MAY 30, 2023
READ: Ezekiel 37 (Focus vs. 4–14)
MEMORY VERSE
“I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ezekiel 37:5
BACKGROUND
On November 4, 1966, a disastrous flood swept through Florence, Italy, submerging Giorgio Vasari’s renowned work of art The Last Supper under a pool of mud, water, and heating oil for more than twelve hours.
With its paint softened and its wooden frame significantly damaged, many believed that the piece was beyond repair. However, after a tedious fifty-year conservation effort, experts and volunteers were able to overcome monumental obstacles and restore the valuable painting.
When the Babylonians conquered Israel, the people felt hopeless—surrounded by death and destruction and in need of restoration (see Lamentations 1).
During this period of turmoil, God took the prophet Ezekiel to a valley and gave him a vision where he was surrounded by dry bones. “Can these bones live?” God asked. Ezekiel responded, “Lord, you alone know” (Ezekiel 37:3).
God then told him to prophesy over the bones so they might live again. “As I was prophesying,” Ezekiel recounted, “there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together” (v. 7). Through this vision, God revealed to Ezekiel that Israel’s restoration could only come through Him.
When we feel as if things in life have been broken and are beyond repair, God assures us He can rebuild our shattered pieces. He’ll give us new breath and new life.
By: Adam Holz
INSIGHT
We don’t know specific details about the valley that Ezekiel describes he was transported to “by the Spirit of the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:1).
It could have been a vision of a valley that was the scene of a major tragedy or battle because having so many unburied bones in one place suggests a battle.
God tells Ezekiel that this valley of bones symbolizes the nation of Israel as a whole (v. 11). Even the despair and death they were experiencing could be reversed by God’s Spirit breathing new life into them (v. 6) and returning them to their land (v. 12).
By: Monica La Rose
APPLICATION
What’s broken in your life? How might you rely on God to bring restoration?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
Only the One who made us in His own image and likeness can restore us to His original design when we distort that image and act out of His character. PR
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“When we feel as if things in life have been broken and are beyond repair, God assures us He can rebuild our shattered pieces.”
PRAYER
“Dear God, parts of my life seem like they’ll never be restored. I’ve tried to fix them on my own, but my only hope of restoration is found in You.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“GIVE THEM ALL TO JESUS” Cristy Lane
Are you tired of chasing pretty rainbows
Are you tired of spinning round and round
Wrap up all the shattered dreams of your life
And at the feet of Jesus, lay them down.
Give them all, give them all
Give them all, give them all
Give them all to Jesus
Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys
Give them all give them all
Give them all, give them all
Give them all to Jesus
And He will turn your sorrows into joy
He never said you’d only see sunshine
He never said there’d be no rain
He only promised us a heart full of singing
That’s the very thing that once brought pain
Give them all, give them all
Give them all to Jesus…
And He will turn your sorrows into joy
Give them all, give them all…
Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys
Give them all…
Give them all
Give them all to Jesus
And He will turn your sorrows into joy
And He will turn your sorrows into joy
Give them all to Jesus
Lay them down
READING THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
2 Chronicles 10–12
John 11:30–57
