Dry Bones

Dry Bones

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.  He caused me to pass among them roundabout, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry.  He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”  Again 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 that you may come to life.  I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’” So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.  And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.  Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”’ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’”     Ezekiel 37:1-14

CAN THESE DRY BONES LIVE?

When Ezekiel was brought out to the valley of dry bones by the Lord, the Israelites were in the midst of exile. They had rebelled against God again and again, and their sin had created circumstances that caused them to say, “Our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.” But God, through Ezekiel, provided a prophecy and a promise: “I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life.” These dry bones live! This promise for Israel, of life where there is death, of freedom from the grave, and of a promised land, is a word to all of the people of God--redemption through Jesus Christ.

What an image is found in this valley of dry bones! Cody F. Miller’s Valley of Dried Bones conveys the juxtaposition of life and death. Ezekiel, very much alive, is called on by God to see beyond the state of death to the possibility of new life. There are times on our spiritual journey when we feel separated from Christ. Times of grief, hardship, or just the overwhelming, relentless pulse of daily living. In these times, we are a dry and desperate people. The journey of sanctification, of drawing closer to God, of becoming more Christ-like, is a journey of joy and desperation. Perhaps it is our unwillingness to fully commit to Christ or our inability to recognize Christ in the midst of our turmoil; in either case, we are left with a dried up heart and breathless spirit.

In those times of struggle and desolation when Jesus seems far away, and the dryness in your spirit craves living water, on those occasions when your soulful cry is “Can these dry bones live?” Jesus is there. With gentleness and love, He pieces you back together, even as the Holy Spirit breathes new life into your soul.

Hear the words of God to Ezekiel: “I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it.” 

Prayer

Holy God,
You asked the question, “Can these dry bones live?”
And you are faithful to prompt questions about the state of our hearts today.
When our hope has perished, speak to our dry bones.
When our souls are desperate, revive us by your breath.
Put your Spirit within us that we may live.
So that we may know you are the Lord that you have spoken and done it.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Through water and breath,
​
Fr. Bill+