PODCAST
On The Homestretch
December 10th, 2016
Ezekiel 37:1-14
As you read Ezekiel 37, if you are like me, you are singing, “’Dem bones, ’dem bones, ’dem dry bones.” What quartet is worth its salt if it doesn’t have this folk spiritual in its repertoire?
The “hand of the LORD” (v. 1) brought Ezekiel to a valley where he received a vision. These dry human bones indicated an extremely large army slain in a great battle. God enumerated how He would restore these bones to life: sinew, flesh, skin, and then breath. (Breath and spirit are used interchangeably in this passage.)
Despondent Israel was in a similar position without hope. They were in graves of exile in Babylon, completely cut off; only an act of God could restore the house of Israel to its homeland. In this restoration, Israel would know that it was God who had rescued them. They would have confidence in this. Note how lovingly God called them, “My people. . . . My people” (vv. 12, 13).
An old plaque that hung in the kitchen of my childhood home read, “Home is where the Heart is.” Israel had God’s promise.
Author: Pat Kissell
