Olney Hymns · Chapter
Preaching to the Dry Bones explained
Drawing from Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones, the poem encourages preachers to trust in God's sovereign power to bring life to spiritually dead souls.
What happens
Drawing from Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones, the poem encourages preachers to trust in God's sovereign power to bring life to spiritually dead souls. It reflects on the seeming impossibility of revival and the necessity of divine command and the Spirit's breath.
Themes in this chapter
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The sovereign grace of God can bring life from death, as seen in the dry bones.
Spiritual Warfare
The bonds of death and Satan are broken by the power of Christ and the Spirit.
Characters to notice
- The Dry Bones
Symbolize spiritually dead sinners who can be revived by God's word and Spirit.
- Jesus Christ
The Savior who commands the dry bones to live and forgives sinners.
- The Holy Spirit
The heavenly wind that breathes life into the dry bones.
- The Narrator
The preacher who identifies with Ezekiel and trusts in God's power.
Key passages
“Can these be made a num'rous host, And such dry bones new life receive?”
Is it possible for these dry bones to become a great multitude and receive new life?
The prophet's doubt is met with trust in God's sovereign power.
“Hear, ye dry bones, the Saviour's word, He who when dying gasp'd—'Forgive,'— That gracious sinner-loving Lord Says—'Look to me, dry bones, and live.'”
Listen, you dry bones, to the Savior's word. He who on the cross cried 'Forgive' now says, 'Look to me and live.'
The gospel call is extended to the spiritually dead, offering life through Christ.
“Thou heav'nly wind, awake and blow, In answer to the prayer of faith. Now thine almighty infl'ence show, And fill dry bones with living breath.”
O Holy Spirit, come and blow like the wind, responding to our faithful prayer. Show your almighty power and fill these dry bones with life.
The Spirit's work is essential for regeneration and revival.