"OVERVIEW OF EZEKIEL"
Notes
Transcript
What do you know about the book of Ezekiel?
Ezekiel, a priest and a prophet, ministers during the darkest days of Judah’s history: the seventy-year period of Babylonian captivity. Carried to Babylon before the final assault on Jerusalem, Ezekiel uses prophecies, parables, signs, and symbols to dramatize God’s message to His exiled people. Though they are like dry bones in the sun, God will reassemble them and breathe life into the nation once again. Present judgment will be followed by future glory so that “you shall know that I am the LORD.” Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 213). T. Nelson.
The call of Ezekiel –
Ezekiel 2 (NASB95)
1 Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” 2 As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. 3 Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.
4 “I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 “As for them, whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 “And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.
7 “But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. 8 “Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” 9 Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it. 10 When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe.
General observations –
God will send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me.
God tells him (Ezekiel) to tell them “Thus says the Lord…”
They may or may not listen to you, but they will certainly know that you are a prophet
God says don’t be afraid of them and what they can do to you – they are a rebellious house
God says I will give you the words to say. Just say what I tell you!
Certainly this is an extremely difficult message to communicate
Background info –
It is crucial that you understand that Judah, which is the southern kingdom, had three deportations –
28 These are the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away into exile: in the seventh year 3,023 Jews; 29 in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar 832 persons from Jerusalem; 30 in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile 745 Jewish people; there were 4,600 persons in all.
Author – Ezekiel – “Strengthened by God”
Ezekiel the son of Buzi (1:3) had a wife who died as a sign to Judah when Nebuchadnezzar began his final siege on Jerusalem (24:16–24). Like Jeremiah, he was a priest who was called to be a prophet of the Lord. His prophetic ministry shows a priestly emphasis in his concern with the temple, priesthood, sacrifices, and shekinah (the glory of God). Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 213). T. Nelson.
Ezekiel is both a prophet and a priest
He was deported to Babylon during the second deportation (25 years old) –
At age 30 he was both a prophet and a priest –
The book was written between –
Date – 593-570 BC –
According to this chronology, Ezekiel was born in 622 B.C. deported to Babylon in 597 B.C., prophesied from 592 B.C. to at least 570 B.C., and died about 560 B.C. Thus, he overlapped the end of Jeremiah’s ministry and the beginning of Daniel’s ministry. By the time Ezekiel arrived in Babylon, Daniel was already well known; and he is mentioned three times in Ezekiel’s prophecy (14:14, 20; 28:3). Ezekiel’s Babylonian home was at Tel Abib, the principal colony of Jewish exiles along the river Chebar, Nebuchadnezzar’s “Grand Canal” (1:1; 3:15, 23). Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (pp. 213–214). T. Nelson.
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in three stages. First, in 605 B.C., he overcame Jehoiakim and carried off key hostages including Daniel and his friends. Second, in 597 B.C., the rebellion of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin brought further punishment; and Nebuchadnezzar made Jerusalem submit a second time. He carried off ten thousand hostages including Jehoiachin and Ezekiel. Third, in 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city after a long siege and disrupted all of Judah. If “thirtieth year” in chapter 1, verse 1, refers to Ezekiel’s age, he was twenty-five years old when he was taken to Babylon and thirty years old when he received his prophetic commission (1:2–3). This means he was about seventeen when Daniel was deported in 605 B.C., so that Ezekiel and Daniel were about the same age. Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 213). T. Nelson.
The first 24 chapters of Ezekiel were written prior to the ultimate destruction in 586 BC
Chapters 25-49 were written after 586 BC – once Judah and Jerusalem were annihilated
The Babylonian Captivity was from 586-516 BC which is Seventy years. Part of Ezekiel was written before the captivity and the second have was written during the captivity.
Audience – Specifically to Judah – those who are in captivity
Theme – “Condemnation, Consolation, Restoration” (Restoration of Israel) – A priest was an individual who was concerned with the Holiness of God. Therefore it makes all the more since that Ezekiel deals with the theme condemnation and restoration.
Key Word - Restoration of Israel
Key Verse -
24 “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
33 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt. 34 “The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. 35 “They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’
28 “Then they will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer.
Key Chapter (37)—Central to the hope of the restoration of Israel is the vision of the valley of the dry bones. Ezekiel 37 outlines with clear steps Israel’s future. Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 215). T. Nelson.
