“Put together dem bones, Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Now hear the word of the Lord.” The melody was written by African-American author and songwriter James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938). The gist of this song is related to the passage from Ezekiel 37 about some very dry bones. The Spiritual was focusing on a different party of exiles from Africa feeling out of it in the United States. The music has been recorded by many artists: Delta Rhythm Boys, Fats Waller, Four Lads, Lennon Sisters, Mills Brothers, Rosemary Clooney, The Wiggles (my favorite group); in the musical Li'l Abner, the political satire song "The Country is in The Very Best of Hands" contains a long passage from Dem Bones which was rewritten to be about politicians sitting around on their "thigh bones." It contains lines like "the nominee's connected to the treasury."
Ezekiel was a prophet who was shipped off to Babylon in 597 BC from the Kingdom of Judah. At this time Judah was a weak vassal state subjugated to Egypt and Babylonia. There was a lot of intrigue and political back and forth with the rulers of Egypt and Babylon dictating who was King in Judah. When they got angry with their vassal King, they would ship more folks from Judah to Babylon or Egypt. Ezekiel was trying to keep the exile flock together in a town called Tel-abib, Babylon. Ezekiel chapters 33 to 48 have a message of hope, restoration Israel, and the establishment of a new Kingdom of God.
A valley of bones is shown to Ezekiel; these bones have been there for a long, long time. The bones are a metaphor about Israel in its dark days of captivity. In a discourse God asks Ezekiel about the bones, “can these bones live?” Ezekiel plays it out with a response that only God knows. The broader explanation is will the Nation of Israel come back to life? God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones (Tell the exiles in Tel abib and in Judah not to loose hope). Jeremiah was a contemporary of Ezekiel, but his home base was in Judah. Both these prophets noted the downfall and spiritual low point in the Jewish communities. The people were drifting away from Torah; some had found new life in the exiled lands. Ezekiel was not a popular figure in the exile community; however, his words brought hope and potential to the campfires and foreign residences. The final words in the lesson say it all:
“Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own soil. Then you shall know that I, the LORD I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD."
We can find comfort in Ezekiel today as exiles in different ways and places. Connect them bones!
ROMANS 8: 6-11
Paul was rejected or coolly received by many of the Jewish-Christians in Jerusalem (He was arrested on a visit to Jerusalem); he was more welcomed by the gentile Christians in Greece, Macedonia, and in Rome. Letter to the Romans was written in approximately 56 AD in Corinth, 20 years after Paul’s conversion. Many scholars give Romans the rank of the greatest of Paul’s writings based on the value of its teaching and clear thought. It was written as a letter to new Christians in Rome. This enclave of new Christians was not founded by Paul. In this relatively short passage, William Barley’s commentary explains Paul’s discourse as two principals of life. Living in a worldly life that is self-centered, focused on pride, ambition, lust, wealth, and self-gratification. Paul tells the Roman Christians not to live that life, but go for the spiritual life that endures. Be filled with the spirit of God to do the will of God that brings life more abundantly than you can ever imagine.
John 11: 1-45
John’s gospel is the more allegorical interpretation of the Christ story. Scholars date this Gospel to around 90 AD, written by Saint John at Ephesus. His purpose is not the history of Jesus’ life; rather, it is to show evidence that Jesus is Messiah, Son of God. As we move along in our Lenten journey, we have had John’s Gospel about Jesus and Nicodemus, Jesus and the Samaritan Woman, Jesus and a blind beggar. In each case the explanation and discussions are detailed and can be viewed with several levels of consideration, not just the face value. In looking at all of these stories, we can see divinity, compassion, understanding, and misunderstanding. This reading is a story that is found only in John’s Gospel. In this story, Peter (ad hoc leader of the disciples is absent, perhaps some issues?).
This reading is about Jesus and his buddies: Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. These are folks that were important friends, providing Jesus a place to get away, hang out, and be himself. Considering the road that Jesus traveled, R & R was a very precious gift and these three people were important to Jesus.
Mary and Martha send a message to Jesus that Lazarus (God is my Help) was gravely ill. After two days, Jesus sets out to go to see Lazarus in Bethany, in the region of Judea, Jesus had angered the Jewish authorities in Judea so this was in the minds of the his disciples, there was risk of bodily harm or even being stoned to death. Jesus took no heed to their concerns. His response in modern language was, I have a job to do, regardless of the risk, I am going forward with my work. The disciples again question the need and try to weasel out of risky trip to Judea. Thomas comes to the rescue and shows bold leadership. He says, “we need to go and die with him.” Bethany is a short distance from Jerusalem; the final events leading to Good Friday are unfolding.
The next part of the story confirms the Messiah. Jesus knew that he had the power to deal with what was wrong with Lazarus; Mary and Martha were disappointed that Lazarus had died and scolded Jesus for not coming sooner. Mary and Martha initially express disappointment, but are swayed by Jesus to have faith and believe in the Son of God. They testify, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the son of God.” The grief of Mary, the realization that the miracle that he would work with Lazarus would lead to the cross, crucifixion, and glorification disturbed Jesus greatly (Jesus wept). Jesus, Mary, Martha and a crowd of mourners trek to the tomb and Jesus tells them to remove the stone opening to the tomb. The folks are still skeptical, reluctant to move the stone because of stinking flesh and that Lazarus had been dead for four days. They move the rock, Jesus confirms with God his mission and out walks Lazarus. In curing Lazarus, Jesus secured his road to the cross and resurrection. When the news reached the Sanhedrin and the Temple leaders, they understood that they had no choice if they wanted to hold on to their power and privileges.
I think it is interesting that Ezekiel’s prophesy about a dead in spirit nation and Jesus raising Lazarus bring to us a similar message that includes hope, love, and possibilities. Both of these passages have a theme of resurrection.
Thanks for the good discussion on Wednesday and commentaries by William Barclay (Romans and John) and J.R. Dummelow (Ezekiel); Dem Bones musical information courtesy of Wikipedia.
Submitted by Walt Jaap
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