The Valley of Dry Bones
Ezekiel 37:1-10
“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.”
What was Ezekiel seeing in this vision of the Valley of Dry Bones?
Who did these dry bones represent?
This is one passage of scripture that has dual meaning.
1. God was referring to Israel.
Ezekiel 37:11-12, 14
“Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost…Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel… And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land.”
2. God was referring to the Church.
Galatians 3:7, 29
“Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham…And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Romans 9:4, 6
“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises…For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”
We must prophesy and speak life when we see darkness and death.
Not everything that happens in the world is God’s will.
God wants us to enforce His will in the earth by the authority He has given us.
John 10:10
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
THE ADVENT OF CHRIST
Jesus’ coming the first time happened at a specific time and in a specific place. He came to a people who were desperately needy. Some received Him, many did not.
Jesus is coming the second time to a people desperately needy. Some will be ready for Him, many will not.
We are now living in the time in between Jesus’ first and second coming. Jesus comes to each one of us every day.
For those who do not know Him, He comes to save them. Some will receive Him, but many will not.
For those who are saved He comes to commune with them and to speak to them His will for their lives. Some will listen to Him, but many will not.
Jesus says:
Rev. 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
So in the three weeks before Christmas, let us reflect on and anticipate the Lord’s coming.
We can remember the historical account of His birth and be thankful for His coming the first time.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
We can look forward to and prepare ourselves for His coming again by being yielded to the Holy Spirit, letting Him change us into the image of Christ.”
We can receive Him and commune with Him every day, being open to His leading and spending time in prayer, listening to His voice as He speaks to us.
Ephesians 5:14
“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”