Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones;
Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
Ezekiel 37:5
"But not only does this simile of the dry bones apply to the world, but also to those who have been blessed with great light; for they also are like the skeletons of the valley. They have the form of men, the framework of the body; but they have not spiritual life.
But the parable does not leave the dry bones merely knit together into the forms of men; for it is not enough that there is symmetry of limb and feature. The breath of life must vivify the bodies, that they may stand upright, and spring into activity.
These bones represent
--the house of Israel,
--the church of God,
--and the hope of the church is the vivifying influence of the Holy Spirit.
The Lord must breathe upon the dry bones, that they may live.
Unless there is genuine conversion of the soul to God; unless the vital breath of God quickens the soul to spiritual life; unless the professors of truth are actuated by heaven-born principle, they are not born of the incorruptible seed which liveth and abideth forever.
Unless they trust in the righteousness of Christ as their only security; unless they copy His character, labor in His spirit, they are naked, they have not on the robe of His righteousness. The dead are often made to pass for the living; for those who are working out what they term salvation after their own ideas, have not God working in them to will and to do of His good pleasure.
This class is well represented by the valley of dry bones Ezekiel saw in vision."
The Review and Herald, January 17, 1893, E.G.W.
