king mean the reunited people will no longer live as competing kingdoms. God cleanses them from idols so they can serve Him together and obey His commands under their shepherd David. The everlasting covenant and sanctuary make His abiding presence the goal of both renewed life and gathering. The nations will know the LORD as the One who makes Israel holy when His sanctuary is among them forever.

How does Ezekiel 37 show us that God gives His hopeless people life, gathers them under one King and dwells with them forever?

God gives life where hope has gone.

God identifies the dry bones as the whole house of Israel (verses 1 to 14). They say their hope is lost. He promises to open their graves, bring them home and put His Spirit in them so they live.

God gathers the divided under one king.

The sticks name Judah and Joseph with their companions (verses 15 to 23). God joins them as one nation under one king. He also saves and cleanses them from the sins that defiled them.

God dwells with His people forever.

God promises His servant David as one shepherd and lasting prince (verses 24 to 28). His people will obey His statutes. His everlasting covenant of peace brings His sanctuary and dwelling among them.

Memorize

I will put my Spirit in you, and you shall live.

Ezekiel 37:14

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where do I feel hopeless? Have I asked Jesus, who gives life, to help me?

To the dry bones God says, “I will put my Spirit in you, and you shall live”. Hopeless Israel hears a promise grounded in His power. He also promises one shepherd and His dwelling among a cleansed people. Life, unity and peace are gifts He brings about.

Jesus gathers His sheep into one flock under one Shepherd (John 10 verse 16). He died for His people, taking their sins upon Himself and bearing the condemnation they deserved. By His finished sacrifice He secured their peace with God, and His offering fully provides their salvation. He rose from death and gives life to those who trust Him.

Turn from your sin, and come to Jesus and trust Him. He welcomes every repentant sinner with forgiveness. Please ask Him for the life you cannot give yourself. Trust the Shepherd whose saving work brings His people near to God and teaches them to live under His good rule.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus died and rose to give life and gather His people to God. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for giving life and gathering His people under one Shepherd, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.

Colossians 2:13

Lord, thank You for power that gives life and mercy that brings guilty people near. Forgive our unbelief and the sins that divide us, and help each one repent and trust Jesus. Please give us living faith and teach us to follow the Shepherd who died and rose for His people. Amen.