I’ve never been a big fan of reunions. Somehow the idea of getting together with a bunch of people you haven’t seen or even talked to in years so that you can all try to impress each other just isn’t something that I look forward to. And as I get older, the thought of taking part in a high school reunion becomes less and less appealing. Maybe it’s because, as someone once said, “Old age is when former classmates are so gray and wrinkled and bald, they don't recognize you.”
Now family reunions are a bit better, because all the other people are related to you so you really don’t have to try to impress them quite as much. But it is still a bit awkward to stand with a blank look on your face while somebody says, “You remember your third cousin’s ex wife’s step brother, Billy Bob, don’t’ you?”
Fortunately for us, Ezekiel describes another kind of reunion, one that all of God’s people can look forward to with great anticipation. So go ahead and turn in your Bibles to Ezekiel 37 and we’ll begin in a moment with verse 15.
Since this passage lends itself to a systematic study, we’ll look at it in sections and we’ll consider how this applies to our own lives within each of those sections rather than leaving all the applications to the end of the message.
You’ll remember that Ezekiel is writing here to the people of Judah who are in exile in Babylon. They have been taken from their land and their city of Jerusalem and their Temple have been destroyed. But in this passage, God, through another object lesson given to Ezekiel, shows His people that there are four specific things that they can look forward to in the future that should give them hope right then and there. Each of the four reunion experiences that God’s people are going to undergo will provide a great reversal of the hopelessness and despair that they are currently facing.
1. God’s people reconciled – from division to unity (vv. 15-22)
Once again, God uses an object lesson to demonstrate to Ezekiel and to His people His future plans for them – plans that Jeremiah described as plans for “a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Let’s read the account of that object lesson beginning in verse 15:
15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 17 And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. 18 And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ 19 say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. 20 When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, 21 then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. 22 And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms.
If you were with us during the time that Pastor Dana taught the Old Testament overview a couple of years ago, you may remember that this particular passage is a key to understanding the overall structure of the Bible and the overarching theme of Scripture.
But before we focus on that aspect of this passage, I feel compelled to address briefly one of the ways that this passage has been misused. Normally, I’d much rather focus on what the text means than what it doesn’t mean, but this particular interpretation is so widespread that it is quite likely that we’ll run across it and I want us all to be prepared to deal with this particular false teaching.
The Mormons teach that this passage contains a reference to Joseph Smith and that it confirms the validity of the Book of Mormon as Scripture. In order to do that, they insist that the word translated “stick” in this passage could be translated “scroll” and that therefore in this object lesson Ezekiel is joining together two scrolls. In order to make that claim they have to take a Hebrew word that is derived from a word that means “tree” and is translated “tree”, “timber”, “wood”, “stick” or something similar everywhere else in the Old Testament and somehow translate that same word “scroll” in this text only.
They further go on to claim that the “scroll” on which Ezekiel writes “for Joseph” is the Book of Mormon and that the Joseph referred to here is Joseph Smith. According to their teaching that “scroll” is then joined with the “scroll” of Judah, which is the Bible, to prove that the Book of Mormon is indeed inspired Scripture.
The obvious problems with interpreting this passage in this manner are too many to address this morning. I’ve already addressed the translation issue with the word for “stick”, but the even more egregious mistake is that they have completely ignored the context of the passage. God’s interpretation of the object lesson makes it clear that the two sticks represent the two houses of Israel and Judah, not the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
As I mentioned, this passage is a key to unlocking the underlying theme of Scripture. If you’ve been here for any length of time at all, you’ve seen this diagram before. [PowerPoint diagram] It is the one Pastor Dana developed for our Old Testament overview class more than two years ago. It shows that the entire Bible is built on the concept of reconciliation – the reconciliation of the two houses of Israel as well as the reconciliation of man to God through Jesus, the Messiah.
Since this is so crucial let’s take a few minutes to examine these concepts in a bit more detail.
After the death of King Solomon his son, Rehoboam, became king. But when he continued the heavy taxation commenced under his father’s rule, the ten northern tribes united under Jeroboam, who was from the tribe of Ephraim, and revolted. The two tribes of Benjamin and Judah, along with the Levites remained loyal to Rehoboam and formed the southern kingdom of Judah, with its capital in Jerusalem. Although we often use the term “Jews” to refer to the entire commonwealth of Israel, technically the term refers only to the inhabitants of the southern kingdom of Judah. The remaining ten tribes became the northern kingdom of Israel, with its capital in Samaria.
Because Jeroboam did not want his subjects to go to Jerusalem to worship during the feasts, he set up golden calves in Dan and Bethel, at the two extremities of the kingdom, as symbols of God. This began the idolatrous worship that continued through the history of Israel and led to their fall in 722 BC at the hands of the Assyrians.
Although there had been some attempts to re-unify the two kingdoms, especially during the reign of King Abijah of Judah, that goal had never been accomplished by human hands. And now that the northern kingdom no longer existed and the people had been scattered among the surrounding nations and the southern kingdom lay in ruins that seemed even more impossible.
