“Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ”” Ezekiel 37:11-14 NKJV
God of Life,
The picture of the valley of bones is probably one of the better known passages of Ezekiel, Lord. How You showed Him You truly are the creator of life of man. Bone connects with bone then tendons, or sinews, then flesh appears upon the skeletons, then life is breathed into them. Then comes another explanation of how You, God long to revive Your people to the life they have in You. This follows from Your question, “Why should You die?” (Ezekiel 33:11) For many of the exiles, they believe there is no hope. They have lost the promised land, their freedom, their Temple. All Your provision and protection.
Ezekiel discovers for himself and then shows Your people, in exile, that Your desire, God, is always to give the choice of life. Opportunity to renew, to resurrect and live again. You, God, challenged them to believe, receive Your breath, Your Spirit, and watch what You will do to restore them. If they want it.
Today as we worship, You call us to believe, to receive Your life and trust in You for our future. This same Spirit, Your Spirit, gave life to Ezekiel’s army, raised Christ from the dead and, dwells in us (Romans 8:11). No matter how hard it gets, or challenging, or overwhelming, or confusing, Your breath is in us. Help me understand all that means.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Sunday 16th August 2026
This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me
This is my daily bread
This is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me
And I I’m desperate for you
And I I’m I’m lost without you
Repeat
Lyrics: Marie Barnett