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E z e k i e l , t h e t h ir d of the major prophets in our canon of the Old Testament, is concerned with the delineation of the glory o f the Lord. He describes in memorable terms the pollution of the glory by Israel, the departure of the glory from the midst of the na tion, and the final return and restoration of the glory. His was a unique ministry among the prophets of Israel. After numerous prophecies concerning Israel’s sins and the coming judgment of God, the prophet turns to words of surpassing comfort, blessing, and promise. Ezekiel chapter 37 is one of the great chapters of the Bible, and one that is filled with hope and bright prospect for Israel. This portion of the book gives in vision what was foretold in direct prophetic address in chapter 36. The chapter has several clearly defined and signifi cant divisions. The first speaks of The Valley of Dry Bones, 1-6 “ The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. And he caused me to pass by them round about: and, be hold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, 0 Lord God, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, 0 ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” The Lord gives Ezekiel the vision we have set before us in this chapter. The divine activity is clearly set forth and underscored in the first verses by means of a threefold mention. A valley full of bones can conjure up only the concept of uselessness, end of activity, and death. In order for the prophet to grasp the picture in its full import the Lord brings before his mind the vast number involved and their desiccated condi tion. Verse 11 echoes the facts that they were very dry. The bodies from which the bones had come, were brought to the place of lowest abasement, of utter un doing. They had been bleaching in the valley a long time. The Lord’s inquiry addressed to Ezekiel was not for information — a concept wholly out of keeping with the Biblical doctrine of divine omniscience — but to center and focus the attention of the prophet, and our attention as well, upon what the Lord was yet to effect with re gard to these parched bones. The matter of vital con cern was: Could these bones live again? Was there any hope for these remnants of human bodies? The proph et’s answer correctly implied that it was humanly im possible. It was a matter entirely without the realm of the human and natural. Only God could bring about
a deliverance from the pitiful condition already de scribed. Now the purpose of God in showing Ezekiel the vision is revealed. God graciously and sovereignly in tends to do something with and for these desolate bones by means of His omnipotent Word. Even dry bones are to be made to hear and comprehend and obey the vital and powerful Word of the God of Israel. It is to be through the truth of God that the dry bones are to live again. All that is needed will be provided by God Himself: sinews, flesh, and skin. Yes, and the breath will issue from Him, as it did in the case of the first man, Adam, in the original creation. Notice that the most important element, the breath, is mentioned twice, that is, in verse 5 and in verse 6. The chapter treats, in the second place, The Resurrection of the Dry Bones, 7-10 “ So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and, behold, an earth quake; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I beheld, and, lo, there were sinews upon them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them. 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, 0 breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 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.” When the prophet of God obeyed the Lord, the Word of God in his mouth was eminently potent. At his preaching there was an earthquake, but even more, a tremendous movement among the dry bones. Amazingly enough, the bones moved in an intelligent and arranged fashion. Every bone found its counterpart in an unerr ing manner. No body was missing any of its more than two hundred bones. Like a well disciplined army, every movement and every action were executed with unmis takable accuracy and precision, which only God could bring about. When the hour arrives on God’s prophetic clock and calendar, mighty and supernatural movings are set in operation which bring about God’s intended objective. Do not fail to be impressed once more with the boundless power of the Word of God in action. That Word was irresistible in creation; when it came to Moses; when it commanded the unwilling prophet, Jonah: whenever and wherever God purposes to employ it for His glory. The project was gloriously carried out, but one element was lacking. It is thus portrayed in order that all then, and we in our day, may realize its primacy and indispensable character. Without it all else is use less. The bones may be together again, but to what avail? They may look better and more normal, but as far as usefulness is concerned, there is no gain over the disjoined, separated, and ineffective dry bones of the first part of the vision. There must be breath for life. In order to supply the significant ingredient the
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