Ezekiel 37-39; Psalm 87; John 13
The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones is a vivid illustration of the power of God, which will restore Israel in the future. This will be a clearly supernatural act. It will be associated with the New Covenant: “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant” (Ezek. 37:26); “…and they will follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws” (Ezek. 37:24). This will happen during the second coming of the Messiah: “My servant David will be King over them, and they will all have one shepherd…” (Ezek. 37:24). This speaks of the future restoration of Israel: “Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy…” (Ezek. 37:28).
The prophecy of Gog in the land of Magog refers to the events of the final battle when all nations of the earth will gather to wage war against Israel, as mentioned in Revelation 20:7. God, having allowed this confrontation, will at a certain moment strike the enemies of His people with fire from heaven: “I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel” (Ezek. 39:6).
Psalm 87
Jerusalem is depicted as the place of the Messiah’s reign, which brings a special blessing to all who were born and live in it. This image points to the blessings of belonging to the kingdom of the Messiah: “All my fountains are in you” (Psalm 86:7).
John 13
The following chapters describe the events of the final evening before the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. By washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus demonstrates true love, expressed in humble service even to those He knows will abandon Him in His time of greatest need, betray Him, and deny Him. Jesus does this by understanding their weaknesses and caring about helping them eventually overcome them. Here, He also presents the New Commandments. The former commandment said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39), while the New Commandment says, “Love one another as I have loved you…” (John 13:34). The love of Jesus Christ is the highest form of love. Only by being filled with Christ can we be filled with His love to love as He loves. This will be the greatest testimony to those around us (John 13:35).
The prophecy of Gog in the land of Magog refers to the events of the final battle when all nations of the earth will gather to wage war against Israel, as mentioned in Revelation 20:7. God, having allowed this confrontation, will at a certain moment strike the enemies of His people with fire from heaven: “I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel” (Ezek. 39:6).
Psalm 87
Jerusalem is depicted as the place of the Messiah’s reign, which brings a special blessing to all who were born and live in it. This image points to the blessings of belonging to the kingdom of the Messiah: “All my fountains are in you” (Psalm 86:7).
John 13
The following chapters describe the events of the final evening before the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. By washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus demonstrates true love, expressed in humble service even to those He knows will abandon Him in His time of greatest need, betray Him, and deny Him. Jesus does this by understanding their weaknesses and caring about helping them eventually overcome them. Here, He also presents the New Commandments. The former commandment said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39), while the New Commandment says, “Love one another as I have loved you…” (John 13:34). The love of Jesus Christ is the highest form of love. Only by being filled with Christ can we be filled with His love to love as He loves. This will be the greatest testimony to those around us (John 13:35).
Posted in Reading Bible Together