There is a short introduction available for the book of Ezekiel. You can read it here.
Key Themes
The book of Ezekiel, one of the major prophetic books in the Old Testament, is a profound and complex work that reflects the spiritual and moral challenges faced by the people of Israel during the Babylonian exile. Written by the prophet Ezekiel, who ministered to the Jewish exiles, the book combines visions, symbolic acts, and prophecies to convey its message. The key themes include:
1. God’s Holiness and Sovereignty: Ezekiel emphasizes the absolute holiness and sovereignty of God. Throughout the book, God is portrayed as transcendent and majestic, demanding that His people recognize His holiness and the sanctity of His name. This theme underscores God’s ultimate authority over all creation and His expectation that His people live in a manner that honors Him.
2. Judgment on Israel: A central theme in Ezekiel is the judgment that God pronounces on Israel due to their idolatry, unfaithfulness, and moral corruption. The book vividly describes the consequences of the people's sins, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. This judgment is depicted as just and deserved, highlighting the seriousness of rebelling against God.
3. The Glory of the Lord Departing and Returning: Ezekiel records the departure of the glory of the Lord from the temple, symbolizing the broken relationship between God and His people due to their sins. However, the book also contains a promise of future restoration, where the glory of the Lord will return when God renews His covenant with Israel. This theme represents both the loss of divine presence due to sin and the hope of reconciliation.
4. Individual Responsibility: Ezekiel introduces the concept of individual responsibility for sin, a significant theological shift. The book emphasizes that each person is accountable to God for their actions, rather than being judged solely based on the sins of their ancestors or the community. This theme reflects a move toward personal accountability in the relationship between God and His people.
5. Restoration and Renewal: Despite the themes of judgment and destruction, Ezekiel also offers a message of hope and restoration. God promises to gather His scattered people, give them a new heart and spirit, and renew His covenant with them. The book envisions a future where Israel is spiritually renewed and restored to its covenant relationship with God, highlighting God’s mercy and the possibility of a new beginning.
Ezekiel is a profound exploration of the tension between divine judgment and mercy, emphasizing God’s holiness and the necessity of repentance. It balances the themes of judgment with the promise of restoration, offering hope that even in the darkest times, God’s faithfulness endures, and His desire is to restore His people to a right relationship with Him.
What I Noticed Today (Ezekiel 1-4)
Ezekiel 1-24
Ezekiel 1-24 is focused on God’s impending judgment on Judah.
Ezekiel 1-3
Ezekiel 1-3 contains God’s commissioning call on Ezekiel. It is the longest prophetic call in the Bible.
Ezekiel 1
In verses 1-3, Ezekiel’s call to prophetic ministry from the Lord occurred on the fifth day of the fourth month of the thirtieth year (also the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile) which was July 31, 593 B.C.
In verses 4-14, Ezekiel describes the vision of a lightning storm coming from the north, and within the storm, he saw four creatures (identified as cherubim in Ezekiel 10). These creatures resembled men but had four faces and four wings. They stood upright, but their feet were like calves’ feet. They had human-like hands. The wings of the four creatures touched each other. They traveled in a straight line and could turn without turning their heads. They followed the direction of the Spirit. Their appearance was like burning coals and out of the fire came lightning.
In verses 15-21, Ezekiel describes the creatures as having wheels beside them that looked like chrysolite (maybe a jasper or beryl). One wheel sat inside another, and they could travel in whatever direction they wanted. The wheels had eyes all around them, and they went wherever the creatures went. The spirit of the creatures was in the wheels.
In verses 22-24, the wings of the creatures touched each other, and above them was an expanse shining like crystal. The sound of the creatures when they moved is described in three ways: they sound was like water, like the voice of God, and like an army. When the creature stopped, they dropped their wings.
In verses 25-28, Ezekiel notes when the creatures stopped, he could hear the voice of God from above the expanse. As he looked up, the expanse appeared to be like a throne made of sapphire. Sitting on the throne was someone who looked like a man glowing metal and fire, with brightness all around him. This, said Ezekiel, was the likeness of the glory of God! When he saw this, he fell on his face.
