In Ezekiel 37, we encounter one of the most powerful and vivid prophecies in the Old Testament: the vision of the valley of dry bones. This passage speaks not only to the restoration of Israel but also to the greater spiritual battle between the forces of darkness and the light of Christ that we, as believers, are called to engage in today.
The vision begins with Ezekiel being placed in a valley full of dry bones, a symbol of death and hopelessness. These bones were scattered, lifeless, and devoid of strength. As Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy to the bones, they begin to rattle, come together, and eventually are covered with flesh. But despite the external restoration, they still lack the breath of life, the Spirit of God, until Ezekiel is told to call upon the wind—the breath of life—to fill them. Once revived, these dry bones are transformed into a mighty army, ready for action.
In the context of spiritual warfare, this vision serves as a striking metaphor for the battle that Christians face today. We are living in a world where the forces of darkness continually seek to undermine the light of Christ, and all believers are caught in this cosmic conflict. But there is a key message that we must hold on to: evil can never truly overcome good. The devil may try to shake us, discourage us, and even silence us, but he can never defeat the Lord.
Yet, we often find ourselves in a similar state to those dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision. Many Christians today are like the slain in the valley, spiritually lifeless and afraid to step into the calling God has placed on their lives. They’ve been wounded by life, discouraged by failures, or have simply lost their confidence in the Gospel. There’s a real spiritual weariness among many believers who feel as though their effectiveness in ministry has been reduced to a faint memory.
The enemy’s strategy is clear: he wants to make believers ineffective, to steal our passion, and to keep us from the powerful work of sharing the Gospel. The devil cannot destroy us, but he can paralyze us, leaving us spiritually impotent, just like the slain in the valley of dry bones. The world may try to drown us with doubt and fear, but the truth remains that we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.
As Christians, we are not meant to remain in the valley. God does not intend for us to be a part of a scattered, disjointed army of believers. The call to action is clear: we must hear the Word of the Lord, just as Ezekiel instructed the bones to hear. In verse 4 of Ezekiel 37, God tells Ezekiel, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!'”
It is the Word of the Lord—the breath of God—that brings life. Just as the bones were revived when the Spirit of God breathed upon them, so too must we, as the body of Christ, be revived by hearing and embracing the Word of God. When we allow God’s Word to speak into our situation, we can be strengthened, renewed, and equipped for the battle.
Today, we must pray for those who are in the valley of dry bones—those who have been slain by fear, doubt, or discouragement. We must ask the Lord to breathe His life into them, to awaken their hearts to the truth of the Gospel, and to give them the courage to stand strong once again. As a body of believers, we are called to help one another hear the Word of the Lord, to be the voice of hope and encouragement, and to declare God’s truth over the lifeless and discouraged.
If you feel like you’re in that valley today, take heart. You are not alone. You are part of a mighty army that, when united and filled with the breath of God, can stand firm in the face of any opposition. Let God breathe His life into you today, and hear His call to rise up and be part of His army. The battle between light and darkness is real, but we know the end of the story: good will prevail, and the light will shine in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome it.
So, call upon the breath of God to revive us, to restore us, and to empower us to stand strong in our faith. Just as Ezekiel prophesied to the dry bones, we must speak life into those around us, reminding them of the victory we have in Christ. Together, we are the army of God, and with His breath, we will rise up to take our place in the battle.
