Son Of Man, Can These Bones Live?

This is where the M.E. does a series of test to determine the cause of death. In this process, information is gathered about the moments before death but also certain attributes of a person’s life. This assessment demonstrates if there is any damages to the body and it’s organs and also the assessment can show how healthy a person was.

For instance, a close inspection of the lungs can demonstrate if a person is a smoker or not. Also, a close look at the liver can show if the person suffered from alcoholism or not. Next, a close look at the heart can show if the person had a proper diet or not. Our objective assessment today will determine if we individually have a healthy relationship with God or not. So, as we lay our lives on the table, we open up our lives to reveal the truth.

Will the Medical Examiner see signs of worry? Any signs of hopelessness? Any remnants of disconnection? Any evidence of us being lost?

As we look objectively, are there signs in your life of frustration? Have those that you love not lived up to your expectation? Have those on your job not held up their responsibility?

Have you felt hopeless? Have you had to deal with financial difficulty? Have you had to change your plans due to things out of your control?

As we look into your Spiritual Autopsy, are there any evidence of a meaningful prayer life? How about proof of your giving? Can we see any markings of singing and making melody in your heart?

Your spiritual autopsy will reveal these things.

Ezekiel had to perform a Spiritual Autopsy.

Israel lay dead in the valley. And God asked Ezekiel a question during a vision. “Son of man, can these bones live?”

Lesson Text:

Ezekiel 37:1-14

1. The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley, which was full of bones,

2. And caused me to pass by them round about: and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.

3. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest.

4. Again, he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.

5. Thus, saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

6. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

7. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

8. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

9. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

10. So, I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

11. Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

12. Therefore, prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

13. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened you graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,

14. And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.

In this vision, Ezekiel performed the Spiritual Autopsy and saw evidence that the hope of Israel was lost. For he saw the army of Israel lost in battle. The last hope of Israel was gone.

Have you ever lost hope?

For the bones were very dry. Their hope was lost. They had been in this condition for a while. There was evidence that their hope was gone.