Chapters - 48
Verses - 1,273
Words - 30,241
Let me give you a quick overview before we dive in. Ezekiel’s structure is even clearer than Isaiah’s or Jeremiah’s. It falls into two halves. In chapters 1–24, the Lord tells his people of his judgment on them. The Babylonians and Nebuchadnezzar will destroy Jerusalem, he says. The climax occurs in chapter 24 when word comes to Ezekiel that the siege has begun. Chapters 25–48 then contain more hope. The second half begins with condemnations of the surrounding nations, specifically Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt. Word then arrives in 33:21 that Jerusalem has, in fact, fallen; and from that point Ezekiel begins to prophesy about hope and restoration for God’s people. The book largely occurs in chronological order, and Ezekiel’s prophecies stretch over a two-decade-plus period—from around 593 to 571 B.C. Dever, M., & Goldsworthy, G. (2006). The Message of Ezekiel: Paradise. In The message of the old testament: promises made (p. 637). Crossway.
Is there a difference between Jeremiah and Ezekiel? If so what?
Ezekiel prophesies among the Jewish exiles in Babylon during the last days of Judah’s decline and downfall. His ministry is in some ways similar to that of his older contemporary, Jeremiah. But while Jeremiah delivers a chilling message of destruction in Jerusalem, Ezekiel brings a warming message of reconstruction in Babylon. Jeremiah is a man of tears; Ezekiel is a man of visions. And those visions stretch from horror to hope; from condemnation upon Judah’s faithless leaders and godless foes, to consolation regarding Judah’s future. Through it all, mankind would see the glory of Israel’s sovereign God, and “ ‘they shall know that I am the LORD’ ” (6:10). Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 212). T. Nelson.
Ezekiel can be a very confusing and misunderstood book –
Use of literary devices. Ezekiel used unique literary devices to drive home his message to a “hardened and obstinate” people. These included proverbs (12:22-23; 16:44; 18:2-3); visions (chaps. 1-3; 8-11; 37; 40-48); parables (chap. 17; 24:1-14); symbolic acts (chaps. 4-5; 12; 24:15-27); and allegories (chaps. 16-17). [i] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). Vol. 1: The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1226). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Perhaps what makes Ezekiel appear so strange are the bizarre things the Lord called him to do in order to communicate with his people. Quite simply, he called Ezekiel to communicate weird and fantastic visions by performing strange and symbolic actions. During the first period of Ezekiel’s ministry (593–586 B.C.), God called him to be a virtual recluse, afflicted with periodic fits, paralysis, and dumbness. For example, we observe episodes of aphasia, where Ezekiel lies motionless on his side for months, even years (4:4ff.). He is bound up in his house with ropes so that he cannot go out among the people (3:25). His tongue is glued to the roof of his mouth so that he cannot speak (3:26). He is ordered not to mourn the death of his wife (24:16–17). He is transported in visions (e.g., 8:7, passim). He is told to make a model of the besieged Jerusalem and hold a sword up against it (4:1–2; 5:1–2). He packs his belongings and digs through the city wall to symbolize the coming exile. Dever, M., & Goldsworthy, G. (2006). The Message of Ezekiel: Paradise. In The message of the old testament: promises made (p. 637). Crossway.
W. F. Albright describes Ezekiel as “one of the greatest spiritual figures of all time, in spite of his tendency to psychic abnormality.” 2 Ezekiel’s behavior has been called many things: “pathological,” “psychic,” “schizophrenic,” “epileptic,” “catatonic,” “psychotic,” and “paranoid.” About fifty years ago, E. C. Broome presented a Freudian analysis of Ezekiel (which is difficult to do in person, let alone with someone who’s been dead for almost three thousand years!). He labeled Ezekiel as “a true psychotic characterized by a narcissistic-masochistic conflict, with attendant fantasies of castration and unconscious sexual regression … schizophrenic withdrawal … and delusions of persecution and grandeur.” Dever, M., & Goldsworthy, G. (2006). The Message of Ezekiel: Paradise. In The message of the old testament: promises made (pp. 636–637). Crossway.
This evening we will not deal with the technicalities of the book rather I just want us to better understand the overall flow of the book –
Ezekiel is a book of methodical style, careful dating, and diligent organization. But this exacting framework houses an unsurpassed depth of mystery and richness of vibrant imagery, symbolism, parables, allegories, and apocalyptic visions. God told him “I have made you a sign to the house of Israel” (12:6). Nine signs are found in chapters 4–24 and a tenth is in chapter 37 (4:1–3, 4–8, 9–17; 5:1–17; 12:1–7, 17–20; 21:1–17, 18–23; 22:17–31; 24:15–27; 37:15–17). Ezekiel records six visions (1:4–28; 2:9–3:13; 3:22–23; 8–11; 37:1–10; 40–48) and six parables (15:1–8; 16; 17:1–21, 22–24; 23; 24:1–14). Apocalyptic passages are scattered throughout the book (6:1–14; 7:5–12; 20:33–44; 28:25–26; 34:25–31; 36:8–15,33–36; 38–39; 47:1–12). Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 215). T. Nelson.
