The Gospel According to Ezekiel, Chapter 37 (Part 1 of 2)

God's Sovereignty in Salvation

Last week, we examined Ezekiel 36 and saw what it takes for God to save and redeem his people. God has to intervene, step into his creation, enter the life of his people, regenerate them, grant them a heart of flesh replacing a heart of stone, put a spirit in them, give them spiritual life, and provide his Holy Spirit as the primary controlling factor in a person's life.

One of the most incredible principles of salvation is that God does what is necessary so that we can get God. The purpose of God's salvation is to bless us with the privilege of receiving God. He will dwell among us and live amongst his people.

As we examine Ezekiel 37, the valley of the dry bones, we see this play out in graphic imagery, illustrating what God does to save us from sin. God has to do this. Otherwise, we remain in ruin and misery. Without God's intervention, people are rampant with idols and flawed desires. Even under righteous rulers, there was no lasting restoration because God was not regenerating them. Their desires cannot change without God stepping in to sovereignly control and correct the fundamental problems of his people.

The Vision of the Dry Bones

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them all around, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. He said to me, “Son of Man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’”

So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then 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 come to life.”’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Ezekiel 37:1-10

God takes Ezekiel—most probably in a vision—to a valley full of dry bones to reveal his sovereignty in salvation and the condition of Israel, or anyone prior to Christ. There are exceedingly many bones, innumerable like the stars, piled in the valley. Not only are there very many, but they are very dry—long dead, decomposed, with all moisture gone.

Two key problems emerge: First, it's the valley of dry bones. They are in the wrong place, a dangerous graveyard, not a place of protection or security. Spiritual life alone is not enough; they must be taken out and brought to the right place. Second, these are dead bones—100% dead, with no life, no thinking, no choosing, no activity.

God asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel responds, “O Lord God, you know.” This eliminates any natural capacity for life; only God knows how to bring dry bones to life. God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to them: speak God's words, and God will breathe life into them.

This seems bizarre—talking to dead bones that cannot hear. Yet, God's words are powerful, as in creation and when Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb. God's speaking coincides with his breath to raise the dead. The result: from exceedingly many, exceedingly dry bones comes an exceedingly great army—a vast gathering of those given spiritual life.

The measure of deadness is reversed by the greatness of God's life-giving redemption.

Application to Israel and Us

Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come out of the graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel.”’ ... I will put my Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.

Ezekiel 37:11-13

These bones represent Israel: in the wrong location (graves among nations), wrong condition (dead), but God changes both. He opens graves, brings them out, gives his Spirit for life, places them in their land. They know God spoke and accomplished it completely—no partial restoration. From dead to life, by God's Spirit (Hebrew ruach: breath, wind, spirit).

This ruach is invisible like wind, yet its effects are visible. Breath is essential to physical life, as when God breathed into Adam. Spiritually, it's the Holy Spirit animating God's people, as in John 3: the Spirit blows where he wills; you see the effects in lives born again, controlled by the Spirit.

Salvation means ceasing to live like dead bones, yielding to the Holy Spirit's control for exceedingly great lives.

Reuniting the People Under One King

The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’ Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.”

... “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols or with their detestable things or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be my people and I will be their God.

‘My servant David will be king over them and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in my ordinances and keep my statutes and observe them ... I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God and they will be my people.’”

Ezekiel 37:15-27

God uses two sticks for divided Judah and Israel, joining them as one under one king—his servant David, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He gathers his scattered people from the nations (the valley), unites them, cleanses from idols and sin, delivers them, and dwells among them forever in his sanctuary—his holy presence.

This has partial physical fulfillment for Israel, but ultimately includes all God's people from every nation, united in Christ, sins forgiven, living forever with God dwelling among and within them. Like Eden restored: God's holiness vindicated, his people pleasing to him eternally through his Spirit.

The Promise of God's Permanent Dwelling

Considering the Hebrew word that can refer to temple or sanctuary—the temple has been destroyed—there can be an immediate fulfillment in rebuilding the temple, but the main emphasis is on the spiritual concept of God permanently dwelling with his people in a position that will not be destroyed.

From the beginning of Ezekiel, when the wickedness in his temple was so grave that God left it—one of the worst experiences for Israel—now there is the promise of permanent dwelling among his people, never to leave again.

The Greatness of the Christian Life

The Christian life prophesied here is one of newness and greatness. This is a great life, a better life—more fulfilled, enjoyable, satisfying, and permanent. It brings real, genuine change as God effects the change.

One key concept: when God acts, it is effective and permanent. In the judgment sections of Ezekiel, when we act, we ruin things, driven by sinful, boneheaded desires for idolatry and temporary pleasure.

Grace was given to correct the sin that free will plunged us in.

God's people are everywhere. Paul was prevented from moving on because God said, "I have many people here"—many dry bones needing God's word and breath.

Dry bones have no idea or desire beyond being dry. It takes God's power to bring life. If this hasn't happened in your life, recognize God's power to take you from the valley's deadness and misery into life's greatness.

As Christians, that same power lifts us from spiritual deadness and aids our fight against sin. Consistent problems arise from ignorance of God's power and reliance on the carnal nature and indwelling sin.

Yielding to God's Sovereignty Daily

God's sovereignty can take total control and push you into greatness, but as Christians, we can quench and grieve him. We must bow to his sovereignty daily.

We practice sin so much; Christians have total responsibility to practice righteousness. You'll never find victory over sins you've mastered without becoming a professional at righteousness.

If God does this, why aren't God's people positioned to let that same wind, breath, and spirit carry us into greater greatness?