Dry bones and social influencers

May 26, 2021 (Wednesday)

 

I’ve always been fascinated and puzzled by Ezekiel’s vision of “dry bones.” Let me take a survey of this vision. It starts with these ominous words, “Some time later, I felt the Lord’s power take control of me, and his Spirit carried me to a valley full of bones.” [Ezekiel 37:1 CEV]

 

Throughout Ezekiel, the LORD would pick him up and move him. At least once it was a physical movement. This is not unheard of, Elijah seems to have been transported over distances. Philip was picked up by the Holy Spirit and physically moved. Ezekiel’s transportation might have been in the form of a vision (a dream of sorts).

 

After being given a tour of the bones, that were very dry, “And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” [Ezekiel 37:3 ESV] Notice the title “son of man” used to identify Ezekiel. This title emphasizes humanity and is one Jesus used.

 

Ezekiel’s answer was very diplomatic. He doesn’t know, but he does know who does know. This is a very important theological point. The fact we do not know or do not understand does not change the fact that God does know and understand.

 

I struggled to understand this until Jill Briscoe put it in perspective at a conference: There are two main points to this vision, “Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” [Ezekiel 37:4 ESV] Ezekiel is told to preach to the dry bones.

 

The second point is, “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 may live.” [Ezekiel 37:9 ESV] Ezekiel is told to pray for the Holy Spirit. This reflects back on the Creation story when the Spirit of God breathed into Adam and he became a living soul.

 

Essentially we have a formula revival. Preach the word and pray for the Spirit. Not to be missed is what happens. When Ezekiel preaches the word, the bodies are reformed but there is no life. Even truth without the Holy Spirit does not bring life.

 

When the Holy Spirit enters into the lifeless corpses, the come to life. In fact, “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.” [Ezekiel 37:10 ESV] Not only did they come to life, but they formed a “great army.”

 

I recognize that kind of language scares some people. But I think military language is used to explain something we can understand. God’s people are not to be passive observers of their world. The church was designed to be the original “social influencers.”

 

Let’s not be like the fly inside the airplane, flapping his wings and fretting if the plane can support his weight. (From A.W. Tozer) Yes, God wants us to be faithful in the Word and utterly dependent on the Holy Spirit. But the point is we are to be an “army” of “social influencers.”

 

Who are you talking too? Who are you praying for? Who are you influencing?