Can these dry bones live?
The Lord said to me, “Write about the dry bones.”
This was my first prompt for my blog. It seems an odd place to start. It's about a vision in the Old Testament. Seriously! That was not my favorite place to read for most of my life. Dry bones don't sound that interesting anyway. And, what could it do for my life today?
BUT, I've learned - mostly the hard way - to step out in faith and see what the Lord has to say. First thing was to get out of my own head. So first, to the actual vision. Here goes.
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The
Valley of Dry Bones
4 Then he
said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word
of the Lord! 5 This
is what the Sovereign Lord says to
these bones: I will make breath[a] enter
you, and you will come to life. 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.’”
7 So I
prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a
rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I
looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there
was no breath in them.
9 Then he said
to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is
what the Sovereign Lord says:
Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may
live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and
breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
11 Then he
said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our
bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore
prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and
bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then
you, my people, will know that I am the Lord,
when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I
will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own
land. Then you will know that I the Lord
have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
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You might find it surprising the Bible includes over 40 dreams and visions. If you count up the space they require, it comprises nearly 1/3 of the Bible. That's pretty significant. I recently completed a Biblical dream interpretaiton course where I learned that most dreams and visions are symbolic. If you'll trust me on that idea for a bit, and consider the bones are not really skeletons being put back together, what else could they represent? The first idea that seems to have merit in a number of commentaries is they represent the restoring of Israel as a people/a nation.
You might find it surprising the Bible includes over 40 dreams and visions. If you count up the space they require, it comprises nearly 1/3 of the Bible. That's pretty significant. I recently completed a Biblical dream interpretaiton course where I learned that most dreams and visions are symbolic. If you'll trust me on that idea for a bit, and consider the bones are not really skeletons being put back together, what else could they represent? The first idea that seems to have merit in a number of commentaries is they represent the restoring of Israel as a people/a nation.
The Lord has specifically chosen the Israelites. We know this from God's covenant with Abraham. From there, we go through a series of amazing adventures of these people. The pages of the Old Testament are filled with their rescue, rise, and fall. Let's take a short history walk starting with Abraham:
(1) God spoke to Abraham and told him
that his people would be established but be scattered for 400 years in captivity. (Genesis 15:13) Later, the Israelites were captured
and taken in Egypt.
(2) God called Moses to lead them out of Egypt into the Promised Land. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. (Exodus 3:10)
(3) After Moses came Joshua who led the Israelites into several underdog battles to claim the Promised Land.
(4) After Joshua's death were the times of the judges where the Lord appointed one person to lead. This time is marked with apostacy for the people "do as they saw fit.” (Judges 21:25) Well, how did that go?
(5) Another huge rise and fall through Saul, David, and Solomon, and then a plethora of mostly wicked kings and, eventually, the Israelites are taken again into captivity by
Babylon in around 600 BC for 70
years. There were 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments but, eventaully, The temple was destroyed but a
lesser version rebuilt until Rome took over.
then,
then,
(6) While Jesus walked the earth, he said in Matthew 24:2, “Do you see all these things?” he asked.
“Truly I tell you, not one store here will be left on another; every one
will be thrown down.” The second temple
was destroyed as Jesus said. The only
thing remaining is a piece of the Western Wall, or today known as the Wailing
Wall.
Yet, God holds on to His people. Jesus was born to this people and so we can expect much spiritual and physical warfare against them. History marks numerous persecutions with the horror of the Holocaust. And now we're back to Ezekiel 37! Many interpretations of this vision indicate Ezekiel's perhaps seeing into the modern-day Holocaust. During the 1930s and World War II, over 6 million Jews were killed in attempted genocide of the Jews by Hitler and his Third Reich. Nonetheless, those dry bones live! Israel claimed their independence on May 14, 1948, with Jews returning from the four corners of the earth! There are many miracles of their transformation into the nation they are today - for another blog. Oh, Israel is thriving yet still threatened by continued anti-Semitism. This is not just politics but a spiritual battle. As a believer in Christ, I know this is not a war of just weapons but a spiritual battle for God's people.
