Daily Devotionals

Voice of the Lord

Devotional: 20th of Nisan

I will put my Spirit in you; and you will be alive. Then I will place you in your own land (Ezek.37:14).

On the Shabbat (Sabbath) that occurs during the week of Passover, the Haftarah (portion from the Prophets) that is read in the synagogue is Ezekiel 37:1-14. In spite of the fact that there were numerous suitable Scriptures to choose from, the ancient sages of Israel picked one that especially expresses the heart of Passover. Though many things come to mind when we think of Passover, how often do we connect it with revival? Yet looking at the history of Israel, it is plain to see that the two go hand-in-hand.

After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel crossed the Yarden (Jordan), circumcised their men (renewing the covenant), and celebrated the first Passover in the Land. Years later, after decades of sin and neglect, Judah's King Hezekiah held a glorious two-week-long Passover celebration for the whole nation, which led to spiritual revival. This same pattern is seen under the rulership of King Josiah, and again with Ezra and the exiles who returned to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) from Babylon.

In a vision, Ezekiel saw the revival of the people of God, coming out of the graveyard of the world, returning to the Land of their fathers, and receiving the Ruach (Spirit) of God. This would become the ultimate victory that Yeshua the Messiah accomplished on Passover.

...see the celebration of Passover not just as a commemoration of the past, but as an ongoing experience of revival in which I can participate, flowing like a river from the first Passover in Egypt to its fulfillment at the end of days.

MM