Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - DRY BONES

 DRY BONES

In the 37th chapter of the Book that bears his name, Ezekiel refers to a vision and prophecy that was given to him. He refers to a valley where there were numerous dry bones scattered about. Now obviously the people to whom these bones belonged were dead and long gone because theses bones were “very dry” (Ezekiel 37:2). Also, they were just scattered about and not buried, the usual custom of that time, indicating that these bones had been rejected to some extent by the general populace.

This all came about a number of years after the Hebrew people had been divided into Israel and Judea. They had been conquered by foreign invaders and the people as a result scattered into many lands. It may have seemed as if the Hebrew nation would be no more.

But God told Ezekiel to “…‘Prophesy upon these bones’…” (Ezekiel 37:4) and also to “…Prophesy unto the breath (wind)…and say to the breath to ‘Come…and breathe upon these slain, that they might live’” (Ezekiel 37:9). And breath came into these bones “…and they lived and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army” (Ezekiel 37:10).

Breath is an important concept in the Bible. Man apparently did not become alive until God gave him breath. “And the Lord God formed man…and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). The entire Bible is believed to be inspired (breathed into) by God for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16). In Revelation it refers to the two witnesses being killed and remaining so until “…the breath of God entered them, and they stood on their feet…” (Revelation 11:11).

There is much in the Bible about receiving God’s breath and about receiving God’s word. If, as we believe, the Bible is God’s word and is fully inspired, then receiving God’s breath (His Word) should be one our top priorities. After all, according to Genesis, we’re all dead until we receive it and accept it. We see an example of this in Ephesians 2:1 were it states: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins…” This breath of life is also recorded in John 20:22 when, to the disciples “…He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’.”

John states that “…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14). The breath of God dwelt among us, that same breath that caused man to become a living being. In times of despair, discouragement and seeming defeat, it might be prudent to do more of what Ezekiel did back in the days of Judah’s trials: prophesy, pray, and ask for the breath of God to come once again. Then perhaps we won’t be like the fig tree that Jesus cursed “…The fig tree which You cursed has withered away…” (Mark 11:21) but more like those bones which received a new breath from God and arose to become “…an exceeding great army…”(Ezekiel 37:10)

In the beginning of the church era, the focus was on Christ and His resurrection, on the breath of God and the consequences. “…we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness…” (1Corinthians 1:23). But the church grew exponentially with that message. We need more of that message today.

It’s certainly something to think about.