“Dry Bones Hear the Word!”
the dream of Ezekiel 37:1-14
Linnea Good

This story of Ezekiel’s Dry Bones Dream is meant to be told with the greatest dramatic zeal and could involve a group in presenting both the sounds of the various body-parts as well as joining in the repeated refrains (“O dry bones…” and “You’re the one who knows!”) That group can easily be the congregation (with the slightest advance preparation or by simply looking at them with big eyeballs while you call out their line in the story) Or the group could be an ensemble of dramatists, youth, children or people you dragged away from coffee hour last Sunday. It’s simple and fun.

It may be presented with drumming underneath (We used a kind of swing BOOM-ba-da-KAK-a-da-ba) On the words “Prophesy to these bones!” we simply struck straight quarters. Choose which words you want to emphasize and give them the louder or quieter or more intense delivery. Or give them a volley of drumbeats after you speak them. Don’t rush.

One or more:
O dry bones, hear the word of God.
O dry bones, hear the word of God!
O dry bones, hear the word of God…!
Prophesy, to these bones!

One continues:
I had another dream…
The hand of God was upon me
and God led me out by the Spirit
and set me right down in the middle of a valley.

It was full…
of bones!!!

And God led me around the valley
and behold, there were very many bones
and they were very
very
very…
DRY!

And God said to me,
“O human one…can these bones live?”
And I said,
“O Great God, you’re the one who knows that!”

One: Can these bones live?
Others: You’re the one who knows!
One: Can these bones live?
Others: You’re the one who knows!
One: Can these bones live?
Others: You’re the one who knows!
ALL: Prophesy, to these bones!

And then God said to me,
“Okay human one, prophesy to the bones,
and say, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of God!
This is what your great God says to you bones…

Behold, I’m gonna put breath in you, and you shall live again!
I’m gonna put sinews upon you,
I’m gonna wrap you with flesh,
and I’m gonna cover you with skin,
and then I’m gonna put breath in you
and you shall live again
and you shall know, that I am your great God.’”

One begins and is joined by other voices:
O dry bones, hear the word of God.
O dry bones, hear the word of God.
O dry bones, hear the word of God…
Prophesy, to these bones!

So I prophesied as I was commanded,
and as I prophesied, I heard a noise!
And behold,
a rattling! (rattling sound)

And bones began to come together,
bone to its bone, (bone sounds)
and as I looked,
there were sinews upon them (sinew sounds)
and there was flesh upon them (flesh sound)
and there was skin upon them… (skin sound)

But there was no breath in them.

One: Can these bones live?
Others: You’re the one who knows!
One: Can these bones live?
Others: You’re the one who knows!
One: Can these bones live?
Others: You’re the one who knows!
ALL: Prophesy, to these bones!

Again, God said to me,
“Well prophesy to the breath then, O human one, and say,
‘O dry bones, hear the word of God!
Come from the four winds, O breath,
and breathe upon these dry bones,
so that they might live again!’”

So I prophesied as I was commanded,
and as I prophesied I heard a noise. (Breath sounds begin and increase in intensity)
and the breath came into them
and they LIVED!
And they stood upon their feet!
And they were an enormous * number * of * living * beings!

ALL (proudly): O dry bones, hear the word of God.
O dry bones, hear the word of God.
O dry bones, hear the word of God…
Prophesy, to these bones!!

(Suddenly more quiet): Then God said to me:
“O human one, these bones that were dried and dead,
they’re like your dreams and your wishes
when you don’t believe in them anymore.
They are dead.

But I’m telling you,
that when your dreams and your wishes seem dead and dried up,
you prophesy to them,
you speak my truth to them.
And my spirit will come rushing in like the four winds’ breath
and bring them new life again.”

(mf) O dry bones, hear the word of God.
(f) O dry bones, hear the word of God.
(ff) O dry bones, hear the word of God…
(sudden whisper! No drum-beats): Prophesy, to these bones! (boom!!!)

©1994 Borealis Music, www.LinneaGood.com
From Linnea's Psalm-body’s Prayin’ Subscription service
Permission is given to you to use and make copies of this until Pentecost 2009.
This story-chant is available in MP3 form from Borealis: adminatLinneaGood.com