Rev. Terry Goerz,
Redeemer Lutheran Church.

What would you do if you saw a valley full of skeletons?

The Lord shows Ezekiel a valley full of dry bones and asks. “Can these bones live”. The Lord’s solution for Ezekiel is for him to preach to these bones.

“Then he said to me, “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)

It is through prophecy, that is, the preaching of God’s Word, that the dry bones are put back together, with sinews and flesh. God tells Ezekiel that this valley of long dead dry bones is the whole house of Israel.

However, we are also the valley of long dead dry bones. Each of us is described as dead before we are saved.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.” (Ephesians 2: 1!

So, we are also the dry bones. What does God tell Ezekiel to do to have these bones come alive? He is to prophesy or preach to them.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.” (Ezekiel 27: 9b, 10)

Later in describing the fulfillment of the valley of long dead dry bones God explains, “I will put My Spirit in you and you will live.” (Ezekiel 37: 14a)

The breath that entered these long dead bones was the Spirit of God.

We are also made alive by the Spirit from the dead condition described above in Ephesians. John the Baptist was told by God that, “’The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” (John 1: 33a, 34)

Then Jesus, describing the future of being born again through baptism said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3: 5)

We, as long dead bones (spiritually) are made alive through baptism.

We are now living in the fulfillment of this scripture. Through baptism the Lord God has placed His Spirit in us, and we are born again – living. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in the hearts of believers, so that we may be restored from dry bones to living, spiritual creatures. That is, those who have been restored and made alive in Christ.

You may know someone close to you who has not been made alive by the Spirit. Their eternal destiny is not something to look forward to. You can take the role of Ezekiel when he prophesied to the dead bones by witnessing your faith in Jesus and all he has done for us to save us. Invite them to church where they will hear the scriptures read and explained in the preaching of your pastor. Pray for them as Ezekiel prophesied to the breath (Spirit) that God would call them to faith.

“O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord” verse 4 said. Celebrate the Holy Spirit, the great restorer, who restored those dry bones, who enlivened the disciples at Pentecost, and is here present even now, making us alive and making all things new.

Blessings!