How can Ezekiel 37:3 inspire hope in times of spiritual dryness? An Empty Valley, Yet God Speaks “Then He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ ‘O Lord GOD,’ I replied, ‘only You know.’ ” (Ezekiel 37:3) Why We Feel Like Dry Bones • Spiritual routines lose their sparkle; Bible reading feels mechanical • Ministry or family burdens drain energy and joy • Sin’s residue dulls our senses to God’s presence • Prolonged unanswered prayer invites resignation The Question That Revives Hope • God starts the conversation. He does not wait for Ezekiel to complain; He initiates. • The question “Can these bones live?” forces Ezekiel—and us—to confront impossibility with God’s ability. • By asking, God highlights His compassion. He notices the dryness and intends to act. Ezekiel’s Humble Reply: A Model for Us “O Lord GOD, only You know.” • Confession of limitation: we don’t manipulate revival. • Declaration of trust: God’s sovereignty covers what we cannot predict. • Invitation for intervention: surrender opens the door for divine power. Roots of Hope in the Text 1. Presence in the valley—God is right there among the bones (Psalm 23:4). 2. God’s power is not theoretical; He will soon order flesh and breath onto the bones (vv. 4-10). 3. Promise extends to the whole nation—proof that no collective crisis is beyond His reach (Jeremiah 32:27). Echoes Through the Rest of Scripture • Isaiah 44:3—“For I will pour water on the thirsty land… I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring.” • Romans 4:17—God “gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.” • John 11:25—“I am the resurrection and the life.” Dryness is no match for the living Christ. Practical Ways to Drink In This Hope • Read Ezekiel 37 aloud, inserting your own “valley” into the scene. • Replace “bones” with the name of a stagnant area in your life and answer God’s question honestly. • Meditate on Romans 4:17 for five minutes each morning; remind yourself who initiates life. • Share a testimony of past revival with a friend; speaking it out reinforces confidence. • Sing a biblically rich hymn about resurrection (e.g., “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”) to align feelings with truth. Snapshot Takeaways • God notices spiritual dryness and addresses it directly. • Hope is rooted not in our effort but in God’s creative, resurrecting power. • Honest surrender—“only You know”—positions us to witness His renewing work. |
    |