Ezekiel 37:1, commentary and pictures

The hand of the Lord sets the prophet down in the midst of the valley full of bones, opening the vision in which he is commanded to prophesy to the wind, and in answer to his word life is restored to the slain until they stand up as an exceeding great army. That valley is the resurrection of the dead, when God in His own time will call forth the dead, give again the breath of life, and bid the dry bones live. In that resurrection personal identity is preserved, though not the same particles of matter or material substance that went into the grave, for the spirit, the character of man, is returned to God to be preserved and in the resurrection every man will have his own character. The same form will come forth, bearing the same individuality of features so that friend will recognize friend, but free from disease and every defect, for God shall give the righteous dead a body that will please Him, composed of much finer material, as a new creation and a new birth.

The dry bones picture Israel and God's people as spiritually dead and without spiritual life, showing their condition and great need. That lifeless condition is being backslidden, asleep and at ease, with icy hearts that have only a legal religion and hearts fixed in prejudice and unbelief. It is professing to believe the truth without an experimental knowledge of its vitalizing, sanctifying power, so that religion is form without power and simplicity is lost in ceremonies and religious forms that have displaced spiritual power, leaving people in darkness. The church in Battle Creek is in that lifeless condition, with bones needing to be stirred with some power to give them life, and needing that same life-giving stirring or many souls will be lost.

The breath that makes the dry bones live is the Holy Spirit brought to bear upon the heart with its deep, life-giving influence. Without it truth becomes a dead letter and God cannot use His people, but when the Word of the Lord is sought and followed there is steady advancement. That life comes through a life-giving message of sin and atonement in Bible light, showing the better things provided and centering on Christ and His righteousness. Receiving that life requires giving the will to God as clay is given into the hands of the potter, passive and susceptible to divine impressions and cooperating with God to become a vessel molded unto honor and renewed in the divine image under the Sun of Righteousness.

That revival awakens sleepers so they no longer sleep as others do but watch and are sober, because the end is near and steals upon the unready. Those made alive are energized by the Spirit to carry the message to fields where it has not yet been heard, to give the light to others and work together with God in gathering in and bringing home the sheep of His fold. Even in apparent disaster and defeat God's providence is working out His purposes, so no work of restoration is too hard for God to do and none who trust in Him need ever say hope is lost.