“Dem Dry Bones”

One Year Bible (June 28)

2 Kings 13:1-14:29

“Dem Dry Bones”

As a kid, I grew up singing a chorus, “Dem Bones, Dem Bones, Dem Dry Bones”. We sang it at church camp and it seemed like our tempo would increase as we moved from the heel bone to the ankle bone, to the leg bone… Well, you get the picture! (A lot of our students were able to go on to become nurses or doctors after this rousing chorus. What can I say?)

The song begins with these words, “Ezekiel connected dem dry bones”. I must admit to this very day I have absolutely no idea what this means or who in the world came up with a song like this or why! No clue… So, of course, I decided to do a little “Connecting the bones”, as the case may be.

It turns out that this old-time spiritual written by James Johnson is based on the passage in Ezekiel 37:1-14, where the prophet visits the “Valley of Dry Bones” and prophesies that they will one day be resurrected at God’s command, picturing the realization of New Jerusalem.

We will see this song come “fully to life” when we visit the book of Ezekiel, but today’s passage is a little “Sneak Peek” of things to come on a much larger scale!

The main line in this song is the message of every single major prophet in the Old Testament, “Now Hear the Word of the Lord”!

Let’s take a look at the preview for “Dem Dry Bones” in today’s passage, “Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the hands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.” (2 Kings 13: 20-21)

Now, I wasn't there, mind you, but I can just picture the first “Flashmob Dance” ever all throughout Israel… “Dem Bones, Dem Bones, Dem Dry Bones, Now Hear the Word of the Lord”. ( I bet the tempo is picking up a bit and gaining momentum!)

Just to ask a technical question, “Does this count as one more miracle for Elisha’s long list?” Hmmmmm, God is still at work even when Elisha is wrapped in a cave or lying 6 feet under!!

Let’s take a minute to go back and look at the “bigger picture” of what has been going on in this chapter. Jehoahaz and Jehoash are both bad kings of Israel in the last days of Elisha. In spite of all of Elisha’s miraculous interventions and prophecies, not much has changed for the Nation of Israel. They continually refuse to tear down the idols and the people continue to worship them. The kings are at war and there is no peace without God’s blessing. They get to a place of hopelessness, and God reaches out and rescues them to keep his blessing to David and his people. However, there is no improvement in their situation.

The Nation of Judah has some bad kings but beginning with King Joash, “The Mini Monarch” there is a change in the air as there will be four good kings in a row. It is King Joash that comes to bid goodbye and receive a blessing when the old prophet became sick with the illness of which he was to die. He says, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”(2 Kings 12:14)

He is honoring Elisha by recognizing the power of the Lord through him and his mentor, Elisha.

Elisha’s last prophecy is to give King Joash the opportunity to embrace the work of God through him in a way that is symbolic of the victory that God is about to give him over their enemy.

He told him to take a bow and shoot an arrow out of a window toward the east. (v. 17) He then proclaimed that he would have victory. Elisha then asked Joash to take the arrows nearby and strike the ground. The king only struck the ground three times and did not show persistence. So, he was told that he would only have three victories over the northern enemy.

It is interesting that Joash did start out well in life as king, but lost focus and persistence like the arrow. Elisha, as always, had called that one correctly again. He could see “the heart of the matter” because of the Spirit of God that was at work within him.

Even in the very last verses about Elisha, we are reminded that his ministry was one of kindness and compassion. The Lord was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them… time after time.

This was not because of the people’s faithfulness, but because of his covenant with Abraham and David. God was not willing to destroy his people. Through his prophets, He repeatedly sent rescue, rebuke, and deliverance.

Isn’t it interesting that Elisha’s very last miracle actually occurred “Over His Dead Body”?

God was still sending a message to the people even after he had taken Elisha out of this world. What do you think that message to the people was and what do you think the people were talking about when “the man’s body touched the bones of Elisha and he was revived and stood up on his feet? (V. 21)

Folks, that is the only Halloween that I am celebrating right there because that was some HOLY NIGHT!

Perhaps, they were reminded of the woman’s son who was also raised back to life as they spread “The Hair Raising News” in their conversations up and down the street. Maybe, once again they were talking about the “Chariots of Fire” and the exchange of the mantle.

I wonder if they stopped to reflect on where that power came from, to begin with?

What idol had that kind of power? None!

Only the one true God could bring “life from death” like that!

Can't wait to read the morning headlines...

“Dem bones, Dem bones, Dem Dry Bones,

Now hear the Word of the Lord!”