Where in the Bible do you see the Spirit at work? Some may point to the book of Acts or passages in 1 Corinthians.
But where in the Old Testament do we see the Spirit? Exodus, where the Spirit works signs and wonders? Psalms, like Psalm 51? Judges? But would you say, the Prophets? Or Ezekiel?
The Father, Son and Spirit are known throughout Scripture. God’s word informs us of each person of the Godhead. The verb form of the word Spirit is “spirare” which means to breathe and come forth form.
But, who is this person of the Spirit that we meant to experience? What does it mean that He is the Spirit of life? In this series, we will learn more about the Holy Spirit, and to start us off, we will be looking at what the Old Testament says, in Ezekiel 37.
(A) The Spirit of life has the power of life in His Word (Eze 37:1-6)
Ezekiel writes of dry bones, a valley of corpses that has been reduced over time to nothing but bones. This is a valley of death and we are told later that this is the valley of those who have been slain. All who fell have been reduced to these dry bones (Eze 37:1-2). The dryness of these bones is evidence that some time has gone by.
The Spirit engages Ezekiel in question, command and oracle (Eze 37:3-6). The Spirit asked Ezekiel if these bones can live (Eze 37:3). It may seem like a rhetorical question, for these are clearly dry and very dead bones. But God often uses these rhetorical questions to stage an encounter. What is God really asking? Can there be hope? Who has the power of life? What would it take to breathe life into the inanimate to make it animate again? Who has the power of life and death?
The Lord gives Ezekiel a command that answers this question. Ezekiel was to prophesy over these bones and God also gives him the things to say. What is prophesy? It is to declare what one has received from the Lord. It is not saying what one thinks they are to say. Be careful today, to say, that what we have is prophecy — when it is not so.
These verses in Ezekiel also call us to treasure the words that have been spoken by his prophets. How do we honour the spoken words of God? Do we have them today? Friends, we have the words of God today in the Bible, even in the minor prophets. Have we read them? Do we treasure them? Or do we say that these are not relevant to us? Friends, we believe that we have all of God’s word today! Yet, we are restless and wondering what God has to say to us, even asking for fresh words from God. Instead, we should pray for fresh awe and humility to sit under God’s word. After all, we have the words of a God who has disclosed Himself to us. These words as so that we will know that He is the LORD (Eze 37:6).
The Spirit gives us words that we may know God.
What is the oracle? An oracle is a prophecy, and here, Ezekiel is told that God will do His work in a few steps. When the prophet prophesies, breath will enter the bones. With this life, flesh and sinews will cover the bones and breath will also enter.
We see how there is power when the word of God was given to the prophet and spoken. God’s word gives life. God’s word causes breath. Everything begins with the word. But this is not the first time it has happened. In Genesis 1, before that was anything, God was there. God spoke words, which brought about life.
God spoke and all things came to be.
God always fills His word with the power for life.
(B) The Spirit of life makes all things new (Eze 377-14)
As Ezekiel prophesied, the bones came together — bone to its bone, and sinews, flesh and skin had covered them (Eze 37:7-8). There was no breath in them and Ezekiel prophesies again, and breath came into them, resulting in an exceedingly great army (Eze 37:10). This is an army ready to go to war.
These are the bones of the house of Israel — dried up, hope lost and cut off (Eze 37:11). There is nothing good left in them. They have failed and lost God’s purposes. They fought among themselves and broke God’s covenant. God’s own presence left the temple and God’s people. This is all that they are down to.
And yet, what is going to change them? Ezekiel was to prophesy and say to them (Eze 37:12). God would act through the word of the prophet. God will open their graves and raise them from the graves. He will bring them into the land, and they will know that He is the LORD. His Spirit will also be in them, and He will place them in their own land.
See how the word, Spirit and life of God are connected.
The Spirit of life is the one who makes all things new. This is what He declares He is going to do. (c.f. 2 Cor 5:17) God can’t do something new before the old has passed away. God’s power to make things out of nothing is on display here in Ezekiel 37. God takes people and makes them utterly new because they have nothing in themselves to offer. This is how we are in Christ. God did not take us and renovate us or repackage. He did not give us a makeover. He sees that we have nothing for left to ourselves, we are dead. We add nothing to our salvation except sin. In Christ, first, we die. Because we are dead in our sins and transgressions, we are unable to respond to Him. He has to put His Spirit in us such that we are new creation that are able to respond to HIm.
Ezekiel 37 explains the new covenant that we are in. If we are in Christ, we have the Spirit in us and we are new! This new year, remember that we have a new start if we are in Christ. This hope is ours every day, every week, every year. Are you struggling with this today? Are there things you have carried into the new year — a secret sin or burden? The good news in Jesus is that He is making us new. Every day, the old man in you needs to die. Every day, it is Christ that rises in you.
(C) The Spirit of life makes a new kingdom out of God’s people (Eze 37:15-28)
An accompanying oracle is given to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 37:15-28. Ezekiel was told to take 2 sticks and write on each one the names of Judah and Joseph (Ephraim). He is to join both sticks together (Eze 37:15-19). These are the divided kingdoms, that arose when God’s people decided to reject God’s rule and break the covenant. They suffer the curses laid out in Deuteronomy 28, and they are in this state in Ezekiel 37. Yet God promises that this army will be revived. And the nations will be brought together again (Eze 37:19).
But how will He do this? God will put over them one king (Eze 37:22). This shepherd will know how to lead the flock and bring the sheep together (Eze 37:24). God’s people will also dwell in the promised land forever. David, God’s servant will be their prince forever (Eze 37:25). But how will this be since David is dead? God will send one greater than David who stands in David’s line and David’s place. His kingdom will have no end.
God promises to make a covenant of peace with them and it will be an everlasting covenant (Eze 37:26). This is a new covenant unlike anything we have seen before. It comes with the promise of being in the land, multiplying, and God will dwell with them (Eze 37:26-27). God promises to live with them and sanctify Israel (Eze 37:28). What is God talking about here? Jesus, during the Lord’s Supper, speaks of a new covenant. Jesus is saying that He is the new David. The Spirit of God who causes dead people to live according to His word, is the one who draws us and brings us to Christ, the new David. This Spirit also causes us to relate to Him and live in His presence. Our sin has been paid for and now, our relationship with God is through Jesus. This new covenant causes God’s Spirit to dwell in us. The Spirit that gives life is now in us such that we can be the new Israel of God (c.f. Gal 6:16).
Friends, our relationship with God today is part of an explosion of biblical promises that enables us to know Jesus by His Spirit. If we are in Christ, we have received and know the Spirit of life. He has given us new life in the name of Jesus.
How have you experienced the life-giving power of the Spirit through the Word? What does it look to be a new creation according to the Spirit of God? In this new year, what are you doing to live as part of God’s people in His new kingdom?