The Prophet in Exile
Ezekiel prophesied during the Babylonian exile, ministering to his fellow Jews who had been forcibly relocated from Jerusalem. As both priest and prophet, Ezekiel received some of Scripture's most vivid and dramatic visions.
His ministry addressed a people who had lost everything—their homeland, temple, and national identity—and who questioned whether God had abandoned them permanently.
In this context of national despair, God gave Ezekiel a powerful vision in chapter 37 that would become one of the Bible's most memorable images of resurrection and restoration.
This vision of dry bones coming to life offered hope that God could and would restore what seemed irrevocably lost.
Ezekiel 37:1-6 (NIV):
"The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.
He asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' I said, 'Sovereign Lord, you alone know.' 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."'"
The valley full of dry bones represented Israel in exile—scattered, lifeless, and without hope. The bones were "very dry," emphasizing their complete deadness and the seeming impossibility of revival. When God asks Ezekiel if these bones can live, his response acknowledges that such restoration would require divine intervention beyond human capability.
As Ezekiel obeys God's command to prophesy, an astonishing transformation occurs:
Ezekiel 37:7-10 (NIV):
"So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, 'Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds 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."
The detailed, two-stage process (first structure, then breath) mirrors the creation of Adam, emphasizing that this is nothing less than a new creation. The Hebrew word for "breath" (ruach) can also mean "spirit" or "wind," creating a wordplay that suggests the life-giving work of God's Spirit.
God then explains the vision's meaning:
Ezekiel 37:11-14 (NIV):
"Then he said to me: 'Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, "Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off." Therefore prophesy and say to them: "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.
Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord."'"
Lesson:
Ezekiel's vision teaches us that no situation is too dead for God to resurrect. The graphic image of dry, scattered bones represents the most hopeless circumstances imaginable, yet God demonstrates His power to bring life where death seems to have the final word. This offers profound hope when we face seemingly irredeemable situations in our own lives.
The vision also demonstrates that restoration often comes through the prophetic declaration of God's word. Ezekiel had to speak to the dry bones, prophesying what seemed impossible.
This underscores the power of proclaiming God's promises even when current realities appear to contradict them. Our faithful declaration of what God has said can be the channel through which His resurrection power flows.
Furthermore, the two-stage process of restoration highlights that structural change without spiritual empowerment remains incomplete. The bones came together and were covered with flesh, but remained lifeless until the breath/Spirit entered them.
This reminds us that external reforms without internal spiritual transformation will ultimately fail to produce true life and vitality.
Finally, the vision's interpretation reveals that God's ultimate purpose in restoration is relationship: "Then you will know that I am the Lord." God revives His people not merely for their benefit but to establish authentic relationship with them.
Our own experiences of renewal and restoration are likewise intended to deepen our knowledge of and intimacy with God.
Prayer:
Life-giving God, when we face situations that seem as hopeless as a valley of dry bones, remind us of Your resurrection power that can breathe new life into what appears dead and beyond restoration.
Help us to see our circumstances through the eyes of faith rather than limited human perspective. Give us courage to speak Your promises over seemingly impossible situations, trusting in Your power to fulfill what You have promised.
When structures change but true life is still lacking, send Your Spirit to breathe vitality into our reforms, relationships, and religious activities. Thank You that no grave—whether literal or metaphorical—can contain what You intend to resurrect.
As we experience Your restorative work in our lives, deepen our knowledge of You and our trust in Your character. May each revival and restoration lead us to proclaim with conviction, "Now I know that You are the Lord."
In Your holy name we pray, Amen.