Can these dry bones live?

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Ezekiel 37:1-21 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ Ezekiel 37:3

The alarm goes, you make a cup of tea, then reach for your phone to check the BBC News, known as doomscrolling: wars, famine, floods, rising prices, and the church news is as bad. Is there any hope? It seems not. Can these dry bones live?

The vision of the valley of dry bones is familiar to many, but the key to understanding this chapter is its context. Ezekiel has been promising new leadership, a restored land, rebuilt cities. They looked at the shattered remains of their people in exile and could only say: “Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost. Can these bones live?” The answer appears to be no, but Ezekiel believed it could happen. Ezekiel speaks first to the bones, telling them to hear, exhorting lifeless people to listen to the word of God. Secondly he speaks to the spirit, tantamount to praying. The effect was devastating; prayer made the vision a reality. The bones represent Israel in exile. They have been there for more than ten years, glimmering of hope extinguished. Hope was gone, their bones were very dry. In the vision of dry bones, God reassures His people of hope amidst despair. The imagery speaks powerfully of their current state – spiritually dead and exiled. Ezekiel’s message is one of both national and spiritual restoration.

In the middle of the 19th Century, many godly Welsh Christians felt the need for a powerful awakening. Many people prayed privately at times of worship and in congregational services. At 5am in the morning the chapel at Tre’r–ddol was crowded. Children and youth held prayer meetings, revival continued to spread. In place after place drunkenness decreased, pubs were empty, the cursing and swearing in the mines nearly disappeared. Prayer meetings became the principle means of awakening churches. As soon as people were saved, they became prayer warriors. It was a prayer revival from first to last.

Can these dry bones live?

Let us pray: Lord, restore our bones to life, beginning with me. Amen.

The Rt Revd Tony Porter, Honorary Assistant Bishop.