Valley of Dry Bones

Scattered skulls, ribs, and bleached bones lie across a barren valley floor, evoking the prophetic vision given to Ezekiel in the valley of dry bones. The scene presents death in stark physical detail: human remains spread over the ground, silent and powerless, awaiting the word of the Lord. In Ezekiel 37, God brings the prophet into a valley filled with bones and commands him to prophesy over them. As the divine word is spoken, the bones come together, receive sinews and flesh, and stand as a living army by the breath of God. The image is a sober visual meditation on spiritual death, exile, resurrection hope, and the restoring power of God’s Spirit. It is well suited for teaching on prophecy, renewal, resurrection, repentance, and God’s promise to revive what human eyes see as beyond recovery. by Jeff Preston