Are You the Dry Bones in the Valley?
The Valley of Dry Bones is a significant prophetic vision neatly placed in the Book of Ezekiel, specifically in Ezekiel 37:1-14. This passage is a powerful illustration of GOD's ability to restore life and hope to His people, Israel, even in the most desolate circumstances.
Ezekiel was a prophet-priest of ancient Israel. He is a central figure whose focused mission’s purpose and writings are recorded in the Book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity.
Dry Meaning in THIS Setting and Context: The word "dry" can be expressed in several ways depending on the situation (setting). There are two (2) words (common translations) that would fit here: yavesh and tsiyyah. "Yavesh" generally means "dry" as an adjective, while "tsiyyah" often refers to a "dry land" or "desert".
Yavesh: This is the most common Hebrew word for "dry." It can be used to describe anything that is not wet, like dry clothes, dry food, or a dry climate. It can also be used as a verb, meaning "to dry" or "to wither".
Tsiyyah: This word typically refers to a dry or arid place, like a desert or a parched land. It can also be used to describe the state of being dry.
This refers to the people of Judah, and its surrounding cities. Nowhere (just yet) is ELOHIM referencing the Nations outside of Judah (Israel). However, that will come soon enough.
Ezekiel’s charge began with condemnation and judgment of the nation Judah. After the destruction of Jerusalem, Ezekiel’s prophecies speak of hope for the future. Ezekiel wanted to help the people learn from their failures. He announced impending judgment upon the nations that surrounded Judah and reestablished hope for the restoration of Israel.
NOTE: This prophecy will be ultimately fulfilled in the millennial reign of Yeshua on earth. That will be a LOT of people!
The Vision of the Valley of the Dry Bones in the book of Ezekiel is quite compelling, when it comes to grabbing the attention of the reader and storyteller. Without any doubt, even the casual reader can grasp that it represents the resurrection/restoration of the rebellious people of Judah. They just would not listen!
NOTE: Does this not sound like the plea for the Spirit of Truth calling to us today? Look at these pastors and evangelists falling away, and leading others to do the same.
NOTE: Look at the rest of us who on the daily allow the “crouching sin” to get inside of our doors and overtake us and eventually rule us. It does not have to be a prominent figure. Satan wants us all. It just looks a bit worse, when it is someone who “really knows GOD.” <wink> <wink>
In this vision, Ezekiel is led by GOD into a valley filled with dry bones, and GOD Instructs him to prophecy to the bones, promising that they will come to life. The vision holds deep spiritual significance and remains relevant for ALL believers TODAY.
It reminds me of the term: “Revival.”
Revival first gives the notion that something was once alive and has died and has hope of being raised again.
Per the dictionary, “Revival is the act of refreshing after decline. The word has its origins in the Latin word "revivalis," which means "to live again" or "to come back to life".” Its beginnings range from 1650s – 1660s.
The sense of "a general and extraordinary religious awakening in a community". By 1818 it was used of enthusiastic religious meetings (often by Methodists) meant to inspire revival.
In Ezekiel 37:12-14, GOD promises to restore the Israelites from exile, symbolizing His ability to bring new life and hope to those who are spiritually dead and feel abandoned.
Causing bones to live again: In the Hebrew language, the word for bone is “etsem” (body). The language also uses various terms to describe different bones, such as "atzeh" for (the lower part) and "mafreket" for the (upper cervical) parts of the spinal column.
MYHOLOGICAL NOTE: The spinal column in Hebrew is called. In Judean (Israeli) mythology, the luz is a bone in the spinal column that houses the soul of the human body.
NOTE: Is it not “the soul that sins that dies”?
“19 Yet you may ask, ‘Why shouldn’t the son bear the iniquity of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live. 20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him. 21 But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die” –Ezekiel 18:19-21
NOTE: In the framework of biology, the concept of "form-of-life" refers to a way of being where life and the way it is lived cannot be separated. It is a phenomenon (unexplained humanly) where cells of a dead organism continue to exhibit certain behaviors.
NOTE: In philosophy, the idea of "forms of life" is associated with the idea that the institution of the state itself is a biological organism or "life form" with its own anatomy and physiology. “Form-of-life" emphasizes that an individual's existence and actions fully embody their essence, rather than being constrained by societal norms or roles.
If you would consider (and you should) that the essence of our life would be in the bones, you would have to return to the marrow and to the blood of the marrow. BOTH tells you that (1) life is in the blood (2) the Word of GOD can penetrate even into the marrow of the blood.
BIOLOGY NOTE: Bone marrow is a semi-solid tissue found within the spongy portions of bones. In adult humans, bone marrow is primarily located in the ribs, vertebrae, sternum, and bones of the pelvis. Bone marrow comprises approximately 5% of total body mass in healthy adult humans.
