God's Answer to Despair

The continuing decline of the kingdom of Judah into the swamp of apostasy formed the background for the ministry and visions of Ezekiel. After the final collapse of the kingdom, the people tended to lose hope that there would ever be a way back, in spite of Jeremiah's promise that God would restore His people to the land. In this well-known chapter, Ezekiel is commissioned to preach to dry bones, and as he does so, the Spirit comes upon them and they live. In a similar fashion, God would move of His own power and prerogative to restore the people of Judah to the land and to preserve the promise of the coming Redeemer.