But just as we have seen consistently throughout the Old Testament prophets, God promised that one day He was going to reverse the division that existed and unify the two kingdoms again. And He commands Ezekiel to participate in the object lesson described in this passage to make this real to the people.
The process of reconciling the two house of Israel is a theme that runs throughout the Bible and which will culminate in the events recorded in the Book of Revelation. That process was initiated during the first coming of Jesus, the Messiah and is described very clearly by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians:
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands - remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Ephesians 2:11-16 (ESV)
When Paul refers to the Gentiles here, that group includes the descendants of the ten tribes of the northern kingdom who had been scattered throughout the surrounding nations and who no longer were identifiable as a separate people. Notice that Paul reminds them that they have been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel. But Jesus, through His shed blood, has provided the opportunity for them to be reconciled spiritually with the Jews, and with each other.
But we know that the prophecy here in Ezekiel hasn’t been completely fulfilled yet since the people of both Judah and Israel have not been physically planted back into the land God had promised them and they certainly don’t have one king ruling over them. That final fulfillment awaits the return of the Messiah, Jesus, the seed of David who will rule over the united kingdom.
As important as the reconciliation of Judah and Israel is, it is only one component of an even more significant act of reconciliation that Paul describes in the passage we just read – the reconciliation of man to God through Jesus the Messiah. As Paul points out clearly, peace between Judah and Israel can only occur because they have both been reconciled to God through the cross.
Because this is such an important concept, I’ve spent a lot of time here, but let’s not leave this point until we see how we can apply it in our lives.
• Application: Each person must be reconciled to God through Jesus
Although this passage deals primarily with two nations, as we have seen, reconciliation with others requires that we must first be reconciled with God. And the Scripture is clear that there is only one way to do that. As Paul pointed out in Ephesians 2, all of us were separated from Christ at one time. As a result, we were without hope and without God. But God has provided the means for us to draw near to Him through the blood of Christ.
But just because God has provided the means to be reconciled to Him doesn’t mean that everyone automatically is made right with God. Each of us must individually choose to accept what Jesus has done for us on the cross and trust in His finished work alone as the basis for being reconciled with Him. We aren’t reconciled merely by being part of a Christian family or by coming to church, or by trying to live a good a moral life.
This familiar passage from Romans 10 makes it clear what we need to do to accept the reconciliation that God offers us through Jesus:
…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 (ESV)
First, we must believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins and we must trust in His finished work alone as the way we can have a relationship with Him. And secondly, we must make Jesus our Lord – we must allow Him to take control of our lives.
If you’ve never made that decision, then please don’t leave here today until you’ve been reconciled with God. If you’d like to discuss that further, please see Pastor Dana or me after the service or fill out the flap of your bulletin and place it in the offering plate.
• Application: Unity in the church results from focusing on Jesus
The main reason that Judah and Israel were divided in the first place is that they lost their focus on God. As a result, they began to direct their attention to those things on which they disagreed rather than on the God who they had in common.
The same thing often happens in the church. When we start focusing on those things on which we may not agree rather than on Jesus, we damage the unity of the body. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul stressed the importance of focusing on Jesus as a means of promoting unity:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossian 3:1, 2 (ESV)
Because we are humans, with our own preference, wishes and desires, we’re not always going to see eye to eye on everything. And there is certainly nothing wrong with discussing those issues in a civil manner. But ultimately what will keep those issues from becoming divisive is that we all keep our focus on the one thing that unites us – the person of Jesus.
We’ll deal with the next three sections more quickly.
2. God’s people redeemed – from rebellion to obedience (vv. 23-24)
23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
24 “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes.
The root cause of the split of the two kingdoms and their demise had been their rebellion against God, especially in their worship. But God promised that one day He would redeem His people from their sin and cleanse them so that they could once again be His people and He would be their God.
Originally, God had given His people the Law for their own good. It was to be a guide on how to live in a manner that would be the most beneficial for them. It would protect their dignity. But living in obedience to the Law was also to be the way in which God’s people would distinguish themselves from the nations around them for the purpose of bringing glory to God.
Throughout their history, God’s people continually allowed themselves to be influenced by and incorporated into the culture of the surrounding nations. And as a result they lost their distinctiveness as a people. By Ezekiel’s time, the northern kingdom of Israel no longer existed as an identifiable people and it wouldn’t be too much longer until much of Judah would suffer the same fate.
But when Jesus returns, he is going to establish His rule, first here on earth and eventually in the new heaven and new earth. And when the commonwealth of Israel recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, they are going to repent and regain their distinctiveness as a people by being obedient to Him
• Application: As we maintain our distinctiveness by obeying Jesus, we bring glory to God
If, like me, you’ve been watching some of the Winter Olympics over the past couple of weeks, you’ve noticed that even though there are many things that all of the athletes share in common, they still manage to maintain their distinctiveness as separate nations. This is primarily accomplished through the differing uniforms that they wear and it is confirmed by the announcers that proclaim, in both English and French, which nation that they are representing.
