Thursday Meditation - We are Living Bones

We are Living Bones
Ezekiel 37:1-14

We all may have heard about the story of Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones.  God used Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones and they were restored to a multitude of people in the valley.  This text fascinated me because I enjoy watching the show Bones.  Although it is a forensic crime solving show but I can't help to be intrigued by the reconstruction and resurrection of bones to tell a story.  Our bones can tell a lot about us in life and  after death. While we are living, our bones are wet with blood vessels and nerves run through them and in the center of our bones is bone marrow.  However in death our bones become dry and brittle because there is no life in them. When we want to know more about the bones of people we call upon the anthropologist and archeologist to tell us about the condition surrounding the bones and age, but it takes an osteologist to detail the true condition of bones due to disease, deficiency and demographics.

Ezekiel saw the condition of the bones and said they were very dry and in a valley.  These bones were not buried in the earth, they laid on top of the earth with direct sunlight.  The sunlight continue to make the bones drier and more brittle.  This is the image God showed to Ezekiel about the house of Israel. They have lost all hope and are cut off from God.  God showed Ezekiel restoration is possible by collecting and resurrecting the bones. 

This is the condition that many of us are in.  We are living bones, but living as dry and brittle bones.  We've lost our hope to live, no longer vibrant and wet bones with blood vessels and nerves running through our bodies.  When we encounter nothing but suffering, disappointment and rejection our living spirit starts to become like dry bones. We start to harden our hearts, our minds and spirits to the point that we refuse to hear from God nor want to speak with God.  The image God is showing in Ezekiel is the possibility of new life when all hope is gone.  We can be restored to a vibrant life if we are willing to believe in hope for a future, turn from self-righteousness and open ourselves to embrace unity without limitations.  If God can restore a valley of dry bones then what more can God do for our dried and broken spirit?

Prayer: God we seek restoration on this day.  Life have sucked us dry to the point that we have no hope or positive outlook on life.  We ask that you will shine a ray of hope our way so we can be recollected and filled with the spirit of your love. Amen.