Rev. Doug Floyd

Pentecost +18 2026
Rev. Doug Floyd
Ezekiel 37:15-28, Psalm 25, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:28-32

“He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Psalm 25:9–10, ESV)

We are following the leader. At times, He will lead us beside still waters. We will rest in green pastures. We will be refreshed by cool streams. We will learn the way of righteousness. In other seasons, He will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death. Some will rest there, awaiting to be called on that great Resurrection Day. Other will come through that valley into a new life. No matter where He leads us, we are safe in His care, His provision, His goodness, His mercy, His immeasurable love.

He led Ezekiel into the wilderness, into the heart of the pagan empire: Babylon. Ezekiel, the young man born to be a priest and the faithful follower of the Lord, is led alongside the rebellious Jews into a land of graven images, pagan gods, perverse worship. He walks into the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

In this land of crushing darkness, Ezekiel beholds the Lord of Glory. In the year when Ezekiel should have entered Temple to serve as a priest, the Glory of the God of Zion comes to him. The Lord speaks to him,

“And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 2:3–7, ESV)

From the land of Babylon, the place of captivity, Ezekiel is called to declare the Word of the Lord to the people of Jerusalem. Much of Ezekiel’s strange ministry is dedicated to exposing the sin of Jerusalem and declaring the Judgment of God. He will also instruct the people in the ways of the Lord.

Eventually, there will come a time when he restores hope to the captives.

Even to this day, his prophecy of the valley of dry bones awakens hope on our hearts.

“Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”” (Ezekiel 37:4–6, ESV)

This nation destroyed by Babylon through the judgment of God will rise again.

“Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:12–14, ESV)

Truly the Lord does “remember [His] mercy.. and . steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” (Psalm 25:6, ESV)

The Spirit of prophecy continues to blow through Ezekiel and he declares that not only Jerusalem will be restored but that all of Israel will become one again: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah will become the people of the Lord again.

“Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms.” (Ezekiel 37:15–22, ESV)

The two shall become one. The Lord led His divided and rebellious people of Israel and of Judah into the Valley of the Shadow of Death. And yet, he does not abandon His people in captivity. They will be restored and the two shall become one people under one king.

Who is this king? Who raises dry bones from the grave? Who is this king who united a divided nation into one people. Isaiah says that this King will fulfill the promise to Abraham and bless all peoples.

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”” (Isaiah 49:6, ESV)

Who is this King? King Jesus.

King Jesus enters the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Pouring His life out for the Life of the World. Pouring His life out to His Father in Heaven. Even as His enemies surround Him, mock Him, kill Him, He speaks the words of mercy and grace, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.” (Luke 23:34, ESV)

King Jesus is buried in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. He enters the death of humanity, the death of Israel, the death of the world. After three days, the Father speaks, the Spirit breathes, the Son arises. And all the world is raised again.

We follow this Jesus. This King of the Jews. This Lord of Glory. He reigns above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.^[1]

And He leads His people up to Himself, “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22–23, ESV)

Even as He exalts the church, and He restores the kingdom of Israel, He breaks the dividing wall between both groups: the Jews and the Gentiles. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—” (Ephesians 2:4–5, ESV)

How was the promise of restoring ancient Israel as one nation before God fulfilled? By King Jesus who defeats the power of sin and death.

How will Jews and Gentiles be reconciled as one people? By King Jesus who defeats the power of sin and death.

The Lord led Ezekiel by way of death. Ezekiel was taken captive and His call of becoming a priest in the Temple died, but he was raised up as a prophet of God whose words still address us today.

The Lord led the Apostle Paul by way of death. Paul left behind his accolades, his rule as Pharisee, his glory, and abandoned all that he might follow Jesus.

How does the Lord lead us today? At times, He will lead us beside still waters. We will rest in green pastures. We will be refreshed by cool streams. We will learn the way of righteousness. In other seasons, He will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death. Some will rest there, awaiting to be called on that great Resurrection Day. No matter where He leads us, we are safe in His care, His provision, His goodness, His mercy, His immeasurable love.

Many of us will walk in the way of the little valleys of death. On the one hand, we will follow Jesus in laying down our lives for one another. This is a way of sharing our gifts, our kindnesses, our love with one another. Other times, we will be taken where we do not want to go.

As Jesus told Peter, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”” (John 21:18, ESV)

We will all follow Jesus in the way of death. At the same time, there may be seasons of life when we will be taken where we do not want to go.

We leave behind a dream, a beloved job, and even a beloved home. Suddenly, our job may be eliminated or drastically changed, suddenly we may face unexpected health problems, suddenly, the path we walk will seem unsure. Like Paul, we are learning to let go and follow Christ. Ezekiel was taken captive by Babylonians but he was walking in the way of the Lord. Life may take a hard left turn and out of the blue we may have to forsake the life we thought we knew. No matter what happens, we pursue Christ. His love is sure. His path is a path of steadfast love.

This does not mean that the Valley of the Shadow of Death is easy. It is painful. And yet, we rise again. As we follow Christ in this world, we can trust that He will guide us and He will not forsake even when we feel forsaken. As Paul writes in Romans 8,

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35–37, ESV)

Paul is certain that people will face these difficult situations, and yet, these situations cannot separate us from God’s love. As a result, we are literally more than conquerors.

Scripture is filled with stories of people who suffered, lost their way of life, felt abandoned. And yet, they become emblems of glory. Naomi says to call her Mara which means bitterness because her suffering and loss have been so great. Yet, she encounters the lovingkindness of Ruth, then Boaz, and finally a new life in Ruth’s baby.

“Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”” (Ruth 4:14–15, ESV)

This is the beauty of the way of the Lord. Yes, we do pass through valleys of the shadow of death. But then Lord does not forsake us. We may have to let go of expectations. The life we knew will change. We learn to follow Christ in a new way, but I pray we will discover His loving hand afresh.

We can rest assured that “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11, ESV)

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Eph 1:21.