Human marrow produces approximately 500 billion blood cells per day.
“Can these bones live? This is a much larger question than one would believe. Those bones would have to be reconstructed and renewed, as indicated by the list of things GOD would have to reattach (reform and renew) on them.
SPIRITUAL NOTE: You MUST know that each reattached (reformed and renewed) body would get its soul returned (renewed and made alive again). Please don’t ask me to definitively explain this thought. I am just typing what is coming from my biology schooling, my Bible research and simple logic.
Maybe the Spirit of GOD is teaching me as I type. The bones did not have souls did they?
Like Ezekiel, as I walk among the bones around me, I am frequently filled with a sense of gloom and desperateness at what I see and hear.
…and suddenly, the Lord speaks, and I get to write. It often ends up in a study of something I’ve read, but here in the past few weeks, it has been something that comes to my mind. I ponder and then I start to research and learn.
I am a believer that Father’s Spirit can and will bring life to those who once were and once did serve Him. Many of us/them are struggling with identity and several are not willing to fully commit. …just like Israel and Judah respectively, but the Bible indicates, ISRAEL as a Nation will be restored to Him! They will come back to life.
As Ezekiel obeyed, a miraculous event unfolded before his eyes. The bones started to rattle and come together, forming skeletons. Muscles and flesh covered the bones, and breath entered them, bringing them back to life. The valley that was once filled with death and desolation is now teeming with a vast army of living beings, a powerful demonstration of GOD’s ability to bring life out of death.
In that powerful scene, Ezekiel witnessed the resurrection of the dry bones, a symbol of hope and restoration for the people of Israel. My hope and aim are to be obedient so that the bones around me will get new life and Father will be pleased with my obedience.
PROBING QUESTIONS: How is your walk with the Spirit of the LORD? Are you distant from Him? Do you have any signs of life?
All of these passages in Ezekiel 37 emphasize GOD’s power to restore life and hope even in seemingly hopeless situations. If you feel like you want to dig a little further, look into this one as well ... Proverbs 17:22, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." Many so-called believers have little understanding that joy is the delight of knowing and serving the LORD’s Son. That long-faced religion is not persuading anyone to believe that you are being renewed.
Maybe you who once was, would want to be revived after reading this. Let’s accurately call that – REVIVAL.
Ezekiel delivered GOD’s Messages with straight-forward language that everyone could understand whether they listened or not (Ezekiel 2:7). Ezekiel himself was called to be a watchman, and GOD warned him that, “If he did not faithfully warn of the punishment for not following Him, Ezekiel would be held accountable for the blood of those who died in their sins” –Ezekiel 33:8–9
He did not hesitate in his mission and steadfastly followed GOD’s Instructions. Ezekiel had a passionate view of judgment and hope, and he reflected GOD’s own sorrow over the people’s sins.
Talk about full obedience. Ezekiel shared the Words of his ELOHIM in grief but was not allowed to display it. Ezekiel’s sorrow was compounded by the death of his wife (Ezekiel 24)—an event that GOD prohibited him to weep over. GOD used the death of Ezekiel’s wife as a sign to the people of Judah. Just as the prophet lost his wife, the people of Judah would lose their temple. Also, just as Ezekiel did not show outward signs of mourning, the people of Judah would be stunned to the point of silence by the sorrow they felt.
This next statement emphasizes the responsibility of the prophet to deliver GOD's Message regardless of the people's willingness to hear it.
Ezekiel 2:7 states: "You shall speak My Words to them, whether they listen or refuse, for they are a rebellious house."
The vision shown to Ezekiel of all those people who once lived was a great depiction of the power of GOD’s Word and His Spirit. Ezekiel was given the Words. GOD’s Power did the work. In the end, it was a restoration of the entire nation of Israel. They were His from the beginning, and their obedience and His love fostered their renewal.
NOTE: Just like us, who have fallen, or run away, we have the opportunity to be renewed again. Activate your faith and obedience. You will not be disappointed. Our hope is always within reach.
The LORD asked Ezekiel this question, “Can these bones live?”
Ezekiel’s response was a good one, “Oh LORD, You know.” The bones are identified as the whole house of Israel, symbolizing their spiritual and physical desolation but ultimate restoration through God's power.
The vernacular of today would be, My ELOHIM, You are the only One Who knows that answer. They have not listened to anything you have told me to tell them.
Are you struggling with obeying GOD’s Commands? Maybe you are dead and need some Life-giving Word and Spirit in and around you. I pray for you, the reader, that you would know the LORD in ways that honor and please Him alone. However, in the process, He RESTORES your soul to HIMSELF.