Dry Bones — Part 5: April 12, 2024

Broadcast

                          Dry Bones - Part 5
                           Ezekiel 37:11-14
                              04/12/2024


        11   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 is lost; we are
             clean cut off.'
        12   Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the
             Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and
             raise you from your graves, O my people. And I
             will bring you into the land of Israel.
        13   And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open
             your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my
             people.
        14   And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall
             live, and I will place you in your own land. Then
             you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken,
             and I will do it, declares the LORD.  (ESV)

        Ezekiel, a prophet who lived and worked while the children
   of Israel were exiled in Babylon, received a vision of a valley
   of dry bones.  God told him to proclaim the word of promise, the
   word of life to the bones.  The bones came to life.  The
   resurrected multitude was given the assurance of the restoration
   of Israel.
        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 is lost; we are clean cut
        off.'  Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says
        the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise
        you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you
        into the land of Israel.  And you shall know that I am
        the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from
        your graves, O my people.  And I will put my Spirit
        within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in
        your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD;
        I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.


        This prophecy, this revelation that God can indeed raise the
   dead, goes well beyond Israel's future.  Israel would indeed be
   revived and receive the restoration of an earthly kingdom.

        But a revived Israel is but the dry bones from which God
   will call Spirit-filled people from all nations to Himself.
   Those who are dead in the trespass of sin receive a new life in
   Christ Jesus because of His death and resurrection.

        Do you wish to learn more?  Join us at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday
   at Trinity Lutheran Church.  You will hear of God's rich grace,
   love, and mercy which restores you to the hope of everlasting
   life.  Amen.