Can These Bones Live?
Nourishment for the Soul
Resurrection and the Daily Grind
It’s the Thursday after Easter, and our hearts are still echoing the joy of the empty tomb. On Sunday morning we declared together, “He is risen indeed!” But for many, the Monday morning after Easter brings a quieter reality. The lilies fade, the sanctuary is still, and we return to a world filled with weariness, conflict, and spiritual dryness. In that place - somewhere between the mountaintop of resurrection and the valley of our daily grind, (“real life,” as we sometimes refer to it) - Ezekiel 37:1-14 meets us with a vision of impossible hope, a “fool’s hope.”
The Lord brings the prophet Ezekiel into a valley filled with bones. Not wounded soldiers. Not slumbering saints. Bones - dry, sun-bleached, lifeless. And then the Lord asks a question that still haunts the soul: “Son of man, can these bones live?” (v. 3). It’s a question that lingers in hospital rooms, in broken homes, in struggling churches, and in the quiet ache of a heart that wonders if revival is possible. Ezekiel, wisely, answers, “O Lord God, you know.” It’s a humble response - a faithful admission that only God holds the power to revive what’s truly dead.
The Church in the Valley
Ezekiel’s vision is specific to Israel. Verse 11 makes that clear: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’” These were the exiled people of God, devastated by defeat, scattered from their land, seemingly forgotten by the Lord. And yet, to these weary exiles, God speaks words of resurrection: “I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people... And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live” (vv. 12, 14).
But this isn’t just a word for Israel long ago. It’s a word for the Church today - especially after Easter, especially in our moments of dryness. How often do we, too, look around and say, “Our hope is lost, we are cut off?” We see declining numbers, shallow discipleship, weary pastors, divided congregations. We wonder if these bones can live. But Ezekiel’s vision isn’t just about revival - it’s about resurrection. And the promise of new life by the Spirit is just as relevant now as it was then.
Resurrection Reality, Spirit Power
The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate answer to the Lord’s question: “Can these bones live?” In Christ, the answer is a resounding Yes. What was dead has been raised. What was sealed in a tomb has walked out in glory. Romans 8:11 declares, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus… will also give life to your mortal bodies.” This is not metaphor. This is not abstraction. This is the very heart of our faith.
But even more - this resurrection power isn’t only about the final day. It’s about today. It’s about the Spirit breathing new life into dry churches, weary Christians, and faltering ministries. It’s the promise that the same Spirit who hovered over the chaos in Genesis, who rushed upon the apostles at Pentecost, now dwells in us, breathing life where we see only death. That’s the hope of Ezekiel’s vision.
The Spirit and the Church Today
When the Lord says, “I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live” (v. 14), we’re reminded of Jesus breathing on his disciples in John 20:22, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Just days after rising from the grave, the risen Christ begins distributing the very breath that brought him back to life. This is how he builds his Church - not through our ingenuity or charisma, but through the wind of his Spirit.
And so, the valley of dry bones becomes a metaphor not only for Israel but for every church, every community, every individual follower of Christ who has lost heart. Easter reminds us that the God who raises the dead is not done working. He’s the One who calls things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17), the One who takes graves and turns them into gardens. As A.W. Tozer once put it, “We must never rest until everything inside us worships God.” Dry bones may seem hopeless, but they’re precisely where God chooses to work.
Holy Boldness in the Valley
One of the striking features of this passage is that the bones don’t live until Ezekiel prophesies. God says, “Prophesy over these bones...” (v. 4), and “Prophesy to the breath...” (v. 9). God uses Ezekiel’s obedience as part of his plan to revive the dead. The same is true today. He invites us to speak life - not with our own power, but by declaring his Word, calling upon his Spirit, and believing his promises.
As pastors, teachers, and everyday believers, we’re called to stand in the valley and speak - not because we are powerful, but because the Word is. Charles Spurgeon once said, “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Let it loose, and it will defend itself.” This is how we participate in God’s revival work: by faithfully proclaiming his truth and praying for his Spirit to move.
Easter Isn’t Over
This is the week after Easter, but resurrection season is far from over. If anything, it’s just beginning. The early Church didn’t leave Easter behind - it was the fuel that sustained them. In the same way, we aren’t meant to walk away from the resurrection but to live in its power. “You shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves…” (v. 13). And we do know. We have seen the empty tomb. We have heard the risen Christ. We have received the Spirit who makes dry bones dance.
Questions for Personal Reflection
Have you ever felt like you were standing in a valley of dry bones - spiritually depleted or abandoned? What did you do in that season?
How does the resurrection of Christ offer real hope - not just for eternity, but for your life today?
Where is God calling you to “prophesy” - to speak truth and pray for the Spirit - in a place that seems dead?
Walking Points
Spend time meditating on Ezekiel 37 this week. Consider reading it out loud as a prayer, asking God to bring fresh life to your heart, your church, and your community. As you read, reflect on specific areas of spiritual dryness in your life or ministry. Ask the Holy Spirit to breathe afresh in those places, reviving what may seem lost or forgotten. Don’t rush through the passage - reflect upon it, and let the Lord speak personally and powerfully to you through his Word and Spirit.
Ask God to show you someone in your life who may feel spiritually dry. Pray for them daily, even if you’re not yet sure how to encourage them. Then consider reaching out - through a phone call, a handwritten note, or even sharing a Scripture or devotional like this one. You may be surprised how your simple act of care becomes a vessel for God’s Spirit to minister grace and hope. Sometimes, speaking life into others begins with just showing up and listening.
Thank you for spending this time with me today. If this devotion encouraged or challenged you, I’d be grateful if you’d consider sharing it with a friend or family member who might also benefit from it. You can also subscribe to Walking Points to receive regular devotionals, reflections, and discipleship resources directly in your inbox. And don’t forget - there are additional materials, studies, and resources available on the website that aren’t sent out via email, so be sure to stop by and explore those as well.
Until next time, keep walking wisely, and may the Lord bless you every step of the way.