Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
“Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD!’” (Ezekiel 37:4 NLT)
Observation
Gotta love it—this classic passage from the prophet Ezekiel. But it seems especially powerful placed in its historical context.
Remember that the northern ten tribes of Israel have already been destroyed by the Assyrians, and now more recently, the southern two tribes of Judah have been conquered and deported by the Babylonians. Gedaliah, the man appointed governor of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar, has been assassinated. God’s people are completely without land or statehood and have been scattered across the known world.
Honestly—can it get any worse for God’s people? Could the situation be any more bleak or hopeless? I don’t see how!
And in that context, Ezekiel has a vision and receives and instruction. The vision is of “a valley filled with bones…scattered everywhere across the ground and…completely dried out” (37:1-2 NLT). And it’s to *that* valley of dry bones that Ezekiel is to prophecy—to proclaim the message of God. “Dry bones, listen…! …you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD” (37:4,6 NLT).
So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army. (Ezekiel 37:10 NLT)
The scene is powerful—imagine it! Bone joining bone, topped by flesh, filled with breath (spirit), and assembling as a might army! Wow! And it speaks to whatever situation you’re facing today. It speaks to every situation I’m facing today.
What I’m wondering today has to do with our willingness to speak the living word of God into our lifeless, hopeless circumstances. I know what most of us think—“That’s silly. What difference could repeating a few words make?”
Well…none, I think, if you’re chanting a mantra or repeating some magical incantation. But if, by faith, you’re declaring what God has spoken to your heart to declare…well, I think it could make all the difference in the world.
“Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD!’”
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2 comments:
Powerful, I could only wonder wnat He was thinking when God sent Him this prophecy. Bones and more Bones but God can do all things and I want to listen to God today when He wants me to help others by sharing His word. Like He does for us glory to God
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EZ 33:6-9 also speaks very strongly to me. It says you will be held RESPONSIBLE for the death of all unwarned sinners that you were watch of. "BUT IF YOU WARNED THE WICKED TO CHANGE THEIR WAYS...AT LEAST YOU WILL HAVE SAVED YOUR OWN LIFE."
EZ 33:11 "...AS SURE AS I AM THE LIVING GOD, I TAKE NO PLEASURE FROM THE DEATH OF THE WICKED. I WANT THE WICKED TO CHANGE THEIR WAYS AND LIVE..."
Are we not SENT on a daily basis to reach out quietly and take a hand and pray with and for a lost and hurting soul in your life. Can you? Will you? Maybe it is easier to write a letter, leave an email, skype message or person to person facebook a note.
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