Monday, September, 13, 2021
And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.” Ezekiel 37:3-5
Dry Bones Come Alive!
Israel was in ruins. Their enemy, Babylon, had defeated the nation and there was nothing left of the army but a valley of dry bones, with survivors in captivity. Ezekiel wanted to see revival in the land but the people wanted no part of repentance. God gave Ezekiel a vision so he would know that revival would one day come to Israel. This vision seemed impossible at this point in Israel’s history because of her present condition: dead, both physically and spiritually. Ezekiel was given the vision of dry bones as a sign.
The verses above tell the story of Ezekiel’s vision that came to him when God took him to the valley of dry bones. This vision was symbolic of Israel being restored through the leadership of David as king. In his vision, Ezekiel found himself in a valley full of dry bones, where God told him to speak to the bones. He was asked to tell the bones that God would breathe life into them and they would come to life.
First the bones came together, then muscle and flesh. But the bodies were not alive until God breathed His spirit into each one and they were revived. This act symbolized God’s plan to restore Israel and showed that Israel’s revival solely depended on God’s power alone. Without the breath of His spirit they were still dead.
There are so many days that I feel like a broken heap of dry bones with a dead heart. The enemy is so good at making us feel defeated and hopeless. Those are the times that I can do nothing in my power but wait – wait for the breath of the Holy Spirit to breathe life and renewal into my heart and soul. Only by His life-giving power can restoration, healing, and renewal come. When we lay in a heap of sin and transgressions, bitterness, anger, etc… He comes to us with hope. Because of Him, we can have hope when revival seems impossible.
God is able to resurrect our dry bones and dead heart the same way He did in Ezekiel’s vision. He can revive us when we are dead in sin or just plain defeated by the enemy. Just when there is no hope and no end in sight, we can be assured that the breath of God will come to us like a sweet cool breeze, flowing over us and through us, to bring us back to life.
