It’s difficult to capture the significance of this passage in a few short words but let’s look at the parallels it draws.

Ezekiel is shown the valley of dry bones. It’s the valley of death. It’s vast and covered with the dry bones of people who haven’t had the proper burial that they should have been given. In Israelite culture that was considered a disgrace to leave the dead out to be picked over by scavenger animals and vultures. It’s fairly self-evident that these are the bones of Israel’s people left to decay in disgrace.

We know the people were in exile when this was written so the picture of life being breathed back into the bones as they were drawn together again and blessed with flesh is powerful. God was going to do something amazing for the nation. He was going to give them a life of their own again. There was hope!

But think of the parallels with the life and ministry of Jesus too. He too was left to die in disgrace, weighed down by the sins of humanity. His body would have been left outside to decay had it not been for Joseph of Arimathea (see Luke 23:50-53). Within 3 days God had breathed new life into his body restoring him to full vigour and health on earth and ultimately to an eternal life fit for heaven. He did that not just for Jesus but for all who have sinned or have been found to be in disgrace. He did it for all who deserve to be left to decay in the sun on the floor of the valley of death. He did it for you and me.

The great promise God made for all of us is simply this, “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live” (v.14a). Yes Lord!! Hallelujah!!

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Questions:

If you read this passage alongside Psalm 23 how does it impact you? Psalm 23 promises that as we pass through the Valley of shadow of death we will not fear because He will be with us. How does that encourage you?

Action:

Read Psalm 23 and pray that its truth is embedded in your soul for all eternity.