Picking Up Bones

Ezekiel 37:1-14 
 
I have a bone to pick with you. In the valley of dry bones, we can learn something about ourselves and our local churches. Let us take a moment to find out what these dry bones can tell us. 
 
Nothing on this earth can bring bones back to life, only God can restore life. Ezekiel came across a valley of bones. The Spirit of the Lord told him to prophesy to these bones, and as he did, the sinews and flesh came on them, and then the skin. Ezekiel was then told to prophesy for the wind to blow, and as he did the wind blew, and the bodies stood up and breathed.
 
This vision delineates the promise made in chapter 36, life renewed and a country reestablished, in physical and spiritual aspects. The dry bones are a portrayal of the Jewish individuals in bondage, dispersed and dead. The outcasts of both Israel and Judah would be discharged from their 'graves' of bondage and one day be regathered in their home country. Ezekiel felt that he was addressing the dead as he lectured the outcasts since they only reacted to his messages occasionally. In any case, look how these bones reacted! As God brought life once again into these dry dead bones, He would bring life once more into the spiritually dead people.

• Psalm 141:7, Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
• Hosea 13:14, I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
• Joel 2:27, And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
• Revelation 11:11, And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 

 
The dry bones spoke to the individuals' condition of being spiritually dead. Our places of worship may appear to be a load of evaporated issues that remain to be worked out, spiritually dead with no expectation of essentialness. Similarly, as God vowed to reestablish His country, He can reestablish any congregation, regardless of how dry it might be. As opposed to giving up, Christians ought to appeal to God for recharging, for God can reestablish it to life. The expectation and supplication of each congregation ought to be that God will place His Spirit into it (Ezekiel 37:14). God is calling His children back to Himself, bringing new life into dead holy places and dead Christians.

• Isaiah 26:19, Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
• Amos 9:14, And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
• Ezekiel 36:27, And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
• Joel 2:28, And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 

 
This vision was to encourage the Jews. It shows their rebuilding after being in captivity, and their coming together from being exiled. Additionally, it represents the restoration of the dead, and it speaks of God's saving grace. 
 
Types of Bones:

• Wish Bones. They sit around and hope for something.
• Jaw Bones. They are a lot of talk but no action. They are not spreading the Word of God.
• Funny Bones. They are not serious about their Christian work.
• Feet Bones. Is there any movement or are they just standing still.
• Back Bones. They have no courage and are constantly afraid of doing anything.
• Dry Bones. Either intentionally or unintentionally, they are dead and need the Living Water of the Lord. 

 
How many churches of today are like these bones in Ezekiel 37? 
 
The fundamental lesson is when the Spirit of God is present, His people are enabled to live.