Reclaiming God’s Glory @ 3705 Paul Truitt Lane Ezekiel 37:1–14

Ezekiel 37:1–14 ESV

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 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.” 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. 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 indeed 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.”

Tell the story of the scene from “The Great Outdoors” - Dead Man

In Ezekiel 37:1-14, we encounter the well-known prophecy of the “valley of dry bones.” In this vision, God transports Ezekiel to a valley filled with dry bones, signifying Israel’s desolation and spiritual death. Although the primary context of this passage deals with God's promise of restoration for Israel following their exile, it also serves as a profound metaphor for broader theological concepts. From a larger biblical perspective, this restoration foreshadows the work of Christ. Jesus' work on the cross and His declaration as the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26) bring new life to all who believe in Him. This new life is further realized through the work of the Holy Spirit, as described in Acts 2:1-4 and Romans 8:9-11.

While the direct application of Ezekiel 37:1-14 pertains to the restoration of Israel, the principles in this passage offer valuable insights into how God revitalizes what is dead. The vision begins with God challenging Ezekiel, asking, “Can these dry bones come to life?” This question—“Can life be breathed into something dead?”—is central to the work of church revitalization. It prompts a crucial inquiry for anyone involved in revitalizing a church: “Can this church be saved?” Addressing this question is essential, as the challenge of church renewal often depends on whether revitalization is possible.

However, this question is more nuanced than it may initially appear. It is not one that the revitalizing pastor can answer on their own. This is a reality Ezekiel himself grapples with in his response to God’s challenge: “God, you know.” Ezekiel recognized that he was not capable of determining whether a church could or should be restored. Only Yahweh has the power to bring life to what is dead. Our efforts and desires are necessary, but ultimately, it is God who breathes life into the bones. Without God’s intervention, new life will never occur.

But what if we are assured by the Spirit that revitalization can and will happen? What guidance does this passage offer for accomplishing the work of revitalization? Ezekiel provides valuable insights into how God uses His servants to carry out the work of renewal. By examining this vision, we can uncover several key truths about the role of the man of God in the process of revitalization.

The Primacy of Prayer (vv. 1-3)

Ezekiel begins his prophecy with a common phrase in his writings, "וַתְּהִ֥י עָלַ֛י יַֽד־יְהוָ֖ה" (Vatehi alay yad-YHWH), which is translated in various versions as "the hand of the Lord was upon him." This phrase, also used in Ezekiel 1:3, 3:14, and 3:22, signifies the presence or power of God upon Ezekiel, reflecting his deep communion and prayer relationship with God.

In Ezekiel 37:3, this dynamic is evident: "And He (Yahweh) said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord God, you know.'"

Ezekiel 37:3 ESV

And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”

This direct, prayerful communication underscores Ezekiel’s reliance on God. His ministry was characterized by a profound dependence on divine connection, which was essential for delivering God’s message to His people. As a prophet, Ezekiel understood that a deep relationship with God was crucial for effectively communicating His message. Richard Coggins supports this view, stating, “Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry demonstrates a profound dependence on prayer, as it is through dialogue with God that the prophet receives divine visions and guidance. Prayer is not merely a ritualistic act but a vital means of accessing divine revelation and sustaining the prophetic mission.”

True revitalization is the work of God. It begins with the sovereign act of a holy God to renew and restore His people and is accomplished when the man of God seeks the face of God. Prayer is not something we do after the work has started; it is not the rip-cord we pull in times of need. Instead, we are to pray first and pray habitually for the work God has given us. As Mark Clifton states in Rubicons of Revitalization, "Nothing happens in a dying church until we pray.”

The Necessity of Prophetic Preaching (v. 4-10)

Next, God commands the prophet to prophesy over the bones, an act that reflects a recurrent theme in the Old Testament, where the Hebrew word for "prophesy" (naba) is used over 122 times. In each instance, it denotes the role of the prophet as the mouthpiece of God, delivering His message to His people, Israel. In the post-cross era, prophetic revelation no longer comes through direct utterances but through the careful exposition and preaching of Scripture. Preaching, as the divinely ordained means of proclaiming God’s Word, remains central to the spiritual renewal and revitalization of the church. The man of God is now tasked with faithfully communicating the Word of God to the people of God through sound biblical teaching, a practice essential for the ongoing health and transformation of the church.

As Mark Clifton notes, “The first and most important thing a revitalizing pastor must do is preach the Word of God. It is through faithful, expository preaching that God’s Spirit moves to bring life to a dying church. Programs and strategies are secondary to the primary task of delivering God’s truth from the pulpit.” This assertion aligns with Romans 10:14-15 which asks, “How are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?”

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

These verses underscore the indispensable role of preaching in church revitalization. Just as revitalization is wholly dependent on the power of God through the work of the Holy Spirit, it likewise cannot be realized apart from the faithful exposition of Scripture.

The Call to Love (v. 7,11-14)

The final element of revitalization has to do with both the prophet and the people. Ezekiel has a monumentous task ahead of him. In Ezekiel 2:3-4, God forewarns Ezekiel about the task ahead of him, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’’" Ezekiel is cautioned that the work ahead of him would be tough. Revitalization is often hindered by people in them that are “impudent and stubborn.” The temptation is to ignore or marginalize such people. And yet Ezekiel is commanded not to marginalize them, but to call them to God’s greater purpose, to “Thus says the Lord God.”

In the text, Ezekiel conveys God's promise to Israel: “When I open your graves and raise you from your graves... I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live... then you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:12-14). This promise serves as a call for Israel to return to faithful obedience to Yahweh. Similarly, the church is called to move away from the spiritual death characterized by apathy and a diminished love for the things of God. Mark Clifton, in his book Reclaiming Glory, highlights a critical issue within the church: the loss of its first love. He asserts, “Spiritually dead institutions of faith die for one reason and one reason only: they stop loving what they once loved and stop doing what they once did.”

Much like the church of Ephesus described in Revelation 2:1-7

Revelation 2:1–7 ESV

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

What was the sin of the church at Ephesus? It wasn’t their doctrinal purity. Christ commends them for that. They are a church that is faithful in calling out bad teaching.

What is their sin? They abandoned their first love. They stopped loving God and what he loved. Churches that cease to love what God loves and stop pursuing what God values face inevitable decline. When nostalgia and tradition become the primary motivators of church faithfulness, decline is the likely outcome. The only hope lies in repentance and a renewed focus on God's priorities. Just as Christians are called to place their faith in Christ, the church is called to be on mission with Christ, aligning with what He loves. This raises crucial questions: What is it that Jesus loves? What did Jesus command us to do?

The answer to these two critical questions can be found in the great commission that Jesus left with His church. Matthew 28:18b-20

Matthew 28:18b–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

In this text we see the priorities of Jesus on full display. Christ is glorified by a church that not only loves doctrinal integrity, though this is important, but great doctrine without a love for the lost and making disciples is a recipe for the spiritual death of the church. The heartbeat of revitalization is the call to lead people to a right relationship with the God of the universe.