Sermon Tone Analysis

See Ezekiel 37:1-14

Introduction

BONES While often referring to the skeletal remains of humans (Gen.

50:25; Exod.

13:19; 1 Sam.

31:13), “bones” were also referred to metaphorically.

“Rottenness in his bones” signified one whose wife caused shame and confusion (Prov.

12:4; 14:30, “to the bones” HCSB) or could refer to dejectedness and anticipation of approaching evil (Hab.

3:16).

The “shaking of bones” denoted fear (Job 4:14) or sadness (Jer.

23:9).

The “burning of the bones” indicated grief and depression (Ps.

102:3; Lam.

1:13) and the feeling of Jeremiah when he tried to refrain from proclaiming God’s message (Jer.

20:9).

“Dryness of bones” meant poor health (Prov.

17:22).

Various other expressions using “bones” referred to mental distress (Job 30:17; Pss.

6:2; 22:14; 31:10; 38:3; 51:8; Lam.

3:4).

“Bone of my bones” may mean having the same nature or being the nearest relation (Gen.

2:23; 2 Sam.

5:1).

It is the issue of dry bones that concern us today.

I’m afraid that many of you listening this morning may be suffering from this uncomfortable condition.

No, I am not talking in a literal sense but in a figrative and spiritual one.

Because, to have dry bones is to be without hope.

B. What Is Hopelessness?

When zealous religious leaders sought to kill the apostle Paul, he—a Roman citizen—appealed to Caesar.

Soon Paul found himself a prisoner on a ship headed to Rome.

A treacherous storm arose, and eventually all on board lost hope.…

All on board believed they would die.…

All on board saw the situation as hopeless.

Paul admitted,

“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.”

(Acts 27:20)

• Hopelessness is characterized by absolute despair with no expectation of good.5

The Bible refers to those who have only a hope that perishes,

“Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless.”

(Job 8:13)

• Hopelessness in the New Testament is conveyed by the Greek word apelpizo, which is also translated “despair.”

(Apo means “away from” and elpizo means “to hope.”

When combined, this word literally means “to be away from hope.”)6

• Hopeless thinking can result in a desire to die.

Those who feel hopeless are unable to envision any viable option for their problems—death seems the only solution.

Explanation

The text before this afternoon is a beloved biblical passage that many have mistakenly believe to be about the general resurrection of all the saints of God when the Lord Jesus comes back again.

This ideation does not agree with the message of the book, nor the context in which it is found.

What we must bear in mind as we approach this text is that the Book of Ezekiel is the account of a prophet who lived and preached during the 6th Century before the common era.

As we open the book, we discover that the prophet enlightens us to the fact that his location is at the river Chebar, among the exiles.

Bible students immediately pick up on the word exiles and conclude that the prophet is somewhere outside of land of Palestine.

The Old Testament records two major events where the people of God where exiled.

First was the Northern Kingdom who were carried away captive by the Assyrians in 722 BC, the other was in 597 BC when Nebuchadnezzer and the Babylonians took captives into exile in Babylon.

The prophert not only tells us that he is exiled, he also tells us why.

It is the tragic story of how God chose a people to be his own and the rebelled against Him.

It has been said that history has a way of repeating itself.

I submit to you today that the Lord had chosen for himself a people to be his own right here on these shores of the United States of America and we, just like Israel have refused to honor Him, but have instead rebelled against Him.

See Ezek 2:3-4

Application

The text is tailored to teach us that 1) Rebellion Kills, 2) Hopelessness clouds the Future, and 3) God has the answers to “dead situations”

REBELLION: Rebelliousness

Rebellion encompasses the political and the religious life of Israel.

In the ot, rebellion involves defiant acts and attitudes toward royal figures and God.

The concept of rebellion is less prominent in the nt, where it is most closely represented by the concept of apostasy.

REBELLION Rebellion is always against God, even though the counselee may intend to rebel against the counselor.

This fact must be made known to rebels.

God will not put up with rebellion; it is an attitude of shaking one’s fist in God’s face.

If it is not momentary, and followed by sincere repentance, it should be met by the extreme of church discipline (q.v.).

II.

CHARACTERISTICS

A. Characteristics of a Rebel

• Insolent

• Resistant

• Unbelieving

• Resentful of authority

• Defensive

• Independent

• Complaining

• Distrustful

• Greedy

• Defiant

“Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses.

With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.

They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far!’

When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.”

(Numbers 16:1–4)

See Proverbs 13:12