A nation insensitive to sin is destined to lose vision and hope, but Almighty God still offers a fresh start! We learn throughout Scripture God uses humanity’s fallen condition—the inability to glorify and enjoy God—to reveal a new way to live. Because sin makes us insensitive, we must identify sin, face our sin, and repent of sin. When we do, God is faithful to forgive us.
If we honestly examine our lives and desire to make things right with God, we are offered a new life, a new heart, and the indwelling life of the Spirit to navigate through this sin-polluted world. Sin, not the burning of fossil fuel, is the biggest issue changing the world, impacting human health, and bringing instability to society. We need God!
In our passage today, God calls attention to sin and the ramifications of it from his perspective. Although Israel had a covenant with God, his people became intrenched in the world making them insensitive to their sin—their hearts had grown hard and dry. So God provided a vision for Ezekiel and sent him with a message for Israel. Ezekiel was to prophesy and speak life back into dry bones. How can life come from death? By telling the bones to listen to the word of the Lord and by receiving the breath of God. In the vision, Ezekiel started with a valley of dry bones, but through God’s supernatural word and Spirit, in time Ezekiel formed a spiritual army of vibrant worshipers of the Most High.
This message was for Israel, but it is also for us, today. May God bring this nation and the nations of his world back to himself. The world has become insensitive due to sin and needs the life of Christ. We know when we are alive in Christ, because we are sensitive and responsive to the truth—God’s Spirit brings life to the word (John 16:13).
Ezekiel 37:1-14 A Valley of Dry Bones
1The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 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. 3 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.”
4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.
9 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.’”
10 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.
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’
12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 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!’”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your patience in drawing people to yourself. We pray for us to have a right perspective of sin and our hearts. As believers stay in your word, Lord, please breathe the breath of life into us through the Spirit and cause us to rise up as a mighty army filled with the life of God! May the world desire what we have with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.