From Dry Bones to Final Victory: God’s Restoration and Triumph
- Be God's Glory
- Sep 12
- 10 min read
Welcome to Day 255 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are in the book of Ezekiel. These three chapters present a sweeping vision of God’s power to restore, defend, and glorify His people. In chapter 37, God shows Ezekiel the famous vision of the valley of dry bones, symbolizing Israel’s spiritual renewal and national restoration. In chapter 38, God reveals a prophetic warning of an end-times battle against Gog of Magog, a leader representing nations that rise up against God’s people. Finally, in chapter 39, God demonstrates His ultimate victory over these enemies, proving His holiness before all nations. Together, these chapters declare God’s authority over death, His sovereignty over nations, and His faithfulness to restore His people and vindicate His name.
Ezekiel 37
Ezekiel 37 begins with a powerful vision where the prophet is set in a valley filled with dry bones, representing the hopelessness of Israel in exile. God asks Ezekiel if the bones can live, and at God’s command, Ezekiel prophesies, causing the bones to come together, flesh to grow, and breath to enter them. This illustrates God’s promise to spiritually and physically revive Israel, bringing them back from despair and scattering. The second part of the chapter uses the imagery of two sticks—one representing Judah and the other Israel—joined together in Ezekiel’s hand. This symbolizes God’s plan to reunite the divided kingdoms under one shepherd, a prophecy pointing ultimately to the reign of the Messiah, the “servant David.” The chapter emphasizes that restoration comes only through God’s Spirit, and His presence will dwell among His people forever.
Ezekiel 38
Chapter 38 introduces Gog of the land of Magog, described as a powerful leader who gathers nations from the north to attack Israel in the latter days. God reveals that although Gog plans destruction, it is He who will bring Gog against His people to demonstrate His power. Israel is described as a land restored from war, living in peace when this massive invasion comes. Yet God declares that He will intervene dramatically with earthquakes, torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone to destroy the armies. This passage points to God’s sovereignty over world events, showing that even the most formidable powers cannot prevail against His people. The chapter also foreshadows end-times battles where God defends His chosen nation for the sake of His name.
Ezekiel 39
In chapter 39, God continues the prophecy against Gog, detailing his defeat and the aftermath of the battle. Gog’s armies will fall on the mountains of Israel, and their destruction will be so vast that it will take Israel seven months to bury the dead and cleanse the land. This portrays the complete and undeniable nature of God’s judgment. The chapter also includes a symbolic feast prepared for the birds and beasts of the earth, where they consume the fallen armies—emphasizing God’s decisive victory. Importantly, God declares that through this judgment, all nations will know that He is the Lord, and Israel will recognize His faithfulness in restoring them. The conclusion highlights God’s covenant love, as He promises never again to hide His face from His people but to pour out His Spirit upon them.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The name Ezekiel comes from the Hebrew name Yehezqel, which means “God strengthens” or “God is my strength.” This meaning is significant in the context of the book because Ezekiel is called by God to strengthen the faith of Israel and uphold God’s authority in the midst of the nation’s exile and rebellion.
Purpose of the Book:
The book of Ezekiel was written primarily to warn, convict, and comfort the people of Israel during their exile in Babylon (c. 593–571 BC). Its purposes include:
Warning of Judgment: To declare God’s judgment on Israel for their idolatry, rebellion, and unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 5:5–17).
Encouraging Repentance: To call the people to repentance and restore hope for the remnant who return to God (Ezekiel 18:30–32).
Revealing God’s Sovereignty and Glory: Through vivid visions, symbolic acts, and prophetic messages, the book emphasizes that God is sovereign over all nations, not just Israel (Ezekiel 1:26–28; 36:22–23).
Promising Restoration: Ezekiel concludes with promises of renewal for Israel, including the vision of the valley of dry bones and the restored temple, symbolizing spiritual revival and national restoration (Ezekiel 37:1–28; 40–48).
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The book of Ezekiel is attributed to the prophet Ezekiel, a priest and prophet among the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Evidence for his authorship includes:
Biblical References:
Ezekiel repeatedly identifies himself in the text as the recipient of God’s visions and messages (Ezekiel 1:3, 2:1, 3:4).
The Book of 2 Kings 24–25 provides historical context about the Babylonian exile, confirming the timeframe of Ezekiel’s ministry.
Extra-Biblical Support:
The Jewish historian Josephus in Antiquities of the Jews (Book 10, Chapter 10) references Ezekiel as a prophet active during the Babylonian exile, confirming the traditional attribution.
The Talmud (Babylonian Talmud, tractate Megillah 14b) also recognizes Ezekiel as the author of the prophetic book that bears his name.
