Bare Bone Hope

~~~ Ezekiel 37:1-14 ~~~ Psalm 107 ~~~ Matthew 22:34-40 ~~~

The Old Testament is filled with God's surrogates, the prophets.

God chooses, appoints, anoints, and instructs

them to speak on his behalf.

Prophesy over these bones, and say to them:

Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

God led Ezekiel into a desolate place.

He finds himself surrounded by dry bones.

How can a field of bare dry bones be inspirational?

There are no visible signs of life...no blood, no muscle...no flesh.

Having recently making bone broth I have learned

that dry bare bones are still rich with hidden nutrients.

There are numerous benefits in eating this bone broth.

God instructs Ezekiel to speak

 his words over these dry lifeless bones.

It appears to be a complete waste of time.

But for God nothing is a waste of time...he can restore...

he can make all things new again. 

The scene appears to be hopeless, but Ezekiel did as God requested.

Ezekiel spoke God's words over the bones.

Prophesy over these bones, and say to them:

Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

When we find ourselves in a dry bare bones

place we too must listen to the word of the Lord.

There is a core of new life in the words of the Lord.

If we believe that God will restore an abundance of life,

then even in the midst of a pile of bones

we will not give up.

O my people, I will open your graves

and have you rise from them...

I will put my spirit in you that you may live...

The bones were restored to the land of the living

once God breathed the Spirit upon them.

Jesus is spirit and life.

This is how we are to know that God

 is indeed a God of his word.

We have been promised to receive the spirit of life.

There is nothing too dry, nothing too barren;

not even bare bones.

God commands...

From the four winds come, O spirit,

and breathe into these slain that they may come to life.

We must believe in God's words of life.

We are called to hold on to hope in 

everlasting life.

Blessed with the Spirit of the Lord.

Our hope is based in the promise of the Lord.

~~~Peace~~~