Sit Down and Behold

Ezekiel was a great prophet who moved mightily in the Spirit. In Ezekiel 37, God gave him a vision that I believe holds a timely message of spiritual awakening for the dry church of today.

Ezekiel had lived through Israel falling into the hands of Babylon. He had seen firsthand the horrors of war and oppression of his people by a foreign, idol-worshiping nation. Ezekiel saw a great deal of carnage that no person should ever have to witness. Yet he beheld a vision that surpassed anything he had seen before. This vision was from the Holy Spirit, and Ezekiel testified, “The hand of the Lord was upon me” (Ezekiel 37:1, ESV).

In life, we will encounter many difficult things. Years ago, I prayed with a mother whose 22-year-old son had died suddenly. He was a young man I had known since he was two years old. Tragically, this grief is one of many I’ve encountered as a pastor. Year after year, I have seen marriages fall apart. I’ve observed drug addiction destroying young lives in their prime.

When God created humankind, he did not intend for us to experience the sinful things that befall us. Even as we witness tragedy, though, we rest in God’s hand as Ezekiel did, and the Bible says no power can pluck us from it. This truth must be established in our hearts. If we are to battle with the dark forces that come against our families, our young people, and our communities, we must know we are constantly protected and watched over.

God told Ezekiel, “Sit down and behold what I want to show you. I am about to perform an amazing work, yet you won’t be able to grasp it with your human understanding. You need my Spirit to reveal to you what I am going to do.”

The Hebrew word for “sit down” in Ezekiel 37 is the same word found in Luke 24:49, when Jesus instructed his disciples, “Stay [sit down] in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” The meaning in both instances is to lay down your plans and strategies. Wait for him to fill you with his power.

I am convinced the church today desperately needs to hear this word. How often do we plan seminars, concerts, conferences, and events that won’t make a difference unless Christ breathes life into them? It is only when the Holy Spirit fills us that we will have something real to give.