Oct 28

In Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones, the section that includes verses 9 and 10 states that he saw a vast army of bones come to life after he prophesied to them as commanded to by God.

Another Old Testament prophet, Joel, also saw an army in a vision. This army was a terrifying sight to the Israelites, the people of God. Joel prophesied that because of their sin, God sends an army to invade their country. But this army is not of men but of locusts -- locusts that eat up everything in the land.

As often happens in Scripture, the words here have application in more than one sense, more than just to the immediate situation at hand. The vision frequently mentions the day of the Lord, seeing far off into the future, when God will judge not just one land but the whole earth. At that time, he will send an army to carry out his judgments, and the whole earth will feel their wrath and God's judgment.

Revelation also mentions locusts as tools of judgment in the end times of this earth (Rev. 9:1-11).

We know that Scripture tells us ahead of time that in the last days there will be terrible times, with much suffering and bloodshed. The armies of the world and the devil will be in open warfare with the Lord.

But God has his own army prepared from all eternity to do battle with the armies of the devil -- and Ezekiel and Joel give us vital information we need if we are to be part of this army of God: We must allow God to raise us up out of our self-focused, dead lives and let the Spirit of the Lord God give new life to us in Christ if we are to be useful to him as soldiers in that great and mighty army.

Scripture for today: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Joel
Thought for today: God has an army. I am meant to be part of that army.
Prayer for today: Lord God, make me a fit soldier for your army. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and let my vision be your vision, so that I am found to be where you want me to be, fighting your battle under your orders, and not mine.

OCT 28