Among the writing prophets, Ezekiel stands out for his mystical and mystifying visions, his symbolic enactment of his prophecies, his emphatic repetitions, and his “furious oratory.” He reminds one a great deal of Jeremiah in his preaching and object lessons, but not in his personality.
The book seems to be filled with the Glory of
God. Ezekiel has been called the “Prophet
of the Glory of the LORD.” He saw the
LORD’s glory at his prophetic commissioning (ch.1). He saw the Shekinah Glory leave the Temple
and he saw the Glory return in the future Kingdom. Hence he saw beyond the sufferings to the
Glory. Cf. 1 Peter 1:11.
Ezekiel means “God strengthened.” Ezekiel was 25 when he was captured in the second
deportation by the Babylonians. Daniel
was also in Babylon at the same time.
Daniel spoke in the courts of power; Ezekiel spoke to the captives. They probably knew each other. In 14:14,20; 28:3 Ezekiel speaks of Daniel.
He was a priest but never functioned as a
priest (since he was in Babylon and the temple was destroyed). His home was in “Tel-Abib” on the banks of
the Chebar River. He had his own home
(8:1). He was married. His wife died in the year the final siege of
Jerusalem began.
He was influenced heavily by Jeremiah. Still, his messages were his. Jeremiah was shy and tearful. Ezekiel was hard as nails. Ezekiel’s methodology brought him to do just
about anything to get the people to listen.
The purpose of his message was to show that the LORD was justified in
sending Israel into captivity.
Ezekiel spoke of Israel’s time in Egypt more
than any other prophet (e.g. 20:7). He
gave insight into the origin of Satan (28:11-19). He was the only prophet to give details of
the future kingdom temple (Ch. 40-42).
He makes 25 references to the Holy Spirit. And 19 times refers to the “Glory of the
LORD.” The key phrase, used 60 times,
is, “and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
God was seen in truth through the punishment of Judah (Ch. 1-24), the
condemnation of the nations (Ch. 25-39), and the restoration of His people
Israel (Ch. 40-48).
There is a significant “chronological” flow to
Ezekiel. The book begins with his call
to ministry. At the outset he is mate “mute”
by God except on the specific occasions when God desires him to speak
(3:22-27). In the year the siege of
Jerusalem begins his wife dies (24:15-24), and God tells Ezekiel he will remain
mute until the city falls (24:25-27), which occurs in 33:21-22.
Again, this is a book that ought not be
ignored. Ezekiel himself is worthy of
our study. He is a faithful prophet,
even when the death of his wife is an illustration for the people of Israel in
Babylon. Ch. 7-11 on the departure of
the glory from the temple are powerful.
So are Ch. 34-39 as Ezekiel gives a step-by-step statement of God’s plan
of restoration for Israel. And there is
nothing anywhere else in Scripture like Ch. 40-48 in their description of
Israel and worship in Messiah’s Kingdom.
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