Valley of Dry Bones

1. Valley of Dry Bones Ezekiel 37:1—14

2. 587 – 400 BCEZRA 1-6 ESTHER EZRA 7-10 NEHEMIAHRESTORATIONKing Cyrus Zerubbabel-Esther-Mordecai 586 BC Jerusalem Leveled II KINGS 24-25 CAPTIVITY Jehoiakim Jehoiachin 4004 BC THE FALLGENESIS 1-7PRE-FLOODAdam-EveCain-Abel-Seth 12 721 BC Fall of Israel II KINGS 18-23 JUDAH ALONE Hezekiah-Amon Manasseh-Josiah 2348 BC THE FLOODGENESIS 8-11POST-FLOODNoah Shem-Ham-Japheth Israel-Jerusalem 1 11 Babylon Mesopotamia Mesopotamia Tigris-Euphrates Garden of Eden 2 10 Mt. Ararat Mesopotamia Tigris-Euphrates Judah Jerusalem 975 BC I KINGS 12-22 II KINGS 1-17 DIVIDED KING Jeroboam-Israel Rehoboam-Judah 1921 BC ABRAHAM CALLED GENESIS 12-50PATRIARCHALAbraham-Isaac-Jacob Judah-Joseph I-II CHRONICLES Israel Samaria Judah Jerusalem Captivity Mesopotamia Canaan Egypt-Goshen 9 3 Ezekiel Egypt-Nile Red Sea Mt. Sinai Israel Jerusalem 4 1095 – 975 BC 3 KINGS I-II SAMUEL I KINGS 1-11UNITED KINGDOMS Samuel-Saul-David-Solomon 8 1751 BC MOSES BORN EXODUS-LEVITICUSBONDAGE EXODUSMoses-Aaron-Judah-Pharaoh Red Sea Mt. Nebo Canaan-Israel Shiloh Jordan Mt. Nebo 5 7 1394 – 1095 BC JUDGESJUDGESGideon-Barak Jephthah-Samson Judah DEUTERONOMY 6 1491 BC RED SEA NUMBERSWILDERNESSMoses-Aaron-Judah Joshua-Caleb RUTH Naomi Boaz Ruth Obed 1451 – 1444 BC JOSHUACONQUESTJoshua-Caleb-Judah

3. Valley of Dry Bones • Captivity in Babylon • Ezekiel is God’s prophet for Judah • 70 years predicted by Jeremiah • “And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.”{Jeremiah 25:11}

4. Ezekiel 1:1 “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.”

5. Ezekiel 1:2 “On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity.”

6. Ezekiel 1:3 “ The word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.”

7. Babylonian Empire Nebuchadnezzar Chebar Iraq Jerusalem “I Was Among the Captives at the river Chebar.”

8. Valley of Dry Bones • The Vision • The Meaning • The Applications to be made…

9. Valley of Dry Bones • Question… • Where do you fit in this vision? • In the vision of “The Valley of Dry Bones? • Ezekiel 37:1-14….

10. Ezekiel 37:1 “The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.”

11. Ezekiel 37:2 “Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.”

12. Valley of Dry Bones • The Vision • Disjointed • Dry • Numerous • Good for nothing • “Valley of Dry Bones.”

13. Valley of Dry Bones

14. Ezekiel 37:3 “And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know.” Note the question?

15. Ezekiel 37:3 “And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know.” Notice Ezekiel’s Faith

16. Deuteronomy 32:39 “Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.” God Can Make Alive!

17. Ezekiel 37:4 “Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!” God’s Instructions

18. Ezekiel 37:5 “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live!” God’s Plan

19. Ezekiel 37:6 “I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.” Power of God

20. Ezekiel 37:7 “So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.” The Obedience— The Results

21. Bones Come Together!

22. Valley of Dry Bones • Results… • Bones become skeletons • Silence is broken • Bones being fitted together • Nothing too hard for the Lord! • “Valley of Dry Bones.”

23. Bones Come To Life!

24. Ezekiel 37:8 “Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.” Sinews Tendons, muscular power

25. Ezekiel 37:8 “Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.” No Breath… Clothed but no true life!

26. Ezekiel 37:9 “Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” Only source of Life— From God

27. Ezekiel 37:10 “So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.” God’s Army!

28. Exceeding Great Army!

29. Valley of Dry Bones • The Meaning • We have seen the vision • Dry Bones revived • Clothed • Great army now • “Valley of Dry Bones.”

30. Ezekiel 37:11 “Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” God’s Army--Israel

31. Ezekiel 37:11 “Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” Thought Hope was Lost!

32. Valley of Dry Bones • The Meaning • How can we understand this vision without knowing… • Who the children of Israel are… • In Captivity • Must know Old Testament History! • “Valley of Dry Bones.”

33. Valley of Dry Bones • The Meaning: • Distrust, Rebellion, Idolatry, and Disobedience had turned Israel into… • “Valley of Dry Bones.”

34. Valley of Dry Bones • The Meaning: • Sin had slain Israel—She is dead spiritually • Israel in Captivity—Punishment • What about her future state? • “Valley of Dry Bones.”

35. Valley of Dry Bones • The Meaning: • Based on her present condition… • Israel will listen to God… • She will become what? • “Valley of Dry Bones.”

36. Ezekiel 37:12 “Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel!” Israel is Going to be Raised!

37. Ezekiel 37:12 “Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel!” Israel is Going Back Home!!

38. Ezekiel 37:13 “Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves!” Know God’s Power!

39. Ezekiel 37:14 “I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.” Life Given Back

40. Valley of Dry Bones • The Meaning: • Israel will again glorify God • Israel shall be a strong army • God has shown Ezekiel through this vision… • Present condition—future condition • “Valley of Dry Bones.”

41. Valley of Dry Bones • The Meaning: • We have seen the vision • Valley of Dry Bones • Seen the meaning—Israel is dead • Shows God holds keys to the future… • Applications… • “Valley of Dry Bones.”

42. Lesson #1 • The resurrection of souls lost in sin—to a life of righteousness • Souls are spiritually dead in sin • Walking around in a “dead state” • How can they be “raised”?

43. John 5:25,26 “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.” New Life Given Back

44. Ephesians 2:1 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Sinner’s True Condition!

45. Ephesians 2:5 “Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” Sinner’s New Life

46. Colossians 3:5 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Something Must Die

47. Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” Put on New Man!

48. Lesson #2 • The resurrection of a sleeping church • Churches can also be dead • Churches may need to be revived!

49. Revelation 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” Dead Church

50. Revelation 3:2 “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.” Divine Instructions