Ezekiel 37:15-28

content/bible_journal/ezekiel_37:15-28.md

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+title = "Ezekiel 37:15–28"
+date = "2023-06-22"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel37.15-28)
+
+Now that the vision of the dry bones has been completed, Ezekiel brings
+another message of peace and restoration to the exiles. To make a visual
+aid for the Lord's message, he takes two sticks and writes on them the
+names "Judah" and "Ephraim". These were the names of the two main tribes
+of the southern and northern kingdoms of Israel, respectively. Though
+these were the main tribes, the sticks each represent all of the tribes of
+their kingdom.
+
+Ezekiel then joins the sticks together into one stick in his hand. The 
+people see this and they ask what he means by doing that. Now, they aren't
+stupid; it's obvious what that signifies, so I'm sure they have an idea.
+What they want him to do is to explain the details. He has their attention,
+and now they want him to speak clearly.
+
+He tells them that the Lord has plans to bring together all of His chosen
+people from the nations back to the land that He had promised their
+forefathers. No longer will they be two nations and kingdoms, but one
+people as they were before. When He does, He will set up His servant David
+to be their king forever. Their children will multiply and inhabit the
+land forever. But not only that, God Himself will set up His sanctuary on
+earth and permanently dwell with His people forever.
+
+Two sticks being brought together in a hand certainly mean something
+significant when the prophet of the Lord does it, but I doubt they expected
+all this. They had had the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah and Micah for
+about a hundred years by this point, but I don't think there was much 
+understanding about what His appearance would mean for them yet.
+
+* * *
+
+Your lovingkindness is bountiful and comforts Your people through all ages.