One Kingdom, One King
March 7, 2022
Commentary
In this chapter, Ezekiel reveals how Israel (God’s people) will be restored to their land from many parts of the world. Once Israel is back in the land and becomes strong, a confederacy of nations from the north will attack, led by Gog (Rev. 20:6). They will come to destroy God’s people.
At the time of Israel’s future restoration, there will be one commonwealth, not two divided kingdoms (vv. 15-23). By the time of the captivities the tribal distinctives were breaking down. Some individuals were not living in their original geographic boundaries. Thus, we read of Judah and Israel as companions. Joseph has. reference to the northern kingdom. Because of their numerical greatness, the descendants of Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and, Manasseh, were each allotted land as a tribe. We see a national unity of all the tribes together, being ruled by one king and being in spiritual unity by virtue of their regeneration (vv. 21-23).
David my servant must mean the greater Son of David coming out of the loins of King David (vv. 24-28) (II Sam 7:12-13). The many references dealing with the future reign speak of one king, not of a king and a vice-regent. The nature of this king and his kingdom is that it will be in the land (v. 25); it will be for ever (v. 25); it will be peaceful (v. 26); there will be a sanctuary or temple (v. 26); and God’s presence will be with them (v. 26). God’s promise here goes beyond the physical and geographical restoration of Israel (vv. 26-27). He promises to breathe new spiritual life into His people so that their hearts and attitudes will be right with him and unified with one another. This same process is described throughout God’s Word as the cleansing and renewing of our hearts by God’s Spirit (Titus 3:4-6).
Application
God promises to breath new spiritual life into His people so their hearts and attitudes will be right with Him and united with one another. I want to operate my life in a spirit of unity.
Ezekiel 37:15– 28 (NET)
15 The Lord’s message came to me: 16 “As for you, son of man, take one branch and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another branch and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the branch of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 17 Join them as one stick; they will be as one in your hand. 18 When your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what these things mean?’ 19 tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to take the branch of Joseph that is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will place them on the stick of Judah and make them into one stick—they will be one in my hand.’ 20 The sticks you write on will be in your hand in front of them. 21 Then tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to take the Israelites from among the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from round about and bring them to their land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over them all. They will never again be two nations and never again be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will not defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, and all their rebellious deeds. I will save them from all their unfaithfulness by which they sinned. I will purify them; they will become my people, and I will become their God.
24 “‘My servant David will be king over them; there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow my regulations and carefully observe my statutes. 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your fathers lived; they will live in it—they and their children and their grandchildren forever. David my servant will be prince over them forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be a perpetual covenant with them. I will establish them, increase their numbers, and place my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then, when my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel.’”
Illustration: Putting Candles Out at a Wedding Ceremony
During the wedding it is interesting to see whether they leave the individual candles aglow or put them out. At a recent wedding, the bride and groom put the individual candles back into their holders with the flames burning. Then the bride, with an impish gleam in her eye, bent over and blew out her husband’s candle. The congregation burst into laughter. Later, one fellow commented: “During the marriage ceremony two become one — on the honeymoon they discover which one.” (from Parables, etc 5/83 pg. 5)