Dry Bones Rising
Loosely based on Ch. 13, “The King Who Had It All,” The Story
He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.
He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
Ezekiel 37:2-3
The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against His people and there was no remedy.
2 Chronicles 36:15-16
The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 1:4-8
Jeremiah stood in the smoldering rubble of what had once been the footstool of the Almighty God. Broken stones lying in a disheveled pile of rubble where there had once stood meticulously detailed architecture. The sight of the temple of Yahweh had almost certainly produced gasps from first time visitors as they approached the City of David. “How could this have happened?” Jeremiah had shouted of this possibility but now standing in the harsh reality of it, even he could hardly make sense of it all. With his people, THE people of God, being led in single file toward the east and exile, Jeremiah was left with just a remnant of the poor, and the cruel memories of what had been. And he wept bitterly. What else could he do?
These people, this place, had been chosen. Chosen by the Creator of all things. Chosen for a reason. Chosen not because they were the best or the purest or the most loved. But chosen so that they might bear witness to God’s ability and power to make an old and barren couple into the parents of many nations, and one nation in particular. A nation that also would bear witness to the power and faithfulness of the God able to make a people flourish even in slavery. He would bring the most powerful leader in the world to his knees and then have him pleading for those same slaves to leave his country taking plunder with them as if they had risen up and conquered the mighty Egypt.
They were chosen to bear witness. To show what God is like. To show what a people devoted to God look like. To show what true community and life was meant to look like. Chosen not in spite of all other nations but for the sake of all other nations.
From Jeremiah’s perspective now reflecting back there had certainly been moments when Israel had born witness to the greatness and faithfulness of God. There were tales of a time when Solomon and all the people sacrificed and worshipped and rejoiced together with such an intensity and grandeur that even the years of retelling couldn’t exaggerate the scene. That was the day they had dedicated this temple now in shambles.
But for all the stories that could be recalled about days and times when Israel was indeed a light to the nations, blessed to be a blessing, called out and holy, there were at least as many tragic memories. Times when Israel was anything but a clear light. Times when they left the people around them more confused than enlightened about the nature and character of God. And Jeremiah of all people knew that the dark times had increased in recent days. No one could assume that the Babylonians came out of nowhere. In fact Jeremiah’s message had been that Judah had this coming.
But what now?
With smoke and ashes and buzzards in the air it was hard to locate any semblance of hope. All seemed lost. Jeremiah lamented. For chapter upon chapter he lamented. And then…
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3: 21-23
Ezekiel found himself caught up in the same kind of emotion. In the midst of it all his distress produced visions rather than laments. Removed from the rubble of Jerusalem, Ezekiel found himself instead standing in a valley of dry bones, the remains of a battle, a reminder of those who had left for war and never returned. It’s hard to imagine a scenario much more dismal than a valley of dry bones. And God asks a difficult question. “Can these bones live?”
“O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
Rattling. Tendons. Flesh. Breath. An army. Unthinkable hope.
Some would say that we find ourselves in a time not altogether unlike the tragic fall of Jerusalem and Judah. The people of God, chosen to be a light to those around them have at times done more to confuse rather than enlighten. Pointing to ourselves rather than pointing to Him.
Many who stand outside of “church” describe us with words that don’t sound anything like Christ.
Hypocritical.
Judgmental.
Too Political.
One might argue the validity, but the simple truth is that the church fails to do what it has been chosen to do when the people around her have great difficulty seeing Christ through her actions. Perhaps we are in danger of living in a time for which there is “no remedy.”
On the other hand, when God is involved there is always the possibility that dry bones could rise. A new wind is beginning to blow. Breath. New life. Unthinkable hope.
Some would say that the church is finding new life in other parts of the world. While Christianity struggles with the disease of the American dream, a new gathering is thriving elsewhere. But it is not time to give up on our own context. Not when the Spirit is on the move, especially among those who are young.
These teens who will gather in your group may indeed be dry bones rising.
“Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid
Jeremiah 1:7
Questions for Discussion
1) What is the essential business of God’s Kingdom; the fundamental work He has called us to accomplish”
- What is the church for?
- What is our function?
- Why are we here?
- What is God trying to do through us?
2) When you boil the church down to its essentials, what big themes emerge? Who is the church and what is it for?
3) Some have said that these 7 words describe the heart and function of church. What do you think?
- Worship.
- Holiness.
- Community.
- Maturation.
- Service.
- Witness.
- Influence.
4) Is this what church looks like today? How do your friends outside of church describe us?
5) Why is this discussion about “church” and not just about you as an individual Christian? Why does the idea of “church” matter?
6) What is the new thing that God is beginning in your generation? What is the next step toward dry bones rising?
7) Dream together about what church ought to look like in the days to come led by this next generation.
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