LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“God Only Knows”
Ezekiel 37:1-14
9/2/18
Ezek probably Bible’s weirdest prophet: did, said & experienced pretty bizarre stuff
at least scholar thought schizophrenic, or visions were chemically induced
today’s passage one of those visions: or did Lord actually transport him somewhere?
don’t know, but his record of experience can both challenge & encourage us today
found himself in middle of valley full of dry bones
don’t need mental health issues or drugs to recognize metaphorical dry bones that surround us
where do we find Ezek’s valley of dry bones today?
Given devastating warfare engulfing Judah at time, may have been at old battlefield
bones of the soldiers who had died
we exp dry bones of our brutality against each other: consequence of hatred & violence
have become accustomed to outrageous
2 killed, 11 injured in Jacksonville mere blip on news radar
situation even worse, if can believe Jesus
Matt 5:22: guilty of murder if you are angry or speak ill of someone
careful what post on Fbook: seemingly innocuous comments trigger nasty responses
school beginning: bullying & clique-forming: don’t think it ends when you graduate
families: those w/ whom should be closest are often ones w/ whom we are coldest
marriages that become battlegrounds, or “emotional suicide”
parents who berate children for not being whom they wish they had been
children to rail against parents’ authority as seek to establish independence
haven’t even touched domestic violence, gang shootings, genocide, warfare
May be that dry bones came from drought or famine: middle of desert, after all
dry bones of those who suffer from want: basic human needs not met
“Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:”
must meet basic physical needs before able to address any other
breathing, water, food, sleep, clothing, shelter
pick any of these, could describe ways in which shocking number of people don’t have
one example: 1-2 billion people in world today have no safe drinking water
at least 5-6 X US population
some claim not even a human right
Ezek may have seen spiritual dry bones: Judah had fallen away from Lord
still had outward appearance: regular temple wp, sacrifices, recite Torah
but hearts far from Lord: nothing but dry bones w/in souls
mouth devotion, but fail to act
had gotten so bad that Lord himself left temple
today, can go through motions of devotion, but heart not in right place
say believe in God, but could never guess from how they live
1 Cor 13: doesn’t matter if speak well, wise, deep faith, sacrificial generosity
if don’t do because of love, useless
outward may appear faithful & devout, but meaningless if spirit nothing but dry bones
We don’t live in valley of dry bones: we live in a world of dry bones
Lord’s question to Ezek as he walked through valley comes to us as well:
“can these bones live?”
Ezek’s wise answer: “Lord, you alone know”
we cannot bring bones to life any more than go into cemetery & revive saints from past
cannot will our spirits back into joy and health
may do all we can to help those suffering from want, or from violence of all kinds
should do so: way to live out our faith
but our well-intentioned human efforts can only go so far
Don’t believe? look at history
1. European nations tried to end warfare w/ “Balance of Powers:” result? WW I
2. US at crest of post-war prosperity initiated LBJ’s “War on Poverty”
50 yrs ago, but last I looked still plenty of poverty in our nation
We cannot bring dry bones to life: will fail when attempt
only way it can happen is when God is at work: God only knows
and good news not only can it happen, but it does happen
Lord brings life back to dry bones created by violence, need, spiritual emptiness
Funny thing about how God works, however: very rarely acts single-handedly
not that he can’t: created entire cosmos when no other hands but his
almost always gets us involved
could have rescued Israelites from slavery in Egypt on own, but worked w/ Moses
could have made earthly ministry a solo tour, but included 12 disciples
in both cases, people failed God, infuriated him, frustrated him
but at next opportunity, God goes right back at it
celebrate Labor Day because God continues to use our efforts for his great design
Told Ezek to prophesy to the dry bones: proclaim word of God to the lifeless
used Ezek’s participation in his plan to make things happen
bones came together, took on flesh & skin to become bodies
but still no life in them: told Ezek to prophecy again, this time to wind
wind/breath/spirit all same word in Hebr
Ezek prophesied to the wind, and the wind responded
blew breath into the bodies, until filled w/ spirit and came to life
Then Lord gave Ezek message: your nation is nothing but dry bones
but I will bring it back to life: will put Spirit in you, so that you will live
same word to us in our dryness: dry spirits, needs, violence
may seem hopeless, our efforts useless
forces that dry out the world too powerful
when life becomes so difficult, or so empty, can’t imagine will ever change
but listen anyway for when Lord asks you if dry bones can live
answer “Lord, you alone know”
then, listen to hear what he commands you do to, watch to see what he will do next
Ezekiel 37:1-14
9/2/18
Ezek probably Bible’s weirdest prophet: did, said & experienced pretty bizarre stuff
at least scholar thought schizophrenic, or visions were chemically induced
today’s passage one of those visions: or did Lord actually transport him somewhere?
don’t know, but his record of experience can both challenge & encourage us today
found himself in middle of valley full of dry bones
don’t need mental health issues or drugs to recognize metaphorical dry bones that surround us
where do we find Ezek’s valley of dry bones today?
