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    by Fred Price

DRY BONES - HEAR THE WORD
Date Posted: November 20, 2009

No matter how much time we spend in God’s word it can always remain fresh, with new insights, direction and inspiration; it being a peculiar characteristic of God’s word to be intensely relevant to any number of different people of various backgrounds, personalities, circumstances and ages. It speaks to us on different levels, at different times according to the changing needs of our lives. Some material is so unique it may surprise, amuse and even confuse us. The Prophet Ezekiel’s story of “Dry Bones” could certainly qualify as one such topic, speaking to Ezekiel’s contemporaries as well as to us; another unique characteristic - the always practical and current aspect of God’s word.

The story of the valley of Dry Bones could be a special effects highlight of a current movie as it graphically shows God’s ability to miraculously remake a man, an army, or a nation into something functional from that which was non-functional. The catalyst for all this new life? “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!” Ezekiel explains by telling how God took him by the Spirit to the middle of a valley, one full of the bones of men. There God asked him, “Can these bones live?” Live? They’re only bones, no life in them of their own! Then the Lord said, “I will give you breath, and life. I will attach tendons to enable you to move, flesh to cover your body, breath to give you life.” And as Ezekiel watched, with a growing sense of excitement, dread, awe and fear, he heard a rattling sound as bones began to move together and reassemble themselves into bodies; tendons connecting bone to bone, flesh forming to cover the skeletons and breath beginning to fill their lungs. “…they came to life and stood up on their feet - a vast army.” Ezekiel 37:1-10.

The word of God is repeatedly shown to have creative power throughout scripture, but none so dramatically as here and in Genesis 1, “And God said, ‘let there be...’” and there was! It’s power is revealed as well in the lives of individuals as they, “Hear… and are careful to obey…” Deuteronomy 6:3,4 (See also Matthew 17:5 & Deuteronomy 30:20 – “Listen to him!”)

Ezekiel’s vision may prompt us to consider what constitutes the essence of our beings. At our core, are we physical or spiritual creatures? Granted there is a melding of the two but over time our bodies always degenerate, while our spirits should grow and increase in ability and power to dominance, ushering us into eternity. Allowing us to proclaim with Paul that, “...we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 The “person” inside our bodies is that which is the sum of our beings - our beliefs, morals and code of conduct. A case in point: how many times have you maneuvered a “chance” meeting with an attractive person, only to be really disappointed? Why does that happen? People can be a bit like an ink pen; useful looking, contoured to fit your hand, colored to please the eye – but empty, no ink. The very thing that makes a pen a pen - not the outer casing but the ink cartridge inside is empty, (or the ink is a different color than expected) making the casing useless (or at least less attractive) as well. What attracts us so often to people as friends or life-long partners is superficial, short-term and to our disappointment deceiving. We need to follow God’s example in sizing people up as, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

More importantly, as Christians, we must realize that we share this dwelling we call our bodies with the Holy Spirit. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 What a sobering thought. God in me! Always present to energize, lead, bless and enable; or merely as an observer as I leash, harness and hold him back. We are physical beings, created by God as such and responsible to care for and protect these wondrously created “machines” we inhabit; but we must never forget that in God’s estimation, the physical counts for nothing without the Spirit. Answer this question if you can. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36,37 Or what can empower us, making us productive people regardless of appearances and circumstances? A weapon of both defensive and offensive properties; the sword of the Spirit – the word of God – embodied in his Son. (See John 1:1-4 & 14 and Ephesians 6:17) If you accept scripture’s claim, then there is a progression from God to Jesus to the written word. Jesus is God’s word, thus his authority to speak and expectation of obedience. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Hebrews 1:3 As a Christian, “...you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through (that) living and enduring word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23 As such, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31

This in turn empowers us to declare that, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16 In gaining insight, purpose and confidence through Christ, we can and should develop a sense of mission and ministry. For, “…if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 We must, however, stay in the word and derive from it our life-force; being careful not to lose our connection to the true source of life – becoming like those dry bones who had, “…lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by it’s ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” Colossians 2:19 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

“Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!”

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Biography Information:

Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.

Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker.  He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today.  Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.  

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