Wounded Warriors

Teresa Poucher

 The valley of dry bones — talk about an adventure!  So in the valley lay a multitude of very dry bones.  They are scattered abroad.  Was the whole army destroyed?  How many survived?  I wonder why this exceedingly great army wasn’t buried?  In ancient times, the burial of the dead was considered very important. 

 

  When we are born again, we become soldiers of the cross.  We are in spiritual warfare.  Ephesians chapter six speaks of the armor of God 

 

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

 

So what happened to this army? Something went wrong. They were in a valley; were they ambushed? Did they fall asleep?

 

  We have warriors who have been overcome in battle.  Some were weary in the fight; others received and believed a lie.  Perhaps they were ambushed or fell asleep.  Is this why they didn’t get a burial?

 

Still, they were warriors. What happened to “leave no man behind?” Ezekiel prophesied to this army, and God brought them back to life. Shouldn’t we also prophesy to the backslider who lost a battle? Wounded warriors are all around us. They have covered their wounds, but they haven’t been healed. Some have buried themselves in devastating lifestyles. It’s time to speak life to those wounded in the battle.

 

“Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon this slain, that they may live.” (Ezekiel 37:9)

 

  This wind is likened to the breath God breathed on Adam when he became a living soul in Genesis 2:7, as well as the mighty rushing wind (or breath of God) on the day of Pentecost when men were born again. (Acts 2:2)

 

Breathe on me, oh God, breathe on the backslider, restoring and healing him to be made whole, ready to fight the good fight of faith.