Given devastating warfare engulfing Judah at time, may have been at old battlefield
bones of the soldiers who had died
we exp dry bones of our brutality against each other: consequence of hatred & violence
have become accustomed to outrageous
2 killed, 11 injured in Jacksonville mere blip on news radar
situation even worse, if can believe Jesus
Matt 5:22: guilty of murder if you are angry or speak ill of someone
careful what post on Fbook: seemingly innocuous comments trigger nasty responses
school beginning: bullying & clique-forming: don’t think it ends when you graduate
families: those w/ whom should be closest are often ones w/ whom we are coldest
marriages that become battlegrounds, or “emotional suicide”
parents who berate children for not being whom they wish they had been
children to rail against parents’ authority as seek to establish independence
haven’t even touched domestic violence, gang shootings, genocide, warfare
May be that dry bones came from drought or famine: middle of desert, after all
dry bones of those who suffer from want: basic human needs not met
“Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:”
must meet basic physical needs before able to address any other
breathing, water, food, sleep, clothing, shelter
pick any of these, could describe ways in which shocking number of people don’t have
one example: 1-2 billion people in world today have no safe drinking water
at least 5-6 X US population
some claim not even a human right
Ezek may have seen spiritual dry bones: Judah had fallen away from Lord
still had outward appearance: regular temple wp, sacrifices, recite Torah
but hearts far from Lord: nothing but dry bones w/in souls
mouth devotion, but fail to act
had gotten so bad that Lord himself left temple
today, can go through motions of devotion, but heart not in right place
say believe in God, but could never guess from how they live
1 Cor 13: doesn’t matter if speak well, wise, deep faith, sacrificial generosity
if don’t do because of love, useless
outward may appear faithful & devout, but meaningless if spirit nothing but dry bones
We don’t live in valley of dry bones: we live in a world of dry bones
Lord’s question to Ezek as he walked through valley comes to us as well:
“can these bones live?”
Ezek’s wise answer: “Lord, you alone know”
we cannot bring bones to life any more than go into cemetery & revive saints from past
cannot will our spirits back into joy and health
may do all we can to help those suffering from want, or from violence of all kinds
should do so: way to live out our faith
but our well-intentioned human efforts can only go so far
Don’t believe? look at history
1. European nations tried to end warfare w/ “Balance of Powers:” result? WW I
2. US at crest of post-war prosperity initiated LBJ’s “War on Poverty”
50 yrs ago, but last I looked still plenty of poverty in our nation
We cannot bring dry bones to life: will fail when attempt
only way it can happen is when God is at work: God only knows
and good news not only can it happen, but it does happen
Lord brings life back to dry bones created by violence, need, spiritual emptiness
Funny thing about how God works, however: very rarely acts single-handedly
not that he can’t: created entire cosmos when no other hands but his
almost always gets us involved
could have rescued Israelites from slavery in Egypt on own, but worked w/ Moses
could have made earthly ministry a solo tour, but included 12 disciples
in both cases, people failed God, infuriated him, frustrated him
but at next opportunity, God goes right back at it
celebrate Labor Day because God continues to use our efforts for his great design
Told Ezek to prophesy to the dry bones: proclaim word of God to the lifeless
used Ezek’s participation in his plan to make things happen
bones came together, took on flesh & skin to become bodies
but still no life in them: told Ezek to prophecy again, this time to wind
wind/breath/spirit all same word in Hebr
Ezek prophesied to the wind, and the wind responded
blew breath into the bodies, until filled w/ spirit and came to life
Then Lord gave Ezek message: your nation is nothing but dry bones
but I will bring it back to life: will put Spirit in you, so that you will live
same word to us in our dryness: dry spirits, needs, violence
may seem hopeless, our efforts useless
forces that dry out the world too powerful
when life becomes so difficult, or so empty, can’t imagine will ever change
but listen anyway for when Lord asks you if dry bones can live
answer “Lord, you alone know”
then, listen to hear what he commands you do to, watch to see what he will do next
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com