Ezekiel 37:1 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.
Commentary pointed out something that I’m sure I knew but that I don’t often think about when reading this passage: “…these bones were not only dead; they were also disgraced.” God not only breathes life into dry bones, He breathes life into the bones of people left to rot and be torn apart by animals, people that others have given up on. God gives them life. He breathes into them, picks up the pieces, stitches them back together with sinews and muscles and skin, and claims them as His own. This is an incredibly powerful image for me.
Ezekiel 37:4-5 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.’”
Haven’t we all felt like dry bones at times? Abandoned, disgraced, forgotten, utterly exhausted, too far gone to be saved? But God sees us. He knows our names. He knows our value and worth. He can breathe life back into our dry bones. Thank You, Jesus.
Ezekiel 37:6 “‘I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Lord, There is so much to be thankful for in this passage. Thank You that You claim us, even in our exhaustion and disgrace. Thank You that You weave us back together, that You breathe life back into our dry bones. Thank You for claiming us as Your own. We can never be worthy of the title, yet we can live into Your grace and love. Help us, Lord. Amen.
Ezekiel 37:23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Have a blessed day.