In the account of Ezekial’s trek with the Lord into the Valley of Dry Bones, notice … there are bones everywhere, so many bones, and Ezekial points out that they are very dry. They have been there for awhile, all the flesh has long since been devoured or crumbled and blown away. (Ezekial 37)
Then the Lord says, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
Ezekial gave the best answer ever, the one we have all used at one time or another. “O Lord God, you know!”
Then what? Then the Lord says, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’”
Look! Ezekial says to the Lord what we say all the time.
Will things get better? Lord, You know.
Will their marriage last? Lord, You know.
Will they ever change? Lord, You know.
Will I ever be free? Lord, You know.
I say today, to my own soul and to yours if your ears hear what mine are hearing, When the Lord says to speak, be not silent!
Of course only the Lord knows . . . except for the things He has made known! Good answer, that one Ezekial gave, but not the final answer, not if the Lord has revealed that things are meant to come alive! Not when the Lord has shown, has revealed, that the very fact of our love for someone lost is proof of His having chosen us to speak truth to dry bones. Not when someone loved is burdened, tormented, struggling, wounded – He knows that He knows! He is looking to see what we know, and more particularly, if we will act upon what we know.
We love, because He first loved us. To us is given to speak out of the love and mercy and power of God. Laziness and intimidation … make tracks!!
“The Lord is gracious and full of mercy, slow to anger and rich in love!” (Psalm 145:8) How many conditions around us would have to respond to those words if we would speak them!
We say, “She is still struggling.” The Lord says, “Though (she) fall (she) will rise; Though (she) dwells in darkness, the LORD is a light for (her).” (Micah 7:8)
We say, “I can’t take this any more!” The Lord says, “Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act.” (Ezra 10:4)
We say, “He is a lost cause.” The Lord says, “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.'” Ezekial 37:14
He will gather … Zephaniah 3:20, Micah 4:6 … and many other places!
He will save … Isaiah 49:25 … look!
“Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.”
Have we spoken lately on behalf of those held captive, wounded, lost, frightened?
Can these be saved? Can they rise again? Can the Lord be glorified in them?
The Lord, He knows … and so do we, if we will listen and believe.
“O Lord my God, as I light this Advent candle tonight, I repent of every shade of darkness in me that hears and reads and sees the truth of Your love and Your mighty power … and makes little or no response.
“This little flame is light to me tonight. What You have said, I believe, and so will I speak. May the bones which You have broken, rejoice! Amen.”
Gustave Dore’, by permission, Wikipedia
artist’s life plus 100 year, public domain
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