Then said he unto me, prophesy unto the wind
Before he had been prophesying to the bones, and over them; and
something was done, but not to purpose, breath being wanting;
wherefore he is bid to prophesy a second time, and that not to
bones, but to the "wind", afterwards rendered "breath"; and may
allude to the soul or breath of man reentering the body, as at a
resurrection, which causes it to live: it signifies the "spirit"
F24, for the same word is used for the
wind, for breath, and for the spirit; and in the mystical sense
may be applied to the Spirit of God: and if ever ministers
prophesy or preach to purpose, it must be with a view to the
Spirit of God, both to assist them in their work, and to make
their ministrations effectual; without which, how many formal
professors soever may be made, not one dead sinner will be
quickened. The Syriac and Arabic versions render it, "concerning
the Spirit": and to discourse concerning the person, operations,
and grace of the Spirit, is one part of the Gospel ministry, and
a means of the conversion of sinners. Prophesy, son of man,
and say to the wind;
ministers must not only preach, but they must pray for the Spirit
to accompany the word with his power, and make it the savour of
life unto life: thus saith the Lord, come from the four
winds, O breath;
or "spirit": because the Jews were to be brought from each of the
parts where they were, as they will be at their conversion in the
latter day; and so the Lord has a people in each of the parts of
the world, that lie dead in sin, and must be quickened by the
Spirit: and breathe upon these slain, that they may
live;
though not slain with the sword, yet being as dead men, who are
slain by death, are so called: so in a spiritual sense men are
slain by sin, and are slain by the words of the Lord's mouth;
killed with the law, the killing letter; and it is only the
Spirit of God that can give them life; and the breath or spirit
here is applied to the Spirit of the Messiah by the ancient Jews
F25.