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Oh Lord, You Know!

3/21/2023

5 Comments

 
As we approach Easter, it is natural that we will spend much of our time in the New Testament. After all, Easter is about Jesus’ resurrection, and these events are recorded in the gospels. However, did you know that the Old Testament also speaks about resurrection? 

Very few people are familiar with Ezekiel’s vision of the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37. Here, we are given a vision of a 
Picture
Pastor McLane Stone
wasteland of heat and dust containing the bones of the people of Israel -- a sobering picture of a people who have disobeyed God and are on the edge of destruction. Bringing Ezekiel to this valley, the Lord asks him, “Mortal, can these bones live?” On the surface, the situation appears hopeless. Amongst the heat, desolation, death, and solitude, no one could blame Ezekiel for responding with a simple, “No, they cannot.”
               
When we look at own lives, we may be tempted to answer the same. There are so many situations in our lives that feel hopeless. We lose a dear friend or family member. Our child’s marriage falls apart, and they are struggling to find their footing. We receive difficult news from the doctor. Each of us has a long list of painful circumstances in our lives that could lead us to believe that our world is one great Valley of Dry Bones. We could easily answer the Lord, “No, these bones cannot live.”
               
However, this is not Ezekiel’s answer. Ezekiel looks out upon the desolation and death before him, and he is able to see God doing the work of restoration. He answers the Lord’s question with a demonstration of hopeful faith, “O Lord, you know.” O Lord, you know because you are the One that gives life to dead things. You know because you are the One who conquers death and raises us to new life. You know because you are the One who takes our sin and brokenness upon yourself, and stands with us as our Redeemer.

God’s response to Ezekiel is one of grace and hope:
​
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.”
​
The Lord’s response to Ezekiel is a reminder that there is no valley too deep, no pain too great, no drought too long, to keep us under the shadow of death. God is present to each of us. He knows our thoughts, prayers, and pains. He knows the deepest desires of our hearts. He knows us better than we know ourselves. For this reason, he also knows what it is we truly need: life. We need the Lord to breathe upon us so that we shall truly live!
               
In John 7, Jesus says that if we come to him and drink, we will receive living waters that flow from his heart. In other words, our lives will be so filled with the Spirit that our hearts will overflow with the joy and hope of knowing our Savior. These waters are a testament to God’s promise to Ezekiel: dry bones will not stay dry for long. God has promised that he will make them live again. Regardless of the difficulties of this life, and there are many, God is restoring each of us. He is raising dry bones.
               
So, no matter how difficult life becomes, we know that we serve a good and faithful God who constantly breathes new life into each of us, raises our dry bones, and fills our hearts with living waters. 
 
Let us find shelter in his grace.
 
In Christ,
Pastor McLane
5 Comments
Kevin Kaplan link
3/21/2023 04:33:07 pm

Thanks Pastor McLean. I needed this message exactly now.

Bless you and Thanks to Him,
Kevin

Reply
Chris Fehr
3/21/2023 04:49:48 pm

Just finished chemotherapy. Your message is playing out in my life. My church family has been a great support as have your timely messages. We are so blessed to have you and your dear family with us.

Reply
Phyllis Weber
3/21/2023 06:02:11 pm

I watch every sermon each week and like the above you are full of Christ wisdom and relay so well.
I truly appreciate your sermons and the Service

Reply
Carolyn Keefer
3/22/2023 10:26:02 am

Once again you have provided us with another message of hope and reassurance.....thank you!

Reply
Elizabeth McGavin link
3/22/2023 08:38:38 pm

Thank you! for this very timely lesson/message. As we are living in uncertain times, it really helps to be reminded that our God is a generous, faithful and loving God with us at all times in every situation. Amen!

Reply



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  • Home
    • Connect With Us >
      • Prayer Request
      • eNews Archive >
        • 2020 eNews Archive
  • Who We Are
    • Our Mission
    • Leadership & Staff >
      • Job Opportunities
      • Blogs >
        • Blog Archive 2021
        • Blog Archive 2020
    • Elders, Deacons & Ministry Teams >
      • Christmas Families
      • Annual Clothing Givewaway
    • History >
      • Past Ministers
    • What Presbyterians Believe
    • Annual Reports
  • Ministries
    • Children & Families
    • Youth
    • Missions
    • Serve >
      • Choir
      • Church Ministry Teams
      • Ecumenical Kitchen
      • Family Promise
      • Handbell Choir
      • Knitting for Warmth
      • Praise Team
      • Reception Team
    • Grow >
      • Book Studies
      • Men's Fellowship
      • Presbyterian Women
      • Sunday Bible Study
      • Women's Circles
    • Connect >
      • Dinners at 6-ish
      • Flying Solo
  • Sundays
    • Classic Worship
    • Contemplative Worship
    • Sermons
  • Giving
  • Calendar