July 27, 2023 - Ezekiel 37

The valley of dry bones! The Lord to Ezekiel: “Son of man, can these bones live? (37:3) This story is always such an encouragement to me. These bones represent the dead, dry bones of the nation of Israel. There is no life here. No movement. No hope. But the Lord says he will breathe on them, and they will have breath. He will put sinew and flesh on those bones. Though dead, they will live!

And then, the description of what happened! There was a sound, a rattling. And the bones came together. And sinew and flesh came upon them. And the wind blew into them, and they lived, and they stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. At Baxter, we often share the good news with our neighbors but they do not see. They are lifeless. They do not stir toward Jesus. It seems as if we were talking to a bunch of dead, dry bones. But here’s the thing. The same God who showed Ezekiel these things can take that same seed and cause it to grow. We till, and we sow, and we water, but God gives the increase.

Also, Ezekiel uses two sticks joined together to illustrate the rejoining of Israel and Judah under one God and one king: “They shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob” (37:24-25). God makes the dead live, and he gathers his people. A good prayer for today: “O Lord, let the testimony of your word find fertile soil and grow and bear fruit in the lives of many.”

Revive thy work, O Lord,

thy mighty arm make bare;

speak with the voice that wakes the dead,

and make thy people hear.

Revive thy work, O Lord,

disturb this sleep of death;

quicken the smould’ring embers now

by thine almighty breath. -- Albert Midlane (1858)