Major Prophets Ezekiel

The Valley Of Dry Bones

Discover Jesus as: New David Ezekiel 37-38 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 642 of 730
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INTRO

Chapter 37 is one of the most familiar and famous chapters of the book of Ezekiel, but probably few individuals know what it means. The assumption is it has no application to us. So, the tendency would be to not read the book of Ezekiel. But all Scripture helps prepare us and point us to Jesus.

In Ezekiel 36, Ezekiel spoke to the mountains. He spoke first about restoration to the land. Second, Ezekiel 36 is about restoration of the heart. Ezekiel spoke directly to those who were in exile. He told the people of Israel they would be released someday, and life would come back to them eventually. The message was specifically for them. Ezekiel was not talking to the American church today. The message was for those in captivity during Ezekiel’s time.

TEACHING

Ezekiel 37: Ezekiel was brought to the middle of a valley full of dry bones. Ezekiel paints a picture of this valley and how he was led all around the bones. Wiersbe states verses 1–14 is about “the nation being reborn.”1 Again, Ezekiel was talking directly to the people of Israel.

According to MacArthur, “This language pictures the dead nation lifeless, scattered, and bleached, just as a dry tree (Ezekiel 17:24) pictures a dead nation, to which only God can give life. The many dry bones (v. 2) picture the nation of Israel (v. 11) as apparently dead in their dispersion and waiting for national resurrection. The people know about the doctrine of individual resurrection, otherwise the prophecy would have had no meaning (1 Kings 17; 2 Kings 4; 13:21; Isaiah 25:8; 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Hosea 13:14).”2 Only God could give life to the valley of dry bones. The picture was like that of dead wood that only God could restore to life.

Ezekiel was told to prophesy to the dry bones in verse 4–8. Ezekiel said to the dry bones, “Hear the Word of the LORD!” Ezekiel was so oriented to listening to the Holy Spirit that he follows God’s direction without hesitation. Proverbs 18:21 states life and death are in the power of the tongue. John 6:63 is a reference to the Spirit giving life. Ezekiel was full of the Spirit of God. The Spirit was the one that gave life and not the flesh.

Ezekiel believed that whatever he spoke would come to fruition. He released the Word of the Lord with that expectation. Proverbs 10:11 mentions the mouth of the righteous bringing life by bringing the Word. The words of the righteous should point people to the Lord.

Ezekiel 37:7–8: was the account of the bones coming to life while Ezekiel was speaking. Bones came together bone on bone. Human beings were being formed, but there was no breath in them.

Ezekiel 37:9–10: By verse 9 Ezekiel was told to prophesy to the breath, from the four winds, so that those lifeless bodies would come to life. Ezekiel first talked to the bones, and then he talked to the breath. As he watched, bones became bodies. The bodies were given breath, and a vast army came to life.

Ezekiel 37:11–14: Verse 11 compares the army to the whole house of Israel. Through Ezekiel, God told the people of Israel that He would lead them to the land of Israel as was prophesied in chapter 36. This was the declaration of the Lord. This message was for the nation of Israel, but it also has points of application for our current circumstances.

Ezekiel 37:15–23: In verse 16 Ezekiel wrote on sticks. One stick represented Israel, and another stick represented Judah. The sticks were then made into one in Ezekiel’s hand. This represented the kingdoms of Israel and Judah coming back together. The kingdoms split after the reign of Solomon, so for 390 years, the kingdoms had been divided.

God would gather the people that had been scattered, and they would no longer be two nations. They would be one nation and would have one king (vv. 21-22). They were waiting for the King of kings, Jesus. Matthew wrote about Jesus becoming King over all of the people of Israel.

Ezekiel 37:24–28: Verse 25 states the people would live in the land that was given to Jacob. Their children and grandchildren would live in the land. God’s servant, the New David, the Messiah, would come to be their prince forever.

A covenant of peace was promised. God would be their God, and they would be God’s people. The temple would be established. All the nations would know God had sanctified Israel.

The covenant of peace was restored. Jeremiah 16:5 explains that God had removed His peace from the people. In Isaiah 9 the people were told to pray for the Prince of Peace to come. Many of the psalms also instruct the people to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The only way any of this could take place and a covenant of peace could be reestablished was through the King of Peace Himself, King Jesus. Jesus was the only one that could restore the peace that was taken away.

CLOSING

Jesus, through the Spirit of God, can give us life. That’s what we see in the valley of dry bones. That’s what we see in the unity of two sticks. That’s what we see when a divided kingdom comes together. When there was unity, that was when the people knew God was a part of all this. Jesus wants us to be one in Spirit. He talked about Israel being one, but He also wants the body of Christ to be one.

This account in Scripture should give hope. The chapters that follow have a message of peace even though there was an account of the enemy of Israel, Gog, that wanted to keep them from obtaining that peace. Eventually Yahweh comes in and brings judgment against those that are against God’s people.

Remember that whatever comes against you, one thing is assured, when you have faith in the Prince of Peace, He will never leave you.

  1. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament (Colorado Springs, David C. Cook, 1989), p. 230.

  2. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 711.

Questions

  1. Could the vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1–14 be an example of an unbeliever coming to new life in Christ? Why or why not?
  2. In Ezekiel 37:25–28 several times the Lord says “forever.” Generations will live there forever; His temple will be there forever. Do you believe this could be true even now? Do you think the generations and His temple are still there? Why do you believe that?
  3. In Ezekiel 38, the Lord told Gog his army would be destroyed when they attacked Israel. Why then, if they knew the outcome of being killed, would they continue with the siege? Did they not believe the Word of God? Have you ever acted like Gog, knowing beforehand what would happen but choosing to do it anyway? What was the outcome?
  4. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Ezekiel 37—38 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Ezekiel 37:3–5

“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I replied, ‘Lord GOD, only You know.’ He said to me, ‘Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.’”

The hand of the Lord rested on Ezekiel as His Spirit led Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones. The Lord commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones: “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! . . . I will cause breath to enter you and you will live! . . . Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” Ezekiel did as the Lord commanded, and the dry bones came to life.

As a believer, Jesus brings you life. He lives in you. He promises you full restoration. He promises to wake you up from a dead-like sleep and restore your soul. Ezekiel followed God’s specific commands, spoke life over the bones, and those bones came alive. Today, as you think about people or situations around you needing to find life, choose to become the bearer of the life-giving power of Jesus. Begin to speak words of hope and love into your home, your spouse, your child, or your friend. May the Spirit of God raise them up, in Jesus’ name, with life, with power, and with love. No longer may people live as though they are dead. Today, turn to Jesus in His Word, His presence, even with His people, and allow His Spirit to breathe life into you and those around you!

“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I replied, ‘Lord God, only You know.’ He said to me, ‘Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.’”

— Ezekiel 37:3–5

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Proverbs 18:21 — “Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
  • Ezekiel 37:10 — “So I prophesied as He commanded me; the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army.”
  • John 6:63 — “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.”