Dry bones come to life.
The Valley of the Dry Bones
Ezekiel's odyssey continues as he is moved in the Spirit again. This time to a valley full of bones. Lots of bones. Very dry.
God asks Ezekiel if the bones can live and Ezekiel, very wisely, doesn't say yes or no. He says O Lord God, You know.
I know there's a big story coming, but it's worth pausing just to meditate on Ezekiel's wisdom. It's the biblical version of Schrödinger's cat. We may not know if the cat is alive or dead. But God does. We may not know what God has in store for those bones. But God does. It struck me because of Ezekiel's faith. he didn't speak for God. But he made room for God to do anything. I want that kind of faith in my Lord.
Y'all know what happens next... God commands Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones and commands these nonliving inanimate objects to hear the word of the Lord.
5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 6 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.’” Ezekiel 37: 5–6
So Ezekiel prophesied as he was commanded. He heard noise and rattling. Bones came together bone to bone. Sinew and skin appeared. But no breath.
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.”’” 10 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. Ezekiel 37: 9–10
Even in our most vivid imagination we just cannot fully imagine what this must have been like. The smell, sights, sounds. Fear, amazement, joy. What a scene. He saw the most astounding miracle alone. And he got to be part of it. How blessed for him. He must have been so discouraged prophesying about the end of a covenant with God. Years of grief and loss. But unlike Jeremiah, Ezekiel gets to see the blessed future.
I still don't know how the house of David could lead to Jesus, since the kings' line was wiped out; but I am confident there is an answer. I don't know hoe the dispersed tribes could stay pure enough to be able to return to fulfill the prophesies in Revelation, but I know He is able. He can take long dead separated and dried bones and reconstitute them; and that power is in me. There are those who might image Lazarus, Jairus' daughter, and Jesus weren't fully dead. But this scene proves that it's possible. If He can put back together long dead Humpty Dumptys, He can raise us from the dead.
In verse 11 the Lord confirms that these bones are the whole house of Israel. The people cried out in fear that they were cut off. Then Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy that God will open their graves and He will bring them out to the land of Israel.
Then they will know He is God.
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 37:10
Hallelujah. Glory in the highest. Joy for all of us.
But how can these antisemitic jerks read that and still think the church replaced Israel. The covenant has been shattered and they are fully under the severe judgement by the Lord; and yet, this is what He want Ezekiel to know. Israel is coming back. We know from the New Testament that we are grafted onto the vine; but not a replacement for the vine. Look at this hope-filled promise. For His own name's sake, He is not given up on Israel. But He will let their bones rot and dry up in the desert and in their graves for now.
Dry bones come to life.
The biggest hallelujah to that.
Personally, I think modern day Israel is in the portion of the prophesy where they are reconstituted, but not yet breathing. They are reassembled. They are a mighty army (and air force). They are a miracle. But until God breathes life into them by the blood of Jesus, we are still waiting for the full promise.
One Nation Under God
A new message from God starts in verse 15. Ezekiel is commanded to create a physical representation of the rejoining of the two divided kingdoms—Israel and Judah. Joseph and Ephraim and all those who went north reunited with with Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, and Levi in those in the south.
They will all be brought back to one land. No longer divided and under one King. The King.
They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 37:23
There will be one King, from the line of David. One Shepherd. And they will walk worthy under Him. They will live on the land, under the house of David forever.
26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. 27 My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 28 And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”’” Ezekiel 37: 26–28
Here's another grateful and amazed Hallelujah to our Lord.
Not only would they return to the land; but they would become incorruptible and more importantly, they would get Him and His presence forever. No tabernacle. No Temple. No veil. Him. His presence FOREVER.
He was saying these things at the same time He was definitively ending their nation and any hope of a return to normal for these generations. He wanted hope to be in their DNA, even when He also wanted them to know that it was over, completely over, for now. he is a good, good Father and teacher.
This is the God we serve.
Amen.