Ezekiel 37:7-10"
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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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."
The Lord led Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones. While we can only speculate where these bones came from, the most logical explanation is that they were the remains of one of Israel’s battles—perhaps with Babylon or another nation. These bones were "dry," meaning all the flesh, muscle, and sinews had deteriorated. They were nothing but a scattered pile of bones, and only God knew which bone belonged to which person. Even this pile of bones was still His people.
Our verse says the bones came together "bone to his bone," meaning that despite the disarray, God had a perfect record of how each body was formed. He knew exactly which arm bone connected to which shoulder bone and which leg bones connected to which feet. Through death, desert heat, and decay, God still knew every person lying in that mass grave, and at the moment of resurrection, He brought the appropriate pieces together. So it will be for the nation of Israel. Though they no longer know their tribes, God does. Scattered among the nations for 2,000 years, there has been a "shaking" in recent times, as we have been privileged to witness the nation's skeleton forming in the promised land. While the breath of God has not yet fully entered the nation, we see the skeleton, sinews, and flesh forming. Soon, they will believe in Christ, and the breath of God's promises will enter them, and they will live again!
This portion of prophecy also teaches us about resurrection—both spiritual, which took place at our new birth, and physical, which will occur on the last day. As I read this, I thought about myself when I was like that scattered pile of dry bones—no life, no hope, no vision, nothing to anyone, except God. He looked at the heap of deadness I was in, sent a preacher to speak to me, and suddenly, as in the text, there was a shaking. All the pieces started coming together: "I am a sinner, I have a soul, I’m going to spend eternity in hell? Jesus loves me? Jesus died for me? He promises life to all who believe in Him?" I literally trembled as the gospel message set my life in order. Hope began to rise, strength to believe grew, and love—like sinews—began to tie my dead heart to Jesus Christ. Faith, like flesh on bones, resurrected me. As I believed in Him, His Spirit entered me, and I lived!
Oh, how we need God-sent preachers in this hour to speak to the spiritually dead in this world! Go and prophesy to them. The Word will set them in order. Prophesy to the wind—pray that God will save these people and resurrect them!
Lastly, we must consider the physical resurrection that will take place on the last day. Just as our souls have been saved, so will our bodies come forth from the grave. Millions have died in faith, waiting for the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection. Some of their bones have sunk to the depths of the sea, some were incinerated in concentration camps, and some have been lost to humanity, but none of that matters. We have a God who keeps perfect record of every bone, every piece of the body He gave them. And at the sound of the trumpet of God, the dead in Christ will rise first. I wonder if it will happen in the same order as in Ezekiel's vision: the bones gathered from the four corners of the earth, sinews, flesh, skin, and finally life! Those who have been with the Lord in heaven will have their life re-enter their glorified bodies. We will be an army, ready to ride back with our Lord as He conquers the world and establishes His kingdom of love and peace. Oh, what a day that will be!
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the resurrection. Have you believed in Him? If so he has resurrected you, but have you told others about Him? Have you prayed that the Word of God would set their lives in order and that the Holy Spirit would convict and convert them? Oh, how we need a revival of this sort—a revival of resurrection, a revival of real, eternal life that is found in Jesus Christ.
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