Spiritual Gems for the Week of April 19-25, 2027

Ezekiel 37:5, 6. How was this prophecy fulfilled in the case of the anointed? (rr p. 114 par. 9; p. 117 par. 14).

Answer 1: The prophecy had a major fulfillment in the congregation of anointed Christians, the Israel of God. Just as the ancient nation of Israel was symbolically dead, the anointed as a group went through a captivity comparable to death. Therefore, the promise to restore life to those bones represented a spiritual restoration. It did not refer to a literal resurrection of the anointed but to the congregation’s coming out of that captive condition.

Answer 2: One significant detail is that the bones were very dry. This fit with how long the captivity of the anointed congregation would last. It began in the second century C.E. and continued for many centuries. It was therefore not a brief interruption of their spiritual activity. The explanation relates that long period to Jesus’ illustration about the wheat and the weeds. The condition of the bones reflected the situation of the anointed as a whole during that captivity.

Answer 3: The fulfillment was also connected with the beginning of Jesus Christ’s reign. The explanation indicates that the main restoration would take place shortly after Jesus began exercising authority as King. This is related to Ezekiel 37:24, where David foreshadows Jesus Christ. Thus, the spiritual recovery of the anointed does not appear as an isolated event; the prophecy places it in connection with the rule of the King whom Jehovah had appointed. That restoration took place in 1919.

Answer 4: In 1919, Jehovah put his spirit upon his people. That was why the anointed came to life again in a spiritual sense and were released from captivity in Babylon the Great. Therefore, the fulfillment is not attributed simply to human efforts to recover. What mattered was Jehovah’s intervention by means of his spirit. In this way, the promise to give life to those who had remained for so long in a condition comparable to death was fulfilled.

Answer 5: The restoration did not end with release from captivity. After bringing them to life in a spiritual sense, Jehovah allowed the anointed to settle in their land, that is, in the spiritual paradise. In the major fulfillment, that land does not refer to a territory to which all of them had to move. The explanation thus identifies two aspects of what happened: They came out of captivity in Babylon the Great and came to enjoy the spiritual paradise that Jehovah provided for them.

What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading have you enjoyed?

Spiritual Gems From EZEKIEL 37

Ezekiel 37:3 — He asked me: “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” To that I said: “Sovereign Lord Jehovah, you are the one who knows.”

Comment 1: At Ezekiel 37:3, the prophet acknowledges that Jehovah knows what he cannot know. He does not say that the bones could never come to life, but neither does he pretend to have all the answers. This humility teaches me to recognize my limitations. When I do not understand how a situation will be resolved, I can trust in Jehovah without offering explanations that he has not given.

Ezekiel 37:7 — Then I prophesied just as I had been commanded. As soon as I prophesied, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones began to come together, bone to bone.

Comment 2: Ezekiel 37:7 highlights that the prophet did exactly what Jehovah had commanded him. Speaking to bones might have seemed useless from a human point of view, but he obeyed, and then he began to see results. This reminds me that I should not decide whether a Bible instruction is worth obeying based on how easy it is for me to understand its effect. My responsibility is to act in faith; I do not need to know all the results in advance in order to do what is right.

Ezekiel 37:8 — Then I saw sinews and flesh come on them, and skin covered over them. But there was still no breath in them.

Comment 3: At Ezekiel 37:8, the bodies already had sinews, flesh, and skin, but they still had no life. The vision shows that a complete appearance was not enough: They still needed the breath that Jehovah would give them. This makes me think about the importance of not being satisfied with appearances in my worship. In addition to maintaining a good spiritual routine, I need to seek Jehovah’s help and care for my relationship with him. Outward appearance does not replace living faith.

Ezekiel 37:11 — Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Here they are saying, ‘Our bones are dry, and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’

Comment 4: Ezekiel 37:11 shows that Jehovah knew about the Israelites’ expressions of hopelessness. They felt completely finished, but their perception did not mean that Jehovah had lost the ability to help them. This teaches me to listen sensitively to a discouraged brother. Instead of minimizing his pain or criticizing him for feeling that way, I can recognize what is happening and kindly help him remember that Jehovah sees his situation and that his promises deserve our trust.

Ezekiel 37:12 — So prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “I will open your graves and raise you up from your graves, my people, and bring you to the land of Israel.

Comment 5: At Ezekiel 37:12, Jehovah promises to bring the Israelites out of a situation comparable to being in graves and to return them to their land. In addition, he continues to treat them as his people. I am moved that he does not merely describe their sad condition but announces what he will do to help them. This teaches me something about his way of acting: Jehovah has the power to restore and gives a definite hope. When comforting someone, I want to highlight those qualities of his.

Ezekiel 37:14 — ‘I will put my spirit in you and you will come to life, and I will settle you on your land; and you will have to know that I myself, Jehovah, have spoken and I have done it,’ declares Jehovah.”

Comment 6: Ezekiel 37:14 links what Jehovah says with what he does. The restoration would make it possible to recognize that he had not only announced a promise but had also fulfilled it. This strengthens my confidence in his word. When a Bible promise has not yet been fulfilled, I do not have to measure its reliability by how long I have been waiting. I can remember the occasions when Jehovah has already proved that he fulfills what he says and continue trusting in him.

Ezekiel 37:19 — tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel who are with him, and I will join them to the stick of Judah; and I will make them one stick, and they will become one in my hand.”’

Comment 7: At Ezekiel 37:19, Jehovah explains that he himself would join the two sticks in his hand. The unity of the people would not depend simply on their having similar tastes or backgrounds but on Jehovah’s intervention. This helps me value the unity of the congregation. To contribute to it, I should not expect everyone to think as I do in personal matters. I am responsible for drawing close to Jehovah and treating with respect those who also want to serve him.

Ezekiel 37:22 — I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over all of them, and they will no longer be two nations; nor will they be divided any longer into two kingdoms.

Comment 8: Ezekiel 37:22 announces that the people would no longer be divided into two kingdoms but would have one king. That promise shows that Jehovah did not want to perpetuate the former divisions. It makes me think about how I react when differences arise among brothers. If I take sides because of personal affinity or continue fueling old disagreements, I can hinder peace. On the other hand, remembering that we all serve Jehovah helps me seek reconciliation and avoid turning differences into factions.

Ezekiel 37:23 — They will no longer defile themselves with their disgusting idols and their detestable practices and all their transgressions. I will save them from all their unfaithfulness by which they have sinned, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I myself will be their God.

Comment 9: Ezekiel 37:23 connects the restoration of the people with abandoning idolatry and the practices that had defiled them. It was not enough to return to their land; they also needed to change their conduct. This reminds me that my worship of Jehovah should influence my daily decisions. I can ask myself whether my entertainment or habits are compatible with his standards. My relationship with Jehovah is too valuable to retain anything that I know harms it.

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