Dry Bones

Prayer – Lord, this is such an amazing story—an incredible prophecy. Those dry bones will live again. Sometimes I feel like I’m dried up, too. Spiritually. Refresh my soul, Holy Spirit, and breath into me new life that I will live on and serve You forever.

Mount of Olives - Jerusalem
Dry bones within the burial grounds.
Dry bones...O hear the word of the Lord.

The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, "Son of man, can these bones become living people again?" "O Sovereign LORD," I replied, "you alone know the answer to that." Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, 'Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! ... Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.'" So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet--a great army. ... When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the LORD. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the LORD has spoken!'" Ezekiel 37:1-4, 9-10, 13-14

 

Meditate. Think about God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

 

Them bones, them bones, them dry bones. O hear the word of the Lord. The lyrics and melody of a song about this story are catchy. Ezekiel was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord…the Holy Spirit, and spoke the Lord’s words just as he was commanded. Can you imagine a valley of bones—skeletal parts laying around…and then coming to life? An incredible resurrection prediction. God is going to have His army made of up of these old bones. Them bones, them bones, them dry bones. O hear the word of the Lord. Are you listening and taking in this story? 

Read it for yourself in Ezekiel. The people of Judah and Israel were exiled. God was bringing them home and He wanted to join the Jews into one nation again. God wants unity for His people. As the story goes on, He has Ezekiel join two sticks together, symbolizing the nations of Israel and Judah becoming one. Some commentaries, like Matthew Henry, suggest that this joining of two sticks is analogous to joining of the Jews and the Gentiles into one people for God. Take it as you wish. Unity is spoken of by Jesus and by Paul, emphasizing that we need to love our neighbor…and be kind.

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. ... Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. ... Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:13, 21-24, 31-32.

Like those dry bones, may we be renewed and follow in the footsteps of Christ—becoming more like Him every day.             

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. Psalm 79:9

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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