Looking for Hope
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Key Verse: “[I] 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.” Selected Scripture: |
MANY STUDENTS OF THE BIBLE appreciate the Key Verse and scriptural reading of this week’s lesson as pertaining to the regathering and restoration of the nation of Israel in the present closing years of this Gospel Age.
Ezekiel was carried away in the spirit to a place filled with bones. This was during Israel’s time of captivity in Babylon, and served to give hope of a future time when the “bones,” representing their nation, would be brought to life again. He wrote, “He said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.” (Ezek. 37:3-5) God’s long-term promise that there was indeed hope, and that the breath of life would return and revive these bones, once more was to be fulfilled.
As the scriptural record continues, we note the manner in which the prophetic vision unfolds. We read, “I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.”—vs. 6
The bony framework, in being brought together, portrays the great power of Almighty God to bring life once again to these dry and lifeless bones. First come the sinews of strength that hold the skeleton together. Next come the flesh that provides identity, and the skin that covers the entire body to complete the building process. The organism is then to be energized by the Spirit of God that gives it life.
The prophet then continues to describe this wonderful event. He says that he heard a great noise and felt a shaking as the bones came together, one bone to another. He says, “When I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.” (vs. 8) The breath of life was the remaining factor, but in this connection he continues to prophesy as he was commanded, “Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.”—vs. 9
It was the breath of life, that energizing factor, that would give meaning to these regathered bones of Israel. Continuing, we read further in the account, “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.”—vs. 10
One of the most remarkable events of history has been the regathering of Israel to their own homeland. This land was under foreign domination for many centuries. As events of our time continue to unfold, Bible scholars anxiously watch what is taking place in Israel. Although they have been brought back as a nation to the Holy Land, they have yet to recognize God’s great power on their behalf. Soon, we believe, the breath of life will restore them to a full relationship with God once again. For this we earnestly pray.