These Bones Going to Rise Again Camp Song
The Fifth Sunday in Lent – Ezekiel 37:1-xiv, The Valley of the Dry Bones
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I try pretty difficult to non repeat myself from 1 sermon to the next. Only today, I am going to echo myself, at to the lowest degree to some degree.
Last calendar week I told yous how fortunate we were to have Psalm 23 as our appointed psalm. It was exactly what nosotros needed to hear. Nosotros needed to exist reminded that the Lord is our shepherd and we shall not be in desire. Nosotros needed to be reassured that all shall be well.
Last week we stood in the valley of the shadow of expiry. This week we stand in the valley of dry bones. They're not two different valleys. Both are the valley of COVID-19. How fortunate are we that today the valley of dry basic is 1 of our assigned scripture readings? It's exactly what we, our country, and our world need to hear.
The valley of dry bones is a story of hope. It'due south a story of promise. It'due south a story about a people who have a future. If "all shall exist well" is the theme that runs through Psalm 23, and then "you shall alive" is the theme that runs through the valley of dry bones.
"Mortal, tin can these basic live?" the Lord asks Ezekiel. I suspect it's a question most of u.s.a. are wondering about. Can we recover from this? And, if then, when and how volition that happen? What volition our future look like?
Ezekiel responds but he doesn't answer the question. He but says, "O Lord God, you know."
I so appreciate the honesty in what Ezekiel says. I hear his dubiousness. I sense his feeling of powerlessness. I motion-picture show him looking around and shaking his head at the overwhelming enormity of it all. God simply knows if these bones tin live again.
That's how I feel every time I read the newest numbers of cases, deaths, chore losses, and financial hardships. And I'g guessing you lot might feel the same fashion. Today we are all Ezekiel.
I know how easy it is to focus on and despair over the number of dry bones. Merely I also know that is non the concluding story of God and God's people. So I want to give you another numbers to focus on: x and three. They're sacred numbers. They're numbers on which you tin bet your life and future – and it would exist a good bet.
Ten times God promises to do something near the dry bones, even to the point of repeating God's self:
- "I volition cause breath to enter you";
- "I will lay sinews on you";
- I "will cause flesh to come upon you";
- I volition "embrace you with pare";
- I volition "put jiff in you";
- "I am going to open your graves";
- I am going to "bring y'all upwardly from your graves";
- "I will bring yous back to your state";
- "I will put my spirit within you"; and
- "I will place you on your own soil."
Ten times God promises life and wholeness. X times God promises render and homecoming. X times God promises that the dry basic of this valley are non our final reality. Throughout those x promises – at the offset, the middle, and the end – God says, "and you shall live." "You lot shall alive" is the river of reassurance that flows through the valley of dry out bones.
God says it iii times:
- "And yous shall live";
- "And y'all shall live";
- "And you shall live."
Those promises and reassurances are the path we walk in this valley. So the next time you lot read the numbers in the news, the side by side time your get scared, the side by side time yous feel anxious and overwhelmed, call up those other numbers, ten and three. Remember God'due south promises. Recollect God's reassurances. And then listen for the rattle; the rattling of "bones com[ing] together, bone to its bone."
That rattling sounds like faith, hope, and love. It sounds similar courage and a refusal to be ruled by fright. It sounds similar people praying Psalm 23. Information technology sounds like church building bells ringing in remembrance. It sounds like helping those who have lost jobs or piece of work hours. It sounds like patience, gentleness, and compassion for others and ourselves. It sounds like support and intendance for healthcare providers, first responders, and essential workers. It sounds like people request, "Are you ok? Do you need annihilation?" It sounds like people smiling and laughing as they connect on Zoom. Information technology sounds like a text message saying, "All shall be well." It sounds like an openness to the time to come. It sounds like life, and life arable.
So let's rattle this valley. Permit's rattle this valley like it's never been rattled before.
Source: https://interruptingthesilence.com/2020/03/29/and-you-shall-live-a-sermon-on-ezekiel-371-14/
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