Regardless of your politics, the fact is that President Trump is the first president to acknowledge Israel as a nation. This is a really really big deal!
I'll continue..
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I have THREE points for this post:
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+1. Pray for the peace of Israel. Their bones live!
In Psalm 122:6, the Lord directs, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May those who love you prosper." (King James Version).
Looking further at the original Hebrew word "prosper," or yislayu, (יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ (yiš·lā·yū) , it means to be tranquil, secure, successful.
What a beautiful opportunity for ourselves, our families, our country, our world! As a US citizen, I celebrate our President has acknowledged Israel as a nation. I pray this continues so far as the Lord sees it for our time. I surely want our country to be tranquil, secure and successful.
"Lord, I pray for the peace of Israel. I pray you will keep a hedge of protection around them. May my country support Israel. Show me my part. In Jesus' name. Amen"
Then - Listen to what God tells you.
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2. Fall in love with the Old Testament.
I testify the Old Testament is not just "old bones". I testify there IS great life, wisdom, and joy in reading it. "In the beginning was the Word, And the Word was with God, And the Word was God." (John 1:1) Jesus is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. Use your godly imagination (yetser) as you read watching the characters in the scenes. You will find many treasures and shadows of things to come in the New Testament within the Old. Another blog. While the old laws were done away by Jesus, the lessons to learn are tremendous! You'll see in #3!
Sample prayer: "Lord, I come to you to ask you to give me a hunger and a thirst for the Old Testament. Please reveal to me those scriptures which will speak to my situation and reveal my correct course. In Jesus' name. Amen."
I testify the Old Testament is not just "old bones". I testify there IS great life, wisdom, and joy in reading it. "In the beginning was the Word, And the Word was with God, And the Word was God." (John 1:1) Jesus is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. Use your godly imagination (yetser) as you read watching the characters in the scenes. You will find many treasures and shadows of things to come in the New Testament within the Old. Another blog. While the old laws were done away by Jesus, the lessons to learn are tremendous! You'll see in #3!
Pray
for the desire to read it - to be thirsty.
Jesus said,
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. whoever believes in Me, as the scripture has said, from his heart will flow rivers of living water."
(John 7:37)
Sample prayer: "Lord, I come to you to ask you to give me a hunger and a thirst for the Old Testament. Please reveal to me those scriptures which will speak to my situation and reveal my correct course. In Jesus' name. Amen."
3. Take the words of Ezekiel and see what the Lord has to say to you for your life today. Do you
have “dry bones” in your own life? Has your marriage been dying? Are you losing fulfillment in your own pursuits? Are some things withering away? What
do you wish God to revive for you? Read
John 16:24 as if the Lord is speaking to you personally. Sit quietly and close your eyes. See yourself on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and waiting on the Lord to speak to you. Expect it.
Sample prayer: "Lord, by the promise of your word in John 16:24, I am asking you to help me in my situation (___________________). Please show me Your will. I surrender this issue to you and am looking for Your direction. In Jesus' name. Amen"
Once I surrendered my own thoughts and mental focus off my problem and onto what the Lord was doing in my life, He told me to "lighten up." He told me to "be happy" and to speak positively over my life and into the lives of others. He is so amazing! I had been negative and downtrodden through years of struggle in an abusive relationship. My bones were nearly dry. Spiritually, I was in despair in my negative world. Physically, I was near death with three major medical procedures, within three years, including a pulmonary embolism.
Going further.....
* Do not accept negativity to be spoken over your life or the lives of your loved ones. Godly counsel is given with love but negative and condemning words are not of God. People may not even realize they are speaking this way to you. Still, be kind and dodge the darts. It's a bad habit. Just focus on you and keep your eyes on Jesus. This type of spirit tries to destroy your hope. Activate your hope with positivity.
* Let your hope become your faith to see what God is doing for you. Yes, the world WILL eventually come to its end - in the Lord's due season. A life without hope is no life. This is truly when people see nothing more in their life. So, look with your heart and find the Lord. He is there.
