平原中的異象
以西結書三十七章1至14節
1耶和華的靈（註：原文作“手”）降在我身上，耶和華藉他的靈帶我出去，將我放在平原中，這平原遍滿骸骨。
2他使我從骸骨的四圍經過，誰知在平原的骸骨甚多，而且極其枯乾。
3他對我說：“人子啊，這些骸骨能復活嗎？”我說：“主耶和華啊，你是知道的。”
4他又對我說：“你向這些骸骨發預言說：‘枯乾的骸骨啊，要聽耶和華的話！
5主耶和華對這些骸骨如此說：我必使氣息進入你們裡面，你們就要活了。
6我必給你們加上筋，使你們長肉，又將皮遮蔽你們，使氣息進入你們裡面，你們就要活了。你們便知道我是耶和華。’”
7於是，我遵命說預言。正說預言的時候，不料，有響聲，有地震；骨與骨互相聯絡。
8我觀看，見骸骨上有筋，也長了肉，又有皮遮蔽其上，只是還沒有氣息。
9主對我說：“人子啊，你要發預言，向風發預言說：‘主耶和華如此說：氣息啊，要從四方（註：原文作“風”）而來，吹在這些被殺的人身上，使他們活了。’”
10於是，我遵命說預言，氣息就進入骸骨，骸骨便活了，並且站起來，成為極大的軍隊。
11主對我說：“人子啊，這些骸骨就是以色列全家。他們說：‘我們的骨頭枯乾了，我們的指望失去了，我們滅絕淨盡了。’
12所以你要發預言，對他們說：‘主耶和華如此說：我的民啊，我必開你們的墳墓，使你們從墳墓中出來，領你們進入以色列地。
13我的民哪，我開你們的墳墓，使你們從墳墓中出來，你們就知道我是耶和華。
14我必將我的靈放在你們裡面，你們就要活了。我將你們安置在本地，你們就知道我耶和華如此說，也如此成就了。這是耶和華說的。’”
信息分享
再看這段經文的背景和上下文，這個異象的要旨是論及以色列民的將來，並與他們現今的光景對比。以西結始終向他們承諾，神終有一天必復興他們，讓他們重回國土。他曾經預言眾城將得以重建，神會親自帶領他們。對於這群被擄至遠處異教國家的百姓來說，這些預言簡直是不可能的夢。
在耶路撒冷淪陷，他們被擄的那刻，他們僅存的信心似已被摧毀，神要藉著這個異象帶給他們新盼望。他們就像山谷裡的那堆骸骨；神以直接了當的問題挑戰以西結的信心：「以西結，你怎麼想？你認為這些骸骨能夠復活嗎？」
答案顯然應當是不！但以西結因為與神有緊密的交通，便回答說：「主啊，你是知道的，在你凡事都能。」於是，神吩咐他：「向這些骸骨說預言。」以西結依照神的吩咐去做，散開的骸骨便開始連接起來。這可能喻意神會將祂的百姓聚合起來，然後才領他們重回國土。許多人相信，神在今天正重演祂的作為。
但這些骨頭和骸骨仍然沒有生命。於是神吩咐以西結又向風發預言，「風」這個字的希伯來文，與「靈」是同一個字。如今，新生命奇蹟般地出現。在今天選讀的最後幾節經文中，神親自指出，這就是神的靈能作的事，祂能夠將新的生命，帶給那些死在罪中的人。這個奇妙的真理至今仍然沒有改變。當人聽見又相信神的話，神的靈便會賜他新生，他就能重生。多麼寶貴的信息！多麼奇妙的救恩！這個異象帶出了一個非常寶貴的真理。
VISION VALLEY
Ezekiel 37: 1-14
1 The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.
3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.
8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”
10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’
12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.
14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’”
Message
Looking at it in its context, it again focuses on the future of the people of Israel as contrasted with their existing conditions. Ezekiel had been promising them that God would one day restore them to their own land. He had spoken of the cities being rebuilt and of new leadership under God’s hand. To the people who were slaves in a foreign heathen country far away from their ancestral homes, all this seemed an impossible dream.
When Jerusalem fell and they were transported, any faith they had seemed to have been shattered. This vision was one of God’s ways of trying to bring Israelites new hope. They were like those dead bones in that valley. God challenged Ezekiel with a direct question, “What do you think Ezekiel? Do you think these bones will ever live again?”
The obvious answer might have been a strong “no”, but Ezekiel was in touch with God and he seems to have said, “Lord you know. You can do anything.” Then God gave a direct command, “Speak to these bones.” As Ezekiel did what God told him to do and say, the bones started to come together. It could be a picture of God gathering the people together before taking them back to their land. Many believe God is doing it again today.
But the bones, the skeletons, still had no life. Then God told Ezekiel to speak again, this time to the wind - it is the same word as “Spirit”. Now new life began to appear in a miraculous way. In the last verses of our reading, God Himself said this is a picture of what the Spirit of God can do. He can bring new life to those who are dead in sin. It is still wonderfully true today. Where the word of God is given and believed, new life comes through the Spirit of God and that person is born again. What a wonderful message. What a wonderful salvation. Only a vision back then, but a tremendous illustration of the truth.