Ezekiel 37:1-14—The Spirit through the preached Word raises
the dead. Ezekiel preaches the Word to the dry bones of
Ezekiel is told to preach to dead people!
What a challenge! If the people are dead bones, what good could preaching
possibly do? The preaching must be the Word of God. If it is , preaching has
the power of the Spirit contained in the Word to give life to the dead. Here is
justification for preaching the Word to those who do not want to be preached
to.
The Spirit which comes in and through the
Word creates new life – gives flesh to the bones. It takes us back to the
creation of Adam. His body was made out of the dust of the ground. Humanity is
mortal and finite. It is the Spirit which creates life.
The bones become bodies but they are not yet
alive. Now God breathes into the bodies and they live spiritually. Humanity has
a dual nature: body and soul. In the creation of Adam, God made him physically
and then breathed his Spirit into him and be became a living soul. [2]
For blessing on the Word: Lord God, bless
Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to
convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving
faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip,
and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve
the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.[3]- 19
May 2011—
[1] Holy Spirit Dove, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
[3] Collect for blessing on the Word, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St., Louis
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