The Valley of the Dead

So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. (Eze 37:7-8)

Oh, great, skeleton stories in the Old Testament. As though life now isn't frightening enough, we have to read about a valley of skeletons turning into zombies? But it isn't like that, as we well know. Standing on the border to verse 9, the re-fleshed skeletons are about to feel the breath of life again. The power of the Lord God has brought them from helpless, hopeless, dried out old bones to the very brink of life fully prepared in their bodies. Did you think the Lord would stop there?

In verse 11, we get an insight into how the bones feel: "They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ " Wow, depressed bones. We too may come to the brink of despair, feeling cut off from the Lord and His people, entertaining a hopeless feeling due to circumstance or calamity. Is it too late for us?

Well, if it wasn't too late for an assorted collection of dried out old bones in a valley no one would much like to visit - even the bacteria had moved on by that time, no more flesh to munch on in the Valley of the Dead - then it can hardly be too late for us to receive a renewing spirit from the Lord God Himself. A sea change from dried out and hopeless to life and hope in Christ our Lord comes over the depressed bones of His people. As His mercies are new each morning, so is the measure of faith we need for this day, a new hope rises within borne on the wings of the Holy Spirit!

And have a great new day in Christ too!
Bucky