* In belief, immerse yourself in God's living word. It is what we observe that we change. So, do you want to observe God changing your circumstances or do you seek more of your time and energy to negativity of the world?
* Avoid statements such as: “the world is coming to an end,”, “the devil is unleashed on the world and it’s only going to get worse,” “it’s too late,” type of thinking AND speaking. You are feeding the problem! Nope, it's not denial here. Quantum physics has shown that which we observe is changed. For another blog. While it is fine to be aware of the world affairs, partner with God and do not allow your bones to be dried up by focusing on it excessively.
* The Old Testament will testify to you repeatedly that God is completely in control. He controls the governments, our natural resources, everything. Nothing is too big for Him. (Daniel 10-12) Any fear-mongering mentality is hosting an enemy spirit come to "steal, kill, and destroy." (John 10:10) Release it in Jesus' name!
* The Lord asked us to be “salt and light” to the earth. (Matthew 5: 13-16) How can we do this if we jump on the negative bandwagon? No matter how bleak a situation might seem, God is there and He will help you through it. He says it even better,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE END OF THE AGE.' " (Matthew 28: 18-20)
I pray for the Lord's presence to shine upon you as you engage with Him and seek to hear Him. I pray you will hear his voice and see into the spiritual side of your life and find greater peace and joy. Please share your journey with me on my website at www.thereadingkeeper.com. You are also invited to submit your prayer requests.
"Until now you have asked nothing in My name.
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
Then, ask. Sample prayer: "Lord, by the promise of your word in John 16:24, I am asking you to help me in my situation (___________________). Please show me Your will. I surrender this issue to you and am looking for Your direction. In Jesus' name. Amen"
Once I surrendered my own thoughts and mental focus off my problem and onto what the Lord was doing in my life, He told me to "lighten up." He told me to "be happy" and to speak positively over my life and into the lives of others. He is so amazing! I had been negative and downtrodden through years of struggle in an abusive relationship. My bones were nearly dry. Spiritually, I was in despair in my negative world. Physically, I was near death with three major medical procedures, within three years, including a pulmonary embolism.
Going further.....
* Do not accept negativity to be spoken over your life or the lives of your loved ones. Godly counsel is given with love but negative and condemning words are not of God. People may not even realize they are speaking this way to you. Still, be kind and dodge the darts. It's a bad habit. Just focus on you and keep your eyes on Jesus. This type of spirit tries to destroy your hope. Activate your hope with positivity.
* Let your hope become your faith to see what God is doing for you. Yes, the world WILL eventually come to its end - in the Lord's due season. A life without hope is no life. This is truly when people see nothing more in their life. So, look with your heart and find the Lord. He is there.
* In belief, immerse yourself in God's living word. It is what we observe that we change. So, do you want to observe God changing your circumstances or do you seek more of your time and energy to negativity of the world?
* Avoid statements such as: “the world is coming to an end,”, “the devil is unleashed on the world and it’s only going to get worse,” “it’s too late,” type of thinking AND speaking. You are feeding the problem! Nope, it's not denial here. Quantum physics has shown that which we observe is changed. For another blog. While it is fine to be aware of the world affairs, partner with God and do not allow your bones to be dried up by focusing on it excessively.
* The Old Testament will testify to you repeatedly that God is completely in control. He controls the governments, our natural resources, everything. Nothing is too big for Him. (Daniel 10-12) Any fear-mongering mentality is hosting an enemy spirit come to "steal, kill, and destroy." (John 10:10) Release it in Jesus' name!
* The Lord asked us to be “salt and light” to the earth. (Matthew 5: 13-16) How can we do this if we jump on the negative bandwagon? No matter how bleak a situation might seem, God is there and He will help you through it. He says it even better,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE END OF THE AGE.' " (Matthew 28: 18-20)
I pray for the Lord's presence to shine upon you as you engage with Him and seek to hear Him. I pray you will hear his voice and see into the spiritual side of your life and find greater peace and joy. Please share your journey with me on my website at www.thereadingkeeper.com. You are also invited to submit your prayer requests.
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