God Revives Despondent People (Ezekiel 37:1-14)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
3 October 2021
There is hope for despondent people. Israel was despondent saying, “our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off.” Where did help for Israel come from?
It was from the Lord who took the initiative. The hand of the Lord came upon the prophet Ezekiel who was God’s messenger to a despondent people. Israel was God’s chosen people and they were helpless in captivity. God came to their aid.
The prophet Ezekiel had a vision about Israel. He saw a valley of dry bones. The bones were a picture of Israel’s deadness. Ezekiel had to walk around the bones. He must be convinced the bones are dry. The enlightened preacher is one who knows human nature is dead in trespasses and sins.
The Lord commands Ezekiel to do the ridiculous—to speak to dry bones! The Christian preacher is also commanded to do an absurd thing. He must speak to dead people. The apostle Paul speaks of the foolishness of preaching. The world sees the preaching of the gospel as absurd and foolish. Preachers of the gospel are fools for Christ's sake.
Accompanying Ezekiel's preaching is a promise that the Lord will clothe the dry bones with flesh. Similarly when Christians preach the gospel there is an accompanying promise that the gospel is God's power to save people.
When the word of God is proclaimed to the dead there will be a response. As Ezekiel spoke to the dry bones God miraculously clothed the bones and they became bodies. But they did not have life. Just as in the days of creation God created a body, Adam's, but it had no life.
It was the Spirit which gave life. Ezekiel called the Spirit to come and fill the bodies. Only then did they become living beings. So in the Garden of Eden there was a newly created body---the body of Adam. God then breathed into the body and Adam became a living being. Christian preaching is dependent on the Holy Spirit giving the breath of life to dead hearers.
Israel is given a promise of restoration and life. The promise given to Israel is for all believers. People who believe in Jesus have a promise of eternal life. There will be a new heaven and earth where there will be no sorrow, pain or death.
God is true to his promises. He has promised life to all who believe. He is faithful and will keep his promise.
Despondent people can be revived. Israel was despondent because it was dead, figuratively. Spiritually dead people can be made alive. Jesus the Son of God is committed to awakening the dead. He is the giver of life. He is committed and able. Come to him today and be assured of life. Find rest and comfort in the Lord Jesus. Amen.