Day 254 Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 36-37

Ezekiel 36: New Covenant

[Overview]

The prophecy of Israel's restoration due to the emergence of a new leader, which began in chapter 34 of this book, expands to the land and the people in this chapter. In other words, it reveals that Israel's restoration will be achieved with the leader, the land, and the people as the axes. Since the content of this chapter mainly focuses on the restoration of Israel, the description of who will be the subject of the restoration is also emphasized more than in other chapters. For this reason, the prophet repeats the phrase, "Thus says the Lord God," ten times. In particular, this expression not only emphasizes the subject of the restoration but also indicates the most certain evidence for the fulfillment of the prophecy. This chapter is composed of the newly restored land and people (verses 1-15), God's holy name (verses 16-21), and the significance of Israel's restoration (verses 22-38).  Through this chapter, the recognition that the land of Israel belongs to God is further solidified. Although the land of Israel was invaded by Edom and foreign nations, it is still God’s domain, so God will surely restore it. 

Ezekiel 37: Restoration of Israel 

[Overview] 

This chapter metaphorically prophesies the method and result of the restoration of the people of Israel. In addition, this chapter opens up the theological horizon for the direction and method of God’s redemptive history that runs through the entire Old and New Testaments, the future prospects of God’s people, the perspective on the entire Bible, and the nature of the church in the New Testament era. This chapter, which contains these characteristics, is composed of the first half (verses 1-14) introducing the vision of the dry bones, the middle half (verses 15-23) describing the symbolism of the two sticks, and the second half (verses 24-28) describing the restoration of the five kingships.