Ezekiel – whose name means “God strengthens” – lives out his prophetic ministry among God’s people while they are exiled in Babylon. Ezekiel’s vision likens the Israelites in captivity to very dead, very dry bones. The Spirit of the LORD asks him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Then the Spirit tells Ezekiel to speak the word of the LORD upon them, and when he does, this valley of dead, dry bones comes back to full life, meaning God will revive His captive children and bring them back to live in the promised land. Ezekiel’s vision looks past their Judean resettlement and incorporates all His children dead and alive, for the LORD God promises: “Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves; O My people…and you shall know that I am YHWH, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, O My people” (vv12-13). Begun on Pentecost through spiritual resurrection, the Holy Spirit will bring this vision to fullness on the day when Jesus returns.
