Reading Ezekiel 37 last Sunday, I realise that this chapter could be connected to Jesus' miracle in resurrecting Lazarus and to the development of the understanding of resurrection in 2nd Temple Judaism shown by Paul and the Pharisees.
First, the resurrection of the dry bones was a sign to the exiled Jews at Babylon that the LORD is their God. The dry bones were the symbolic of Israel's spiritual state. Lazarus' dead body was literally the representation of Israel's dead spiritual state, not recognising Jesus as the Lord. The literal resurrection of Lazarus was to remind Israel of Ezekiel 37. Israel was supposed to understand the symbolic association between Lazarus and Ezekiel 37. Unfortunately, they did not and the true meaning of the resurrection was hidden from their eyes.
Second, I believe that the strong emphasis the Pharisees and Paul held over the hope of resurrection as the promise given to Israel by God could be due to Ezekiel 37. Paul in his public defence recorded in Acts had indicated that the hope of all Israel and the reason for him to adhere to the strictest form of Pharisaic practices was the hope of resurrection. Resurrection would meant that the Lord was with Israel and God's kingdom had arrived as promised by God in Ezekiel 37. When Paul saw the resurrected Lord, he finally understood Ezekiel 37 and Jesus' true identify and mission. This was the reason for his repentance and his emphasis on resurrection in the gospel he preached.
First, the resurrection of the dry bones was a sign to the exiled Jews at Babylon that the LORD is their God. The dry bones were the symbolic of Israel's spiritual state. Lazarus' dead body was literally the representation of Israel's dead spiritual state, not recognising Jesus as the Lord. The literal resurrection of Lazarus was to remind Israel of Ezekiel 37. Israel was supposed to understand the symbolic association between Lazarus and Ezekiel 37. Unfortunately, they did not and the true meaning of the resurrection was hidden from their eyes.
Second, I believe that the strong emphasis the Pharisees and Paul held over the hope of resurrection as the promise given to Israel by God could be due to Ezekiel 37. Paul in his public defence recorded in Acts had indicated that the hope of all Israel and the reason for him to adhere to the strictest form of Pharisaic practices was the hope of resurrection. Resurrection would meant that the Lord was with Israel and God's kingdom had arrived as promised by God in Ezekiel 37. When Paul saw the resurrected Lord, he finally understood Ezekiel 37 and Jesus' true identify and mission. This was the reason for his repentance and his emphasis on resurrection in the gospel he preached.
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