Monday, December 1, 2025

Reading 78 | The Bible in 100 Passages

Today's Scripture
Ezekiel 37:1–12

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.” (NRSV)

Reflection

A valley of bones.

As a twenty-year-old, I spent most of that year with valleys of bones (i.e., in anatomy labs). I often, if not consistently, paused during the study of human tissues to ponder the history of the human from whom those bones (and other organs) were sourced. What were the names? The professions? Who were their families? Many nights, I felt a tremble. The eeriness of those thoughts quickly brought me back to studying, but why no biographies, no stories, or even medical histories? Just valleys of bones and organs.

So, imagine reading Ezekiel 37 purposefully for this devotional and discovering the stories of slain Israelites. Written by the prophet Ezekiel, also known as “strengthened by God,” we see a pivot from death, bewilderment, and betrayal, and instead find not just a message of hope but one of transcendent power. Four times, we witness immense power affected by complete faith. Ezekiel, God-enabled, knew sorrow and silence, yet never wavered from a prophecy of hope and messages of faith. Here we are told of the unfathomably inconceivable: bones reattached; flesh reformed, breath entered, and life restored. Do you hear echoes of “sometimes it causes me to tremble” (“Were You There,” African American Spiritual, 1899).

Yet here we are again on that thin ice of literal interpretation vs. interpretive meaning. Let’s choose both, recognizing that the limited scope of man’s reality ought to allow space for the omnipotent to exercise omnipotence. But then let’s also think of our own “valley of dry bones.” Think of that floor surrounded by our own very dry, exposed, and brittle bones. Haven’t we all been defeated? Known Sorrow? Fear? Guilt? Pain? Found a pillow to grieve? We are bags of dry bones: our minds know fear; our souls know weakness; our hearts know loneliness.

But reading this at the beginning of Advent with the Easter season to follow offers new, electrifying energy. Hope is restored. Ezekiel lived centuries before Advent, yet his prescient writing introduced a renaissance and inspired a spiritual preparation for “good news and glad tidings.” He heard a noise, “a rattling” followed by the breath of four winds, and life began anew. How awesome. Another tremble.

Here’s the good news: Our dry bones need not crumble; we are cradled by God’s hands; like a phoenix, we will emerge from the valleys and soar again. A noise awaits, a sinewing of flesh is possible, and the breath of God is ours.

Indeed, it’s OK to tremble.

Prayer

Lord, as we enter Advent and exit our valleys, bless us with your restorative noise, breathe upon us the breath of eternal life, and prepare us for the new hope that awaits. Let us tremble and celebrate the joy of your presence. Amen.

Written by Clyde Yancy, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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