Ezekiel 2
In verses 1-2, God told Ezekiel to stand, referring to him as “the son of man.” The Spirit entered into him and brought him to his feet.
Note: This is the first of 93 times Ezekiel is referred to as the son of man in the book.
In verses 3-7, God told Ezekiel to deliver his message to the rebellious people of Israel. He told Ezekiel not to be afraid (three times) of their words, but to speak the words God gave him whether the people chose to listen or not.
In verses 8-10, God warned Ezekiel not to be rebellious like the Israelites, to open his mouth, and eat what God gave him. Then God gave him a scroll with writing on both sides, and the message was lamentations, mourning, and woe.
Ezekiel 3
In verses 1-3, God ordered Ezekiel to eat the scroll and then to speak to the people of Israel. Ezekiel ate the scroll, and it tasted sweet like honey.
In verses 4-11, God directed Ezekiel to deliver the message to the people of Israel, not to people of foreign languages. God warns Ezekiel the people of Israel will not listen to him because they are stubborn, but God promised Ezekiel he would make him just as stubborn. God again told Ezekiel not to be afraid, but to go to the exiles and speak the words God had given him whether they listen or reject what he has to say.
In verses 12-15, the Spirit of God lifted Ezekiel up. The sound of the creature’s wings was like an earthquake. He was transported to Tel-abib (Tel-aviv) and deposited by the exiles near the Kebar River (Chebar Canal), where he sat for seven days because he was overwhelmed.
In verses 16-22, the Lord spoke to Ezekiel after seven days telling him He had made him the watchman for the people of Israel. He was to speak whenever and whatever words of warning God gave him. The wicked person needed to be warned to turn away from their sin to save their lives. If they refuse, they will die for their sin. Likewise, the righteous man needed to be warned not to turn from his righteous path and do evil. If Ezekiel did not warn the wicked and the righteous man, then he would be held responsible for their sin by God. But if he warned them and they ignored him, then the sin would be on their own heads.
In verses 22-27, the Lord called to Ezekiel and told him to go to a valley where he met with God. He saw the glory of God again and fell face down. The Spirit entered him again and stood him up again. God commanded Ezekiel to go to his house, shut himself in, and not go outside and be among the people. Otherwise, some would try to tie him up to keep him from speaking. God caused Ezekiel’s tongue to be stuck to the roof of his mouth (unable to speak) unless God gave him words to speak, saying, “this is what the Sovereign Lord says.” Whoever will listen, let him listen, whoever refuses to listen let him refuse.
Ezekiel 4-11
Ezekiel focuses on the need for judgment because of the people’s rebellion in Ezekiel 4-11. Ezekiel 4-5 contain four signs of the coming judgment upon the people.
Ezekiel 4
First Sign. In verses 1-3, God instructs Ezekiel to draw the city of Jerusalem on a brick (or a clay tablet) and place it in front of him. He was to lay siege to the brick with siege works and a ramp up to the city walls. He was then to place an iron griddle between him and the brick.
Note: The iron griddle was a symbol of the impenetrable barrier between God and the people because of their sin.
Second Sign. In verses 4-8, God instructs Ezekiel to lie on his left side facing north (representing the sin of Israel) for 390 days. Then he is to lie on his right side facing south (representing the sin of Judah) for 40 days. During the time each day when he was lying down, the Lord tied him up with ropes so he could not turn over which was to symbolize the confinement of the siege
Third Sign. In verses 9-14, the Lord demonstrates the famine that will occur during the siege. God told Ezekiel to put a variety of grains into a container and use them to make bread. He was to eat this bread made from the mixture of grains throughout the time he was lying on his side for 390 days. He was limited to 20 shekels of bread (about 8 ounces) and a sixth of a hin of water (a bit more than 2-1/2 cups) per day. This was to demonstrate the scarcity of food and water during the siege.
Additionally, Ezekiel was to bake his bread in the sight of the people using human excrement for fuel. Ezekiel objected because this made the food unclean, but the Lord said this showed the people they would eat defiled food from the lands where they were in exile. God allowed Ezekiel to bake his bread using cow manure rather than his own excrement.
Ultimately, the scarcity of food and water from the siege was all a result of their sin before God.
Tomorrow: Ezekiel 5-8
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
