For over a year now, I have continued to hear these same words and see the same picture in my mind. It comes from the story of Ezekiel in the valley of dry bones.
“I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out… ‘Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, “Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”’… Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’… They all came to life and stood up on their feet — a great army.”
Ezekiel 37:1–10
When I read this story and pictured it in my mind, I kept seeing something else also, a picture, a word from the Lord. In this valley, the Lord miraculously brought dead bones to life again. He created an army of men. These were dried up, dead lives that came to life and stood up together as an army. As I prayed about this, I could see in my mind something else not written in the passage. On the ground there in the valley were piles of swords. Previously used swords from a great army. Hundreds of swords that were rusted and dirty after years of decay. Then I saw that each sword had a name inscribed on the grip. Given names, family names of each warrior. Then I heard, “Dead warriors arise.”
I knew what this meant and the time was now to write this challenge. Just as the Spirit of God breathed on those dry dead bones and brought them back to life, he is doing the same now. For many years and decades, people and men have been “dead”. Many have “walked through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4). They have lost their way, lost their families and children, lost their purpose and direction and have “died” inside. As Jesus said, there are those who heard the word of the Lord but the seed planted in their hearts didn’t last because they had “problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word”. For others, the seed was “crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth” (Matthew 13:21–22). The warriors have been consumed with the world, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. For some, these worldly patterns have been handed down to them through family generations. Others chose “to be dead because of your failures and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). But now — “God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive in Christ even though we were dead…” (Ephesians 2:4). It is God who is breathing new life in these men.
As our country and the world continues toward evil, where evil is called good and good is called evil, there is a need for a good righteous army to arise. Considering the current stories of physical and emotional abuse among women and children, the most vulnerable, there is a desperate need for men to rise up and fight these evils in cities, in colleges, in courtrooms, in schools, in families and even in churches.
The Lord is calling men, dead in life and spirit to arise from the valley of the shadow of death where they have faced many evils. Evils done to them by others. Evils they did to themselves through sin. And in that dark valley, give their fears to the Lord, the Good Shepherd. And now with the Lord’s strength and His presence declare “I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” (Psalm 23:4). These men can declare, “The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear… The LORD is my strength… he has given me victory” (Psalm 118:6, 14).
I saw a great army of men looking for their personal swords, their names engraved on the grip. They were reaching down and taking hold of their swords. “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). A weapon of offense to take back from the enemy. The word of God which leads and guides us in decisions, in wisdom and in obedience to do what is right. An army of men who will be courageous and not fearful, sacrificial with their time, money and energy to fight for the good. Fight on their knees in prayer, fight in being a voice for the helpless and fight for their families.
“Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you.”
1 Timothy 6:11–12
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
1 Corinthians 16:13
William Merrill wrote this famous hymn which echoes the same cry:
Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things; give heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the King of kings. Lift high the cross of Christ! Tread where His feet have trod; as brothers of the Son of Man, rise up, O men of God.
