Ezekiel 37:15-28
Friday, 2 July 2021
“My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Ezekiel 37:27
Ezekiel was prophesying in the darkest times of Judah’s history. God had been giving him visions through which God clearly conveyed His plans for His people as well as His Temple! The people of Israel were divided as Israel and Judah. In our reading today God’s message to His people through the Prophet was that He will unite them. The benefits of this unity is further explained! What a glorious state it will be when God’s children stand united!!
This is applicable in today’s Church too. Many Christians are divided on issues which are silly – they find it difficult to accept another person who differ from their belief systems. But the Bible says in Romans 14:1 to “accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgement on his opinions.” Even people misinterpret the Word of God through their traditions for their convenience and make a religion out of it for themselves. Jesus categorically stated this in Mark 7:13 “thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
Among the many divisions existing, we see many believer families divided on issues that could easily be resolved through the Word of God. Even when these subtleties divide believers, God calls for unity – Jesus’s body was broken for uniting the body of Christ! Ephesians 2:14-16: “For He himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace.”
Now, let us look at what God will do if we stand united. Ezekiel 37:22- says “and I will make them one nation…”
There will be acceptance: V.23 – “They will no longer defile themselves … but I will deliver them …..and will cleanse them.” God says, He has a plan to cleanse them when they stand united! He continues to say that His acceptance of them as His own people is on the basis of their unity!!
There will be order – God says in V.24 there will be one shepherd over them. This is a prophecy that points to Jesus Christ. It says that there will be stability in their political system! Also this very verse state that they will walk and observe God’s ways. It is true that when there is chaos, God’s Word is thrown out!
There will be prosperity – V.25 – they will live on the land and their generations too. Again God promises that David My servant will be their prince forever. The reign of Christ in eternity is once more emphasized.
There will be multiplication: V.26 – God says, “I will make a covenant of peace with them. And I will place them and multiply them.”
Finally, God says that such people will be called His people.
If we believe that Jesus’s body was crushed to make peace by removing all differences, will we be obedient to God’s call to accept another brother /sister in Christ? Will such kind of a unity be established in our families so that God’s blessing as listed above can be poured out? Can our Churches practice such unity, so that the world around us will know that He is the LORD? (Ezekiel 37:28)
Think on: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers
to dwell together in unity!”
(Psalm133:1)