As followers of Jesus, our citizenship is in heaven and we are merely aliens and sojourners here on this earth. And while we’re here, we maintain our distinctiveness not by wearing a certain uniform or by having someone announce that we’re Christ followers, but by obeying the commands of Jesus. Peter explains that very clearly:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:9-12 (ESV)
Since we are God’s people, we are to be identified by our conduct. As we’ve clearly seen this morning, our good conduct cannot provide us with reconciliation with God, but once we have been reconciled our behavior should clearly identify us as God’s people. Out of gratitude for God’s mercy in our lives, we are to obey the commands of Jesus so that others will easily be able to identify us as His children and so that God will ultimately get glory.
3. God’s people restored – from barrenness to fruitfulness (vv. 25-26)
25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
As we have consistently seen in the Old Testament prophets, when Jesus, described here as “David my servant”, returns, the commonwealth of Israel – all 12 tribes – will be restored to the land that God had promised to them. As we saw last week, that is a huge area of land that is far greater than the tiny sliver of land that now comprises the nation of Israel.
But not only is God going to restore the people to the land, he is going to restore the land to its original fruitfulness – and even beyond. Because of their rebellion, Israel had seen their land ravaged by locusts, as we saw in Joel. Their land had consistently been overrun by foreign armies. Jerusalem had been sacked and the Temple destroyed on multiple occasions. And as a result the people had experienced barrenness in the land.
But when Jesus returns, He is going to reverse all that and make the land fruitful beyond description. As we saw in Joel 2, He is going to restore all the years that the locusts had eaten and the harvest will be so great that the vats will overflow with oil and wine. As we saw in Amos 9, the harvest will be so plentiful that the harvesters will be overrun by those who are planting the next crop. And as we see here, even the people will be fruitful and multiply.
• Application: I can only be fruitful as I stay connected to Jesus
The reason that the Israelites had become unfruitful was that they had not stayed connected to God. When they originally entered the Promised Land, they failed to rid the land of the foreign influences as God had commanded them to do. And because of that sin, it wasn’t long until the pagan nations around them began to influence them and draw them away from God and their spiritual fruit began to wither.
As Jesus prepared to go to the cross, He was concerned that His disciples might fall prey to that same kind of trap if they didn’t focus on staying connected to Him. So, as they walked through a vineyard together, He shared these words with them:
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
John 15:5-8 (ESV)
The only way that we can remain fruitful in our lives is to stay connected to Jesus as we pursue a relationship with Him through his Word, prayer and by ministering to others in His name.
4. God’s people reposed – from distress to rest (vv. 27-28)
27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”
Ezekiel 37 ends with a beautiful picture of an intimate relationship between God and His people. God will be with them – He will be their God and they will be His people.
God’s presence with His people is pictured here and in verse 26 as God refers to His sanctuary which will be set in their midst forevermore. This is almost certainly a reference to what is known as the Millennial Temple, which is described in great detail in Ezekiel 40-48.
Before we go any further, let me point out that there are some things here in our passage and some things about that Millennial Temple that raise some questions that frankly we just can’t answer based on what God has revealed to us so far. For instance, you may have noted that in verse 25, God promises that Israel will live in the land that He has promised to them “forever.” Although that period seems quite clearly to commence with the return of Jesus and extend through the end of His literal 1,000 year reign here on earth, how does that relate to the new heavens and earth and the New Jerusalem that descends from heaven at the end of that period?
We also see that God’s sanctuary will be in their midst “forevermore.” Once again it seems quite clear that there will be a physical temple built in the Promised Land during the millennial reign of Jesus. But since we know that Revelation 21 reveals that there will be no temple in the New Jerusalem because God Almighty and Jesus will be its temple, how is it possible for God’s sanctuary to be in their midst “forevermore”?
Although we certainly don’t have enough information at this point in time to make any dogmatic conclusions, the most likely explanation is that when the New Jerusalem descends from heaven, it then becomes the new home for all Israel and is a continuation of them dwelling in the land forever. At that same time, God the Father and Jesus also become the temple and there is no doubt that they are permanently set in the midst of God’s people forevermore.
But regardless of how the details play out, here is what we can know for sure. When Jesus returns, His people are going to move from a long period of distress to an even longer period of rest in the presence of God. They will physically be in the presence of Jesus and at long last experience the ultimate fulfillment of these words of Jesus:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
• Application: We find rest by pursuing a relationship with God
We live in a world that is full of stress and distress and it’s hard to find rest. But recent scientific studies have shown the importance of rest for our physical well being. A lack of sleep has been shown to increase the likelihood of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and several forms of cancer.
But it is just as important to find rest spiritually as well. What we see in the last part of Ezekiel 37 is a picture of people who have an intimate love relationship with God. They are permanently in His presence, knowing Him better day by day and worshipping Him constantly. Fortunately for us, we don’t have to wait for the return of Jesus to experience that same kind of relationship. We have His Word; we have the ability to communicate with Him in prayer; and we are in the midst of a body of believers who can encourage us in our relationship with Him.
Perhaps one of the reasons that Psalm 23 is so treasured by so many believers is that it captures the essence of what it means to rest in God by pursuing a relationship with Him. So let’s close our time this morning by reading that passage out loud together. As we read, let’s take it slowly, savoring each word and phrase and we meditate on our relationship with God.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 23:1-6 (ESV)
