Graves Into Gardens Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Graves Into Gardens is a powerful worship song by Elevation Worship that has resonated with believers all over the world. This song encapsulates the transformative power of God's love and the hope that springs forth from the ashes of our lives.
I. The Meaning of Graves Into Gardens:
The title of the song, "Graves Into Gardens," is a metaphorical representation of the transformative work that God does in our lives. It speaks of how God can take our brokenness, failures, and pain and turn them into something beautiful and fruitful. Just as a grave represents death and finality, a garden symbolizes new life, growth, and abundance. This song reminds us that God has the power to bring life out of death and beauty out of ashes.
II. The Inspiration and Story Behind Graves Into Gardens:
Elevation Worship, a contemporary Christian music band based in the United States, released Graves Into Gardens in 2020. The song was written by Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, and Tiffany Hammer. It was inspired by the biblical account of the valley of dry bones found in Ezekiel 37.
In Ezekiel 37, the prophet Ezekiel finds himself in a valley filled with dry bones. These bones symbolize the hopelessness and despair of the Israelites during their exile. However, God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones, declaring life into them. As Ezekiel speaks God's words, the bones come together, sinews and flesh cover them, and breath enters them, bringing them back to life.
This powerful story of God's ability to bring life to the lifeless served as the inspiration for Graves Into Gardens. The songwriters wanted to convey the message of hope and restoration found in Ezekiel's account, reminding listeners that God can breathe life into the most hopeless situations.
III. Bible Verses That the Song Relates to:
1. Ezekiel 37:1-6 (NIV):
"The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' I said, 'Sovereign LORD, you alone know.' Then he said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.'"
This passage from Ezekiel forms the foundation of the song's message. It highlights God's power to bring life into the dead and hopeless areas of our lives. Just as God instructed Ezekiel to prophesy life over the dry bones, we too can speak God's promises and watch as He transforms our circumstances.
2. Isaiah 61:3 (NIV):
"...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."
This verse speaks of the exchange that takes place when we surrender our brokenness to God. He takes our ashes and replaces them with a crown of beauty, our mourning with joy, and our spirit of despair with a garment of praise. Graves Into Gardens captures this divine exchange and reminds us of God's ability to turn our pain into purpose.
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV):
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
This verse emphasizes the transformative power of being in Christ. When we place our faith in Him, we become new creations. The old, including our past mistakes and failures, is washed away, and we are given new life. Graves Into Gardens echoes this truth and encourages us to embrace the newness that comes from a relationship with Jesus.
Conclusion:
Graves Into Gardens is more than just a song; it is a declaration of faith and hope in the transformative power of God's love. Inspired by the biblical account of the valley of dry bones, this song reminds us that God can bring life out of death, beauty out of ashes, and turn our graves into gardens. It encourages us to trust in God's ability to transform our lives and surrender our brokenness to Him. As we meditate on the meaning behind the lyrics and the biblical references, may we find comfort, hope, and inspiration to embrace the new life that God offers us.
