CHAPTER 35
This chapter is about the condemnation of Edom for hating and betraying Israel. After Israel had already been punished by God, Edom tried to further punish Israel by planning to occupy the land. They claimed Israel had been given to them. They slandered God by boasting against Him.
God recognizes what Edom is doing and He punishes the Edomites by completely destroying them. He will fill the mountains with their dead. This is to let Edom know that God is the Lord, and He is in charge of dishing out punishment and not them.
CHAPTER 36
The salvation of Israel is what Chapter 36 is about. In the past, Israel had sinned by defiling her own land by shedding blood and worshiping idols. For this, God scattered the people among nations. This made the pagan nations to accuse God of not being able to take care of His own people. God decided to vindicate His own name through the following actions:
--1. He will give Israel crops.
--2. He will keep other nations from harming Israel.
--3. God will regather His people from among the nations where they had been scattered.
--4. God will bring His people back home to honor His name.
--5. God will regenerate His people by giving them new hearts.
--6. God will restore His people and allow them to rebuild their cities and harvest their crops.
--7. Israel will be His people and God will be their God.
CHAPTER 37
Ezekiel is given two symbols to illustrate what God would do to restore Israel.
--1. Skeleton are given to symbolize Israel's resurrection.
--2. Ezekiel is given two sticks to symbolize Israel's reunion.
Most people know the first symbol as the "Valley of Dry Bones" in Ezekiel 37:1-10. Ezekiel sees a valley piled full of dry bones. The bones suddenly reassemble themselves onto the proper skeleton. The bones become covered with muscles, flesh and skin. This means that God will someday give life to the nation of Israel that was dead.
My Personal Perspective: Almost everyone has heard a traditional preacher preach about the "Valley of Dry Bones." Unfortunately, they focus on putting "Dem Dry Bones" back together on the skeleton that they neglect to tell people the real meaning of the miracle.
Preachers preach the first symbol more than the second symbol where Ezekiel was given two sticks to represent Israel's reunion. Ezekiel takes two sticks and writes Juda on one of them and Ephrai on the other one. Then he puts the two sticks together in his hand. That means that God will one day reunite the northern and the southern kingdom of Israel and Judah. King David would rule over a united kingdom, and God would make an everlasting covenant of peace with Israel.
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