Religion
What message can be learned from the valley of dry bones?
By Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D.
Special to the Outlook
The Lord can turn your situation or “dry bones” into victory when there appears to be no way to succeed in life. On March 6, our Wednesday Night Bible Study at First Timothy Baptist Church discussed three key points on the story about the valley of dry bones. They included (1) a question that was raised, (2) an action that was required and (3) an anointment that was revealed. Utilizing the book, Beyond the Sunday Sermon, the following provides the message from Dr. Ronald Holmes about the valley of dry bones.
Dr. Holmes said that Ezekiel was carried by God to a valley full of bones (Ezekiel 37:1); whereas God had him prophesy to the dry bones until they came to life. The Lord raised the question to Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel replied, “O Lord God, thou knowest.” Holmes said that the same question can be raised to us: Can the church live, persevere or be revived after a pandemic? Many people lost hope, joy, peace and the spirit of worship in the church during the pandemic. As believers, our answer is the same as Ezekiel. “O Lord God, thou knowest” if the church can revive after a pandemic. Only God can enable the bones to live and the church to be revived. Without God, we can do nothing. With God, nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26).
In key point two, Dr. Holmes said that an action was required of Ezekiel as recorded in Ezekiel 37:4. The text reads, “Again he said unto me, prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” As believers, we know that Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). The bible says in Mathew 13:19, “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.” The bible also says in James 1:22, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” In fact, the Lord says in Ezekiel 37:5 and 6 respectively: “I will cause breath to enter into you; and ye shall live. I will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” Through God, the dry bones heard the word of the Lord and lived again.
For point three, Dr. Holmes said that an anointment can bring about a breakthrough in our lives. It can help us overcome our trials and tribulations. Ezekiel followed the instructions of God as recorded in Ezekiel 37:7-10. The dry bones came to life, stood on their feet and became an exceeding army. There is power in the anointing. There is power in our tongue when we speak or “calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17). In fact, we have the mindset to lift our eyes unto the hills from which comes our help. Our help comes from the Lord which made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2). We have the mindset to know that with God in our lives we can become victorious in everything, said Holmes.
Dr. Holmes concluded that if the valley of dry bones can live, then there is hope for the valley of dry bones in our lives and churches to be revived. The bible says in Hebrews 10:25, God does not want churches to stop assembling and meeting together with each other. He calls for the churches to repent and do the first works (Revelation 2:4-5).
Ronald Holmes, Ph.D., is the author of 27 books and publisher of “The Holmes Education Post,” an education focused Internet newspaper. His books for children cover topics such as the coronavirus, solar system, flowers, careers and school bullying. His books for adults focus on religion, hazing, workplace bullying, bipolar disorders, issues in education and completing the dissertation.