Internal Evidence: The first-person accounts, vivid visions, and symbolic actions consistently present throughout the book strongly suggest a single author with intimate knowledge of priestly practices and the Babylonian exile experience.
Key People:
Ezekiel – The prophet and main figure, called by God to deliver messages of warning, judgment, and hope.
God (YHWH) – Central figure of the book, revealed in powerful visions and messages.
King Jehoiachin – King of Judah taken into Babylonian exile, mentioned in Ezekiel 1:2 and 24:1–2.
Other Israelites – The people of Israel, often depicted as rebellious and in need of correction (Ezekiel 2:3–5; 18:2–3).
Foreign Nations – Babylon, Tyre, Egypt, Ammon, Moab, and Edom, who are often referenced in prophecies of judgment (Ezekiel 25–32).
Conclusion
The book of Ezekiel concludes with a powerful message of hope, restoration, and God’s enduring presence. Despite Israel’s rebellion and judgment, God promises to gather His people, cleanse them from sin, and restore them to their land. The final chapters (Ezekiel 40–48) present a vision of a renewed temple and a reestablished covenant community, symbolizing spiritual revival and the assurance that God remains faithful to His promises. The overarching theme is that God is holy, sovereign, and faithful, and He works through judgment and restoration to fulfill His purposes for His people.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:
Ezekiel 37
In Ezekiel 37, God reveals Himself as the One who brings life where there is only death and hopelessness. His character is full of compassion, power, and restoration, showing that no situation is beyond His reach. He demonstrates that renewal comes not by human strength, but by His Spirit breathing new life into His people.
The name Ruach, meaning “Spirit, wind, or breath,” is central in this chapter as God’s Spirit brings life to the dry bones. This teaches us that apart from God’s Spirit, life is empty, but with Him, there is hope and restoration. God shows He is the One who unites, revives, and restores His people under His eternal covenant.
Ezekiel 38
In Ezekiel 38, God reveals Himself as sovereign over the nations and history itself. Though Gog rises with great power, God makes clear that no ruler or army can move without His allowance. His character is shown as both just and holy, using even enemy plans to glorify His name.
There are no direct Hebrew names of God highlighted in this chapter, but His sovereignty shines through His actions. The lesson is that God alone controls the future and the fate of nations. Even when enemies rise against His people, He demonstrates His authority, proving that He is the Defender of Israel and the Keeper of His promises.
Ezekiel 39
In Ezekiel 39, God’s character is revealed as victorious, holy, and faithful to His covenant people. He shows that He alone is the Deliverer who defeats His enemies and vindicates His name before the nations. His justice is thorough, but His mercy restores His people to Himself.
This chapter highlights God’s faithfulness more than His Hebrew names, showing that He never abandons His covenant. The lesson is that God’s ultimate purpose is not only to judge but to make Himself known to all nations and to dwell with His people forever. His character calls us to trust in His power to overcome evil and to rest in His unchanging faithfulness.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
How does God’s ability to bring life to the dry bones in Ezekiel 37 reveal His power over hopeless and dead situations?
What does God’s role as the unifier of Israel (joining the two sticks) teach us about His desire for reconciliation?
In Ezekiel 38, how does God’s sovereignty over Gog and the nations show His control of world events?
What do God’s judgments in Ezekiel 38–39 reveal about His holiness and justice?
How is God’s faithfulness to His covenant people displayed in the promise of restoration in Ezekiel 39?
What does the repeated emphasis that “they shall know that I am the Lord” teach us about God’s desire to be known?
How do these chapters together reveal God as both Judge of the nations and Restorer of His people?
Questions About Themes:
What is the significance of the vision of dry bones in relation to Israel’s exile and future restoration?
How does the imagery of breath/Spirit in Ezekiel 37 connect to the theme of spiritual renewal?
What do the prophecies against Gog in Ezekiel 38–39 symbolize about the enemies of God’s people?
How does God’s dramatic intervention against Gog highlight the theme of His ultimate victory?
What is the significance of the birds and beasts feasting on the defeated armies in Ezekiel 39?
How do these chapters show the balance between judgment and hope?
What role does God’s glory and His reputation among the nations play in these prophecies?
Reflective Application Questions:
In what areas of your life do you feel like “dry bones,” and how can you invite God’s Spirit to breathe new life there?
How does the truth that God unites His people challenge you to pursue reconciliation in your relationships?
When facing overwhelming challenges, how does remembering God’s sovereignty over the nations give you peace?
What can you learn from God’s faithfulness to Israel that encourages you to trust Him with your personal promises?
How can you live in a way that makes others “know the Lord” through your testimony, as God intended for Israel?
What does God’s total victory over Gog teach you about trusting Him when evil seems powerful in the world?
How can you rest in God’s justice rather than seeking to take matters into your own hands?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
Comments