A Valley of Dry Bones

 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?” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 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.’” 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. 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. 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. 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.’ 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. 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 37:1-14

 

Son of man, can these bones become living people again? - Sometimes we can be afraid to answer God's questions for fear of being wrong. God already knows the answer, but because He loves us, and wants a real relationship with us, He wants our input.

 

Speak a prophetic message to these bones - Simply put, this is a calling to preach to the lost. Preaching isn't just for pastors, we are all called to do it. The opportunity may not always present itself, but if it does we need to be ready.

 

We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone - None of us are too far gone. There's nothing we can ever do that will cause God not to love us. He may not like or approve of all we do, but His love is unfailing and everlasting.

 

I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again - God gives us salvation to bring us back to Him. Salvation allows forgiveness of sins and the right relationship he wants us to have with Him.

 

I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again - It's a new lease on life. When we accept the free gift of salvation we die to our old life, we have a new life in Christ, and we are given the Holy Spirit to guide us.