Tag: rattling bones
Resurrection Words!
Scripture reading for August 28th: Ezekiel 37-39
God used words to bring about creation out of nothing. He tells us that our words also have power. In fact, they have the power of life or death! In today’s reading, we have one of the most famous passages from the book of Ezekiel: the vision of the valley of dry bones. God showed Ezekiel a valley full of very dry human bones. God asked Ezekiel if he thought that all the scattered and dry human bones could live again. Ezekiel cautiously answered: “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” (Ezekiel 37:3) With God, all things are possible and we must make room for every possibility.
The Lord then spoke to Ezekiel: “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'” (Ezekiel 37:4-6) When Ezekiel obeyed and began to prophesy, there was a noise and rattling sound as the bones came together. Then the tendons and flesh appeared and finally the skin covered them. He was told to prophesy to the breath from the four winds to come and enter the slain. Again as he obeyed and spoke, these newly formed bodies came to life and stood up on their feet.
What was the meaning and purpose of this vision to those people of that day and then for us today? First, God’s message of hope and restoration was given to the people of that day who were scattered in foreign lands because of their sins and the judgment of God upon them. God was showing His ability and plan to restore them. It would not be by their own strength, because dry bones have no power. It would be according to God’s powerful Word and the power of the Holy Spirit that it would be accomplished.
Second, as we look at this passage today, we can see the fulfilment of God’s promise as it took place in history. God restored his people to the land and rebuilt the temple. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came to that temple and then offered Himself to totally restore all of humanity. We have resurrection life in us by the Holy Spirit and will one day have a resurrection body when Christ returns. Life and death are in the power of our tongue! When we confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ with our mouth and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we are saved! (Romans 10:9-10) Confess again your faith and think about how your words bring you into resurrection life! What an awesome God we serve!