The second appended prophecy (vs. 37, 38) is that of increase of population.  The picture of the flocks of sheep for sacrifice, which thronged Jerusalem at the feasts, is given as a likeness of the swarms of inhabitants in the ‘waste cities.’  The point of comparison is chiefly the number.  One knows how closely a flock huddles and seems to fill the road in endless procession.  But the destination as well as the number comes into view.  All these patient creatures, crowding the ways, are meant for sacrifices.  So the inhabitants of the land then shall all yield themselves to God, living sacrifices.  The first words of our text point to the priesthood of all believers; the last words point to the sacrifice of themselves which they have to offer.

‘For this moreover will I be inquired of by the house of Israel.’  The blessings promised do not depend on our merits, as we have heard, but yet they will not be given without our co-operation in prayer.  God promises, and that promise is not a reason for our not asking the gifts from Him, but for our asking.  Faith keeps within the lines of God’s promise, and prayers which do not foot themselves on a promise are the offspring of presumption, not of faith.  God ’lets Himself be inquired of’ for that which is in accordance with His will; and, accordant with His will though it be, He will not ‘do it for them,’ unless His flock ask of Him the accomplishment of His own word.

THE DRY BONES AND THE SPIRIT OF LIFE

1.  The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2.  And caused me to pass by them round about:  and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3.  And He said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live?  And I answered, O Lord God, Thou knowest. 4.  Again He said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5.  Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:  6.  And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. 7.  So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8.  And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above:  but there was no breath in them. 9.  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 these slain, that they may live. 10.  So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11.  Then He said unto me, Son of man,