EZEKIEL’S BONE-YARD

Ken Kalis
Sep 23
5 min read

Ezekiel's vision of a valley of dry bones. — Ezekiel's Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, Illustration by Gustave Doré

My Dad used to recite/preach this poem in our Pentecostal Church.

The unspoken subtext was that those sitting there were the old dry bones.
Many were quite reserved Holy Ghost people, living for Jesus, but not very actively.
I will never forget Sister Charlotte, a very quiet woman who suddenly cried out,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!! HALLELUJAH!! and afterward apologized to my father.

"I didn't mean to disrupt the service, Brother Kalis, but the Spirit of the Lord came over me so powerfully that I just had to shout!" Rudolph Kalis* (1901-1975)

May He so move you!

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Introduction

The valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 is one of Scripture’s most unforgettable visions. A prophet standing in a graveyard of skeletons, commanded by God to preach to the bones. Against all logic, life returned as God’s Word and Spirit moved.

Poet C.C. Mourer (early 20th century, dates unknown) Ezekiel’s Bone-Yard, retells this dramatic scene with a revival preacher’s fire. His words echo not only Ezekiel’s vision, but also the timeless call for repentance, renewal, and the life-giving power of God’s Spirit.

The Poem: Ezekiel’s Bone-Yard

(by C.C. Mourer)

EZEKIEL’S BONE-YARD

Twas down on bone-yard circuit,

There was no way to shirk it,

A preacher named Ezekiel was sent;

He landed at the station,

And saw the situation,

A valley full of bones his audience;

By way of a suggestion,

The Lord asked him a question

“Can these dry bones be raised up

from the dead?”

The Spirit was beseeching,

Ezekiel went to preaching,

And from the pulpit this is what he said;

Chorus:

O ye old dry bones, hear the word of the Lord,

“Stand upon your feet, and His goodness repeat,

Lay aside your dry profession,

Get a Holy Ghost possession.

You’ve been bleaching in the valley long enough.”

The bones began to rattle, Like muskets in a battle,

When ‘Zekiel took his text and started in.

‘Twas plain it didn’t matter, In spite of all the clatter,

For ‘Zekiel kept right on a-clubbing sin;

The bones all came together, In spite of stormy weather,

To hear the message from the Lord’s right hand.

It made them sit and wonder, To hear this “Son of thunder,”

As from the pulpit issued this command:

The rattle was terrific, The message was specific,

“REPENT,” the preacher roared in thunder tones;

There’ll be no absolution, Till you make restitution.

The muscles then appeared upon the bones.

You’ll have no good beginning, Until you quit your sinning.

The muscles soon were covered o’er with skin;

His breathless congregation Was filled with consternation,

As ‘Zekiel’s voice arose above the din:

Chorus:

O ye old dry bones, hear the word of the Lord,

“Stand upon your feet, and His goodness repeat.

Lay aside your dry profession. Get a Holy Ghost possession.

You’ve been bleaching in the valley long enough.”

They sat and warmed the benches,

While ‘Zekiel rushed the trenches,

And preached the word with all his might and main;

It caused a big commotion, When he, with deep emotion,

Said, “Breath of God, come breathe upon these slain.”

The wind was soon a-blowing, The bones were soon a-going,

Around the place as fast as they could run;

They got the second blessing,

And now the real excitement had begun.

Scripture Connection

Mourer’s poem follows the flow of Ezekiel 37 with striking faithfulness. God’s question still rings today: “Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ezekiel 37:3).

The prophet answered cautiously: “O Lord God, You know.” Yet as he preached, God worked. The Word went forth, the bones came together, flesh returned, and finally, the Spirit of God breathed life into the slain.

The apostle Paul* (5-67) explains this same power at work in us through Christ:

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”—Romans 8:11

Application for Us

Every generation has its boneyards—places of spiritual dryness, lifeless religion, and hopeless despair. Mourer’s chorus speaks as directly to us as it did to Ezekiel’s valley:

“Lay aside your dry profession.” Faith cannot be just words or forms—it must be alive in Christ.
“Get a Holy Ghost possession.” Only the Spirit gives new life. Human effort alone cannot revive the dead.
“You’ve been bleaching in the valley long enough.” God does not intend His people to remain lifeless. He calls us to rise, breathe, and live in His Spirit.

Closing Encouragement

Ezekiel’s Bone-Yard is more than a poem—it’s a revival sermon in verse. It reminds us that the same Spirit who raised Christ, who restored Israel, and who filled that valley with life is still moving today.

Wherever we feel dry, weary, or defeated, God still asks: “Can these bones live?” And through His Word and Spirit, the answer is yes.

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The Lord appeared to Ezekiel (622=750 BC) in dramatic and spectacular ways, directed him to do weird things, and gave him important visions. The most famous of these is the valley of dry bones that came to life by the Spirit of God! But Ezekiel reports 13 of the 82 theophanies in the Old Testament.

An asterisk* after a name indicates that person appears in my book SPIRITUAL LIVES
Read more theolphanies on my blog at https://www.kenkalis.com/blog

Read more in SPIRITUAL LIVES, pp 134-136, or better still in the BIBLE, Ezekiel 37.

Psalm 85:6-8 KJV. Wilt thou not revive us again: That thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, And grant us thy salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak: For he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: But let them not turn again to folly.