Rattling Bones and Revived Spirits: A Vision of Divine Renewal

[Ezekiel 37:1-14 NASB20] 1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 He had me pass among them all around, and behold, [there were] very many on the surface of the valley; and behold, [they were] very dry. 3 Then He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “Lord GOD, You Yourself know.” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘You dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’ 5 “This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: ‘Behold, I am going to make breath enter you so that you may come to life. 6 ‘And I will attach tendons to you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you so that you may come to life; and you will know that I am the LORD.'” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a [loud] noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, tendons were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘The Lord GOD says this: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, so that they come to life.”‘” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the entire house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ 12 “Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am going to open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 “Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14 “And I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it,” declares the LORD.'”

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In Ezekiel 37:1-14, we are presented with a powerful vision of revival and restoration. This passage is filled with symbolism and imagery that illustrates God’s ability to bring life to that which was once dead and decayed. Today, we will explore this passage and see how it applies to our own lives and the world around us.

I. The Vision: Directed by The Spirit of God (Ezekiel 37:1-3)

1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 He had me pass among them all around, and behold, [there were] very many on the surface of the valley; and behold, [they were] very dry. 3 Then He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “Lord GOD, You Yourself know.”

• The vision that Ezekiel sees is of a valley filled with dry bones, representing the people of Israel who were in a state of spiritual decay and disgrace. They were a nation that had turned away from God and were facing the consequences of their disobedience.
• Just as the bones were dry and lifeless, so too were the people of Israel spiritually dead and in need of revival. But God had not given up on them. He directed Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, declaring that they would be brought back to life.
• The question posed by God in Ezekiel 37:3, “Can these bones live?” and Ezekiel’s response, “Lord God, You know,” encapsulate a profound moment of faith, humility, and trust in God’s power and sovereignty. This exchange between God and Ezekiel highlights several key components that are significant in understanding the deeper spiritual implications of the passage.

1. Question of Possibility: The question “Can these bones live?” challenges the limitations of human understanding and power. It underscores the seemingly impossible nature of the situation – dry, lifeless bones being brought back to life. This question prompts reflection on the faith and belief in the miraculous power of God to work beyond human comprehension.
2. Acknowledgement of God’s Sovereignty: Ezekiel’s response, “Lord God, You know,” reflects a posture of humility, submission, and trust in God’s knowledge and wisdom. It conveys Ezekiel’s recognition that only God has the power and ability to bring life to the dead and that human understanding is limited in comparison to God’s omniscience.
3. Faith and Trust in God’s Promises: Despite the apparent hopelessness of the situation, Ezekiel’s response demonstrates his unwavering faith in God’s promises and ability to bring about revival and restoration. By acknowledging God’s knowledge and sovereignty, Ezekiel shows his belief that God is capable of doing the impossible and fulfilling His word.

• Ultimately, the question “Can these bones live?” and Ezekiel’s humble response reveal deeper truths about faith, trust, and submission to God’s sovereignty. It challenges us to examine our own faith in God’s power to bring life to dead situations, to trust in His wisdom and knowledge, and to submit to His will even in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances. It serves as a reminder that with God, all things are possible, and that He is able to breathe new life into even the driest and most hopeless areas of our lives.

II. The Prophecies: To the Bones, To the Breath (Ezekiel 37:4-10)

4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘You dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’ 5 “This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: ‘Behold, I am going to make breath enter you so that you may come to life. 6 ‘And I will attach tendons to you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you so that you may come to life; and you will know that I am the LORD.'” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a [loud] noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, tendons were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.

• Ezekiel followed God’s command and began to prophesy to the bones, telling them to come together and receive flesh and skin. As he spoke, the bones began to come together, forming complete skeletons.
• The rattling that occurred as the bones began to reassemble in Ezekiel 37:7 holds significant meaning in the context of the passage. The rattling symbolizes the power and movement of God’s Spirit at work in bringing about the restoration and revival of the dry bones.

1. Announcement of God’s Power: The rattling noise serves as an announcement of God’s power and ability to bring life to that which was once dead and decayed. It signifies the supernatural intervention of God in the process of restoration.
2. Symbol of Transformation: The rattling noise can be seen as a symbol of transformation, as the lifeless bones are shaken and brought back together to form complete skeletons. It demonstrates the miraculous work of God in bringing new life and vitality to that which seemed impossible.
3. Preparation for Revival: The rattling noise can be interpreted as a call to attention and preparation for the revival that is about to take place. It sets the stage for the miraculous restoration that is to come as God’s Spirit breathes life into the bodies.

• The rattling noise in Ezekiel 37:7 symbolizes the power, transformation, preparation, and sovereignty of God in bringing about revival and restoration. It serves as a powerful reminder that with God, all things are possible, and He has the ability to breathe new life into any situation, no matter how hopeless it may seem.

9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘The Lord GOD says this: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, so that they come to life.”‘” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

• God then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, telling it to come from the four winds and breathe life into the bodies. As Ezekiel spoke, the bodies came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army restored and revived by the power of God.
• By instructing Ezekiel to speak to the breath, God was inviting him to participate in the restoration and revival process that God had already initiated. This command demonstrates the partnership between God and his chosen prophets in fulfilling divine promises and bringing about spiritual transformation.

1. Activation of God’s Promises: God had already promised to breathe life into the lifeless bodies, but by commanding Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, God was inviting Ezekiel to actively participate in the fulfillment of that promise. Ezekiel’s words served as a catalyst for God’s power to be manifested in breathing new life into the bodies.
2. Collaboration with God: The command to prophesy to the breath emphasizes the collaborative nature of God’s work with His chosen servants. It shows that God often chooses to work through human instruments to accomplish His purposes and bring about His plans for restoration and revival.
3. Impartation of Authority: Through the command to prophesy to the breath, God imparted authority to Ezekiel to speak life into dead situations and bring about spiritual renewal. It highlights the spiritual authority and power that God gives to His chosen servants to speak life, truth, and restoration into the world.

• God’s command for Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath reveals the spiritual impact of partnering with God in bringing about revival and restoration. It underscores the importance of faith, obedience, collaboration with God, and the impartation of authority in fulfilling God’s promises and ushering in His kingdom on earth. It serves as a powerful reminder that as believers, we are called to speak life and restoration into the broken and dead areas of our lives and world, trusting in God’s power to bring about transformation.

III. The Revival and Restoration: Open Your Graves, Bring You into Your Land, Put My Spirit in You (Ezekiel 37:11-14)

11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the entire house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ 12 “Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am going to open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 “Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14 “And I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it,” declares the LORD.'”

• The vision concludes with God explaining the meaning behind it. The dry bones symbolize the people of Israel who had lost hope and felt as though they were cut off from God’s presence.

1. But God promised to open their graves.
2. Bring them back to their land.
3. Put his Spirit in them, restoring them to a place of blessing and favor.

• This passage is a powerful reminder of God’s ability to bring new life to that which was once dead and decayed. Just as he revived the dry bones, he can revive our spirits and bring us back to a place of blessing and favor. God’s spirit is the source of our strength and vitality, and he is always ready to breathe new life into us if we are willing to receive it.

Conclusion:
As we reflect on this passage from Ezekiel, let us remember that God is the God of revival and restoration. He has the power to bring new life to that which was once dead and decayed, and he invites us to be a part of his work in the world. May we open our hearts to his Spirit, allowing him to breathe new life into us and restore us to a place of blessing and favor. Amen.