Proposition - By the grace of God we will come to see how the prophet Ezekiel provides Judah with two specific messages: 1) the message of condemnation, and 2) the message of restoration.
Interrogative question -
The first sequence occurs in chapters 1–3, where Ezekiel, now in Babylon, first sees God coming to him in a vision. The second sequence occurs in chapters 8–11. It is a flashback, as it were, in which God shows Ezekiel how his presence departed from Jerusalem because of the idolatrous worship being practiced in the temple. The book then concludes with a long vision sequence in chapters 40–48 in which God again comes to his people in a rebuilt temple. Dever, M., & Goldsworthy, G. (2006). The Message of Ezekiel: Paradise. In The message of the old testament: promises made (p. 638). Crossway.
1. Message of Condemnation – 1-24 –
1. Message of Condemnation – 1-24 –
Condemnation is coming b/c you have forsaken the Lord your God
Ezekiel 5:7–12 (NASB95)
7 “Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Because you have more turmoil than the nations which surround you and have not walked in My statutes, nor observed My ordinances, nor observed the ordinances of the nations which surround you,’ 8 therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I, even I, am against you, and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations.
9 ‘And because of all your abominations, I will do among you what I have not done, and the like of which I will never do again. 10 ‘Therefore, fathers will eat their sons among you, and sons will eat their fathers; for I will execute judgments on you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.
11 ‘So as I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and with all your abominations, therefore I will also withdraw, and My eye will have no pity and I will not spare. 12 ‘One third of you will die by plague or be consumed by famine among you, one third will fall by the sword around you, and one third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them.
Condemnation is coming b/c you have forsaken the Lord your God
8 “But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
Remember that Ezekiel is a priest – He is focused primarily with the holiness of God. God can not stand sin.
How do you view your sin?
2. Message of Restoration – 33-48
2. Message of Restoration – 33-48
Make note of how many times the phrase “I will…” is used –
Ezekiel 36:22–32 (NASB95)
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.
23 “I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. 24 “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. 28 “You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29 “Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.
30 “I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31 “Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 “I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!”
Have you ever heard people say that Israel and the church are the same?
(If so be sure to take them to this passage – God is talking specifically to ethnic Israel not the church)
Like Isaiah and Jeremiah, Ezekiel proclaims a message of horror and hope, of condemnation and consolation. But Ezekiel places special emphasis on the glory of Israel’s sovereign God who says, “They shall know that I am the LORD.” The book breaks in four sections: (1) The commission of Ezekiel (1–3); (2) the judgment on Judah (4–24); (3) the judgment on the Gentiles (25–32); and (4) the restoration of Israel (33–48). Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 215). T. Nelson.
Ezekiel shows the full circle of judgment on the nations that surround Judah by following them in a clockwise circuit: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, and Sidon (25–28). He spends a disproportionate amount of time on Tyre, and many scholars believe that the “king of Tyre” (28:11–19) may be Satan, the real power behind the nation. Chapters 29–32 contain a series of oracles against Egypt. Unlike the nations in chapters 25–28 that were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, Egypt will continue to exist, but as “the lowliest of the kingdoms.” Since that time it has never recovered its former glory or influence. Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 216). T. Nelson.
I would like to talk for the next several minutes about how the outline of Ezekiel applies to each of us today as believers in Christ.
Remember Ezekiel was called to proclaim a message right?
What message are we called to proclaim as believers?
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
Just as Ezekiel was called to proclaim a specific message, you and I have been called to proclaim the message of Christ.
How are you doing with this?
Ezekiel told the people in captivity about the bad and the ugly – condemnation was coming –
You and I as believers must tell the world about the bad and the ugly –
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Ezekiel then told them about the good – (restoration)
5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
SO WHAT?
The question is this – Are you sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly with those whom you love?
Closing Quote for our study of Ezekiel -
Christ in Ezekiel—Chapter 17, verses 22–24, depicts the Messiah as a tender twig that becomes a stately cedar on a lofty mountain, as He is similarly called the Branch in Isaiah (11:1), Jeremiah (23:5; 33:15), and Zechariah (3:8; 6:12). The Messiah is the King who has the right to rule (21:26–27), and He is the true Shepherd who will deliver and feed His flock (34:11–31). Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 215). T. Nelson.
