Page 188 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

182 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.

those inflicted by Assyrian or Babylonian were before
them, of which law and prophets clearly forewarned;
but the word of Jehovah shall stand. And here again
it was revealed to the sorrowing captives for their con­
solation after their earlier exile and before the later
that they might be sustained in presence of such over­
whelming disasters by the sure hope of their national
revival under the gracious working of the Lord.
“ The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and carried me
out in the Spirit Qf Jehovah, and set me down in the
midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused
me to pass by them round about: and, behold, [there
were] very many in the open valley; and, lo, [they were]
very dry.” (Yers. 1, 2.) There is no disguise as to
the estimate intended of those meant by the bones in
the valley. There was not only no strength, but not
even life. In order to bring out this the more we readr
“ And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones
live? And I answered, O Lord Jehovah, thou know-
est.” (Yer. 3.) The impotence thus implied and con­
fessed opens the way for the word of the Lord.
“ Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, 0 ye
dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah. Thus saith the
Lord Jehovah unto these bones; Behold, I will cause
breath to enter into you, and ye shall live : and I will
lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you,
and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye
shall live, and ve shall know that I [am] Jehovah.”
(Yer. 4—6.)
Truly it was man’s extremity and God’s opportunity.
He is the God that quickens the dead; and where
should He exercise His glorious power if not on behalf