16. Dry bones…

Then the Lord said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!” This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones, “I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 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.”

Ezekiel 37:4-6

A startling image of a wasteland full of dry, dead bones, devoid of life. But in the midst of lifelessness comes hope as Ezekiel speaks out the prophesy and, in the following verses, we see new life come into the valley as the bones rattle together again and tendons and flesh appear covered by new skin. Then this veritable army of bones came to life and stood up and again God spoke through Ezekiel:

I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, ands 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.

Ezekiel 37:14

We have all been through those empty, dry times when we feel lifeless, unable to go on and we know that in those times God can lift us up out of the miry depths (Psalm 69) and restore life to us. But here we are talking about a whole nation of people who have become like broken, dry, dead bones.  Failing to thrive, failing to bring life to the world around them. Going through the motions but dead on the inside.

Is this a picture of the church in the world today? Harsh? Maybe, but I believe that many churches and groups of churches (denominations) have become indistinguishable from the world around it. Many are silent or complicit with the world in decisions that are clearly contrary to God’s Word. Others are more interested in amassing wealth building their own kingdoms.

Look at the bones again – what is God saying to us? His desire is to make breath enter us, make flesh come upon us, and restore life to his church, his people.

In the account in Ezekiel 37 (read the whole chapter if you have time) God uses Ezekiel to bring life back into the nation of Israel. Today God wants to use us as his spokespeople, his prophets to speak life into the dry and disconnected bones of his church worldwide.

My fanciful imagination can see these dry bones coming together, the flesh growing on them and, as breath returns, they begin to dance in the valley full of life and vitality. Dancing was rife in the early biblical days – around the altar, celebrating victories, bringing home the ark. Now, once again, it is time to dance, to celebrate God’s victory over sin, God’s glorious inheritance given to us.

God is saying to us:

Take up your timbrels and dance with joy because I have loved you, and love you still, with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:1-4

Dance together, now, my church. Live and take my breath to the dead bones, giving them life.

Prayer: Lord, let us be the conduit for breathing life back into your church and the world around us. Show us your dance, teach us how to dance with you to fulfil your purposes on this earth.

Amen

Action: Today, our last day of Dance with Me, choose to dance with God each day of your life bringing new life and energy into his church and the world.

Journal your thoughts: