Those readers of this treatise
who are aware of the belief that the two sticks discussed in Ezekiel 37 point
to the Bible and Book of Mormon will find in our comments a departure from that
viewpoint, along with reasons for that departure.
Having once believed the sticks
did symbolize the said Scriptures, we differ in a spirit of considerable
charity toward those who still so believe. Therefore, our comments are
motivated solely by a love of truth and a desire to glorify God and edify our readers.
Tradition is a powerful influence
in our minds. Not all are able to surmount it so as to gain a clear view of the
truths often lying above some of our most cherished traditions.
Nevertheless, we hope some who
read this may be able to do it objectively without the stifling shrouds of
tradition drawn before their perceptions.
First, we firmly believe in the
historicity of the vision in Ezekiel 37. That is to say, we believe that long
ago in the kingdom of Babylon the hand of the Lord was upon Ezekiel, an exiled
captive Jewish prophet. The Lord carried him in the spirit into a view of a
valley or plain strewn with very dry bones.
The vision is a masterpiece of
allegorical prophecy, a precise symbolism of the comfort God should in due time
extend to the despairing Israel whose rent Kingdom, Judah and Ephraim (or
Israel), had been carried captive away from their land of promise. We believe
the Lord's purpose for giving the vision and the instruction following was for
the comforting and encouragement of His despondent people.
The Lord's explanation to Ezekiel
(v.11) is sufficient to establish the symbolism, for He said of the bones:
"Son of man, these are the
whole house of Israel."
And the new flesh and new life
which were to come upon them is explained in V.13-14:
"And ye shall know that I am
the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out
of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I
shall place you in your own land; then shall ye know that I the Lord have
spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord."
Still more of the allegory is
clarified—the dryness of the bones is explained, as the Lord speaks to Ezekiel:
"Behold they say, Our bones
are dried and our hope is lost, we are cut off..."
Are we capable of comprehending
the depth of despair crushing the hearts of those captives? Let us attempt to
sense as nearly as we can the bitterness of their anguish and their need of
comfort. (See Isa. 40:2-31)
The chapter is not all allegory
and its explanation. The narrative turns at v.15 from a description of the
vision to an account of certain instructions which the Lord gave Ezekiel for
showing the people just how Jehovah would restore the Kingdom of Israel.
In verse 15 Ezekiel writes,
"The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying 'Moreover, thou son of
man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, FOR JUDAH, AND FOR THE CHILDREN
OF ISRAEL HIS COMPANIONS: then take another stick, and write upon it, FOR
JOSEPH, THE STICK OF EPHRAIM, AND FOR ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL HIS COMPANIONS."
The words Ezekiel was to write
were dictated to him by the Lord. We emphasize, he was to write upon two
sticks, (or staves as stated in the Septuagint Bible). Not upon scrolls,
plates, rolls, papyri, or in books or records. The traditional view of the sticks
as books or records has been a stumbling block to many. Ezekiel understood
fully what a roll of a book was, (Ez. 2:9) and did not need to mince
words in saying "stick" if he actually meant "book" or
"record". But God clearly foresaw the questions Ezekiel's actions
would draw from the people. Writing on sticks was certainly unusual and
unexpected. Naturally they would ask the meaning of this; with the explanation;
"...Thus saith the Lord God; 'Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph,
which is in the hand of Ephraim...and will put them with him, even with the
stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in my
hand.'" It is necessary to understand here that the stick of Ephraim was
to be PUT At the division of the original kingdom of Israel, what did Jeroboam
(Ephraim) take away from Rehoboam (Judah)? Was it records, books, or archives?
Not at all! He led away PEOPLE from the scepter of Judah and the house of
David. (I Ki.11:28-32; Jere.31:6-21) Thus envy was created between the two.
But Isaiah 11:11-13 speaks of the
last days when the Lord will reunite Ephraim and Judah under His law (scepter)
written in their hearts. Then Ephraim and Judah will be one people again. The
scepter, however will remain with Judah under the eternal rule of her KING
DAVID—Christ. (See I Chr.5:2)
With these prophecies in mind we
return to the Lord's words to Ezekiel as He explained the meaning of the sticks
which were to become one in Ezekiel's hand (as they will one day be in God's
hand). Ephraim's scepter was broken off from the whole scepter of Israel which
had been in the hand of Judah, therefore would properly be re-joined to it in
the restoration of Israel. We should also call attention to the fact that a
staff is a stick, or rod, or pole. And a scepter is also a staff.
Please note that before the
division of the Kingdom, Solomon had given Jeroboam charge over all the house
of Joseph. As if to emphasize the significance of it, the prophet Ahijah
committed ten of the tribes into Jeroboam's hand. (I Ki.11:28-32) Thus we see
the breaking off of the ten tribes under the staff (or administration) of
Ephraim. His power could continue only so long as the Kingdom of Israel
remained divided from the throne of David. But since Ephraim had led
them away, Ephraim must lead them back for their reunion with Judah.
(Gen.49:8-12; Deut.33:17; Psalm 60:7; 108:8; Isa.78:17; Hos.14:9)
Thus, the Lord's revelation to
Ezekiel was of the reuniting and restoration of the House of Israel under the
scepter of the line of David. This would mark an end to the scepter of Ephraim
and join both into one IN GOD'S HAND.
The scepter would no longer be
wielded by men "And David my servant (Christ) shall be king over them and
they all shall have one shepherd they shall also walk in my judgments, and
observe my statutes and do them...And my servant David shall be their prince
forever."
Let Book of Mormon believers be
not dismayed. In the Bible and the Holy Spirit we have ample proof of the Book
of Mormon. Prophecy abounds in the Book of Mormon confirming our belief that
those two books are to join together to prepare Israel for her re-gathering and
the reunion of her shattered scepter in the hand of her Rightful King. Both
will prophesy, teach and testify to the instilling of God's statutes in the
hearts of the people of Israel, to the outpouring of His Spirit in them in PREPARATION
for their restoration to His scepter or kingdom.
Thus, while they are not
the two sticks joined together restoring the authority of Rehoboam and
Jeroboam, they ARE the joined WORD OF GOD. And His scepter for
the government of all His people will be the gift of His Spirit in their souls
by which it will become their nature to follow Him. (Jer. 31:33-34) Ezekiel did
not write the Bible or the Book of Mormon and the symbolic sticks being joined
would be fulfilled at the reunion of Ephraim and Judah. On the other
hand the Bible and Book of Mormon have already come together and they are a
chief means for the accomplishing of the Israelite reunion.
Hosea 8:12 does not at all
indicate God gave Ephraim His law during the captivity in Assyria. He gave
Ephraim His law at Sinai when it was given to all Israel. Ephraim's bondage
resulted from his abandonment of it. (Hos.9:1-17; 13:1-16) Nor did Ephraim write
the Bible or Book of Mormon. If Ephraim received law from God at another time,
we think it far more likely it should have been received from Jesus after the
Lord had completed His Nephite ministry and went to visit his "other
sheep".
In summation, we say that the
joining together of the Bible and Book of Mormon is a great and marvelous
preliminary to the supreme and crowning circumstances when the people of God
are brought together under the reign of King Jesus. There they will never more
be fettered by the dominion of earthly rulers, then indeed, will Israel's
kingdom flourish and her scepter rest in the hand if its proper claimant, the
TRUE SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL, Who shall lead them in green pastures and beside the
still waters. (Everett Landon, “Is the Book of Mormon One of the Stucks of
Ezekiel 37?,” The Book of Mormon Foundation [January-March 1971]: 7-8)
