One Kingdom, One King

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 37:15-28

 

Ezekiel 37:21-22

“Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; ²² and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.”

(NKJV)

 

To say we live in a world divided would be an understatement, but divisiveness in the world should not be surprising to believers, for division has been the tool of the devil since the Garden of Eden. The first thing the serpent told Eve was to question the one command God gave her and Adam, causing them to believe God was lying to them (Genesis 3:1-5). Once Satan planted this seed of doubt, it became easy for Adam and Eve to justify disobeying God, causing separation from God. Thankfully, God is merciful and gracious and has provided a path to reconciliation with God in Christ (Romans 5:10).

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord, telling Him to take two sticks and inscribe on them with one stick representing Judah and the other Israel (Ezekiel 37:15-16). Ezekiel is then to join the sticks together so they become one in his hand (Ezekiel 37:17). When he is asked what this means, Ezekiel is to tell them the sticks represent the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah that will be united into one nation (Ezekiel 37:18-20).

 

The Lord intends to unite Judah and Israel into one nation returning to their land (Ezekiel 37:22). No longer will Israel and Judah defile themselves with idols, detestable things, or transgressions with God delivering them from the places where they sinned (Ezekiel 37:23). David shall be king over them and they shall have one shepherd, walking in God’s judgments and observing His statutes (Ezekiel 37:24).

 

The united nation shall live in the land given by God to Jacob with David as prince forever (Ezekiel 37:25). God will make an everlasting covenant of peace with them with God establishing and multiplying them and set His sanctuary there forever (Ezekiel 37:26). This means God will be Israel’s God with them His people (Ezekiel 37:27). The nations shall also know that the Lord sanctifies Israel (Ezekiel 37:28).   

 

This prophecy from Ezekiel is a word from the Lord telling Israel that the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah will unite with David as their king. When Samuel served as judge over Israel, the nation asked for Samuel to appoint a king over them so they could be like the other nations (1 Samuel 8). After the failure of Saul as king, David was made king over Israel, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 13:1-15). While David’s son Solomon was considered wise with Israel thriving under his leadership, he turned from God, leading to the division of the kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 11:1-13, 12:1-24). This division of Israel led to a succession of kings, some good and some bad, with both Judah and Israel turning to idolatry and going into exile. This is the state of Israel and Judah when Ezekiel gives them a word from the Lord telling of the unification of the nations with one king, David, ruling over them. Since David had died, this prophecy could foretell of David as king over Israel during the Millennial reign of Jesus or a descendant of David, Jesus reigning as king. Whatever the interpretation of this prophecy, its words would have brought comfort to those in exile.

 

Revival will not come to a divided Church but to a Church united behind God’s word with the Lord as its shepherd. This is why the Church must guard against such divisiveness. Paul spoke harshly to the Church in Corinth regarding divisions over which Church leader they followed (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). These divisions made them carnal and unable to receive the solid food of the word of God, and still needing to feed on the milk of the word (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). A Church unified behind Christ that lives obediently to the new commandment of love for one another is a Church ready to bring revival to a hate-filled world (John 13:31-35).

 

Revival will also not come through a lukewarm Church that believes it is self-sufficient and comfortable in its wealth and prosperity, like the Church in Laodicea that left Jesus outside the door knocking (Revelation 3:14-22). A Church that brings revival is a Church empowered by the Holy Spirit, equipped with the Word of God, and the armor of God that encourages one another, unified with Christ. Please join me in praying for the Church to become ready to be the vehicle through which God will bring revival.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to make Jesus your savior or have grown lukewarm or cold in your walk with the Lord, I invite you to either commit your life to the Lord for the first time or rededicate your life to the Lord by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with baptism as a public confession of your faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.