DRY BONES SHALL RISE AGAIN

This is a very familiar story. Ezekiel the prophet had a very prophetic vision in which he saw himself in a valley of dry bones.

Ezekiel 37:1–2(NKJV)

1. The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.

2. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.

Now, something important to note is that visions are not meant to be interpreted literally. They usually have symbolic or metaphorical significances, just like Joseph’s in Genesis 37:9—the sun, the moon, and some stars never bowed down to him. Same with Pharaoh’s in Genesis 41:1–4; it never happened that ugly and skinny cows ate up healthy and fat cows. In fact, it has never happened in history, as cows are herbivores (plant-eating) and not carnivores (meat-eating). Same with Peter’s vision in Acts 10:9–17. One major fact that usually defines visions is symbolism—the elements usually have underlying meanings.

So, what exactly is the significance of Ezekiel’s experience? Does this vision have anything to do with physical healing or revitalization of a stagnant project?

To find our answers, all we need is to calmly pay attention to the entire narrative.

Ezekiel 37:3–11(NKJV)

3. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know."

4. Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, "O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

5. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

6. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.""'

7. So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.

8. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

9. Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, "Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.""'

10. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.

At the prophetic words, the bones became an exceedingly great army. These bones were hitherto dry, in fact, very dry (verse 2) meaning they were completely void of life, hence the question in the next verse, “Can these bones live?” Not only were they dry, they were disjointed and scattered all around.

Interestingly, immediately after the sight and sound, God explained the meaning.

Ezekiel 37:11–14(NKJV)

11. Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, "Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!'

12. Therefore prophesy and say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

13. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.

14. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD."'

This entire prophecy was about the restoration and revival of Israel. In a number of chapters earlier, the prophet had pronounced God’s judgment on the entire nation for their unswerving rebellion. It is also worthy of note that the approximately 20 years of Ezekiel’s prophecies spanned from the early stages of the captivity of Judah to Babylon (ch. 1:1–3) until Jerusalem was finally captured in 586 B.C. (ch. 33:21).

“I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.”

The graves here signify the place they were taken captive to. God promised to set them free from there and bring them back into their land.

“I will put my Spirit in you and you shall live.”

This was the promise of the new birth that Jesus would come to fulfil in his eternal sacrifice—the indwelling of the Holy Spirit exclusively within the framework of the finished work of Christ. This is the seal of life—eternal life. Paul in Romans 8:2 called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of life.

Ezekiel had prophesied similar words earlier before the vision, so the vision was a further confirmation and emphasis on what the LORD would do in Christ Jesus.

Ezekiel 11:17–20(NKJV)

17. Therefore say, "Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel."'

18. And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there.

19. Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,

20. that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 36:24–27(NKJV)

24. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.

25. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

26. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

So, the prophecy of the vision in the valley of dry bones was about the restoration and revival of Israel on account of God’s mercies, faithfulness, and awesome power.

Amen.

Victor Ibosiola © 2022

An excerpt from The New Covenant Series: Introducing the New Covenant (2018)