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Ezekiel 37:1-39:29; Ezekiel 32:1-16<\/strong><\/span> Ezekiel chapter 37 starts with a fascinating vision!\u00a0 This vision of the valley of dry bones is an allusion to the exiled Israelites.\u00a0 As God brings life and breath into the bones, he will do the same for the exiles, and bring them back to their home land.\u00a0 In a sense, bring them back to life!<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 14 sums up the purpose of this vision nicely \u2013 \u201cI will put my Spirit in you, and you will live and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I am the LORD.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Again, we hear the words, as we have so often in Ezekiel \u2013 \u201cthen you will know that I am the Lord.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Today in our lives, do we know that the Lord is the Lord?\u00a0 (please forgive this picture below\u2026 when I saw it I couldn\u2019t help posting it up\u2026\u00a0 sometimes you just have to put all kinds of different facts & info out there for people who pull into your parking lot. \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n Verses 15-23 are great \u2013 discussing the reunification of the two kingdoms of Israel since the time of Solomon.\u00a0 Israel will become one kingdom again.\u00a0 And verses 24 through 28 point toward the coming Messiah, Jesus.\u00a0 Verse 26 stands out \u2013 \u201cAnd I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Have you entered into this covenant of peace with God?\u00a0 The everlasting covenant?\u00a0 Have you opened the door to Jesus in your heart?\u00a0 Do you hear him knocking?\u00a0 \u00a0Maybe late at night, do you hear Jesus knocking?\u00a0 Offering you an everlasting covenant of peace?\u00a0 Will you open the door of your heart?<\/span><\/p>\n Ezekiel chapter 38 is very interesting, with a prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog.\u00a0 It will help you to know that Gog is mentioned in Revelation chapter 20 verses 7 & 8 as follows \u2013 \u201cWhen the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth\u2013Gog and Magog\u2013to gather them for battle.\u00a0 In number they are like the sand on the seashore.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This can help give some context for this chapter.\u00a0 This may be an end-times type of prophecy from Ezekiel.\u00a0 \u00a0Verse 22 tells us \u2013 \u201cI will punish you and your hordes with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur!\u201d <\/em>And, again, we close this chapter with some familiar powerful words from God \u2013 \u201cThus will I show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the LORD!\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Ezekiel chapter 39 continues the destruction of Gog! See yesterday\u2019s posting below for more details on who and what Gog may be.\u00a0 Verse 25 stands out to me in today\u2019s readings: \u201cSo now the Sovereign LORD says: I will end the captivity of my people; I will have mercy on Israel, for I am jealous for my holy reputation!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 We see that the exile is coming near to an end.\u00a0 Ezekiel and Jeremiah have been two pretty heavy books with prophecies against Israel.\u00a0 This chapter continues to show the redemption and return of the exiles from Babylon to Israel is soon coming.\u00a0 It is interesting that God is jealous for his holy reputation in the verse above\u2026\u00a0 are we ourselves also jealous for God\u2019s holy reputation?\u00a0 Should we be?<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 Ezekiel 39:25 reminded me of the fantastic song \u201cBlessed Be Your Name\u201d by Matt Redman!\u00a0 Here\u2019s Peter Furler performing a great live version of this song:<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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