Ezekiel (Bible Study) ttb.org

Ezekiel’s Prophetic Ministry and Vision of God's Glory. Ezekiel was a priest taken captive to Babylon during King Jehoiachin's reign and ministered to the exiles by the Euphrates. Unlike Jeremiah and Daniel, Ezekiel's ministry focused on the spiritual, particularly the Person of God, and he used symbolic actions to convey his messages amid false hopes and despair. He prophesied during the darkest days of Judah, warning of Jerusalem's destruction and urging repentance. Ezekiel is known as the prophet of the Spirit and the glory of the Lord, seeing visions of God's glory leaving and returning to the temple, symbolizing future restoration during the kingdom age.

Ezekiel’s Vision of God's Glory and Presence. Ezekiel 1 presents a profound vision of the glory and presence of God, symbolized by a chariot with four living creatures (cherubim) each having four faces representing aspects of Christ and the Gospels. The vision emphasizes God's holiness, righteousness, and purposeful movement toward fulfilling His divine plan. The wheels within wheels symbolize God's omnipotent and ceaseless activity, not mechanical inventions. The throne, described as sapphire and amber, holds a manlike figure symbolizing the glory of God, not God’s direct person. This vision, difficult to fully understand, reveals God's majestic presence and calls for reverence and recognition of His mercy and judgment. Ezekiel’s response of falling on his face reflects the awe and humility due in God's presence, paralleling other biblical encounters with God’s glory.

Ezekiel's Prophetic Call and Role as Watchman to Rebellious lsrael. Ezekiel is called by God as a prophet to a rebellious and hardhearted Israelite people in captivity. God empowers Ezekiel through the Spirit to deliver His message despite opposition and rejection. Ezekiel is to eat the Word of God, internalizing it as sweet like honey, and faithfully proclaim God's warnings. He is appointed as a watchman, responsible for warning the wicked; failure to warn makes him accountable, but if the wicked ignore the warning, their blood is on their own hands. Ezekiel's role is difficult, requiring a hardened resolve against a rebellious nation. He is to speak only God's words and act out God's messages, even when bound or silenced, symbolizing Israel's rejection. The glory of God appears to Ezekiel, emphasizing God's majesty and presence in his prophetic mission.

Ezekiel's Symbolic Acts Foretell Jerusalem's Destruction and Divine Judgment. Ezekiel chapters 4 and 5 depict God's judgment on Jerusalem through symbolic acts. Ezekiel draws Jerusalem on a brick and breaks it, showing the city's destruction. He places an iron pan between himself and the city to signify God's separation from Jerusalem. He then eats defiled bread to symbolize the famine during the siege. In chapter 5, Ezekiel shaves his head and beard, dividing the hair into three parts representing the fate of Jerusalem's people: one third burned in the city, one third killed by the sword, and one third scattered. These signs confirm Jerusalem's destruction despite false prophets' claims of peace. The message warns of divine judgment and urges immediate acceptance of God's salvation.

Ezekiel 6: God’s Judgment on Israel and the Faithful Remnant. Ezekiel 6 focuses on God's judgment upon the entire land of Israel due to idolatry and disobedience. Ezekiel, speaking to the exiled Israelites, warns that a sword will fall upon Jerusalem and the land will be desolated. Despite widespread judgment, God promises to preserve a faithful remnant who will remember Him and bear witness among the nations. The chapter emphasizes God's holiness and justice, highlighting that judgment serves to reveal God's nature and call people to repentance. The land's desolation and the people's suffering are consequences of their spiritual adultery and rejection of God, underscoring the ongoing reality of divine judgment.

Ezekiel 7: Prophecy of Jerusalem's Final Destruction and God's Judqment. Ezekiel 7 delivers a prophecy of the final destruction of Jerusalem and the entire land of Israel due to their persistent sin and abominations. God declares that judgment will come upon the land and its people, punishing them according to their ways without pity. Despite warnings, the people remain unrepentant, relying on wealth and pacifism, which will not save them. The chapter emphasizes the seriousness of genuine faith versus mere profession, warning that God's wrath will bring devastation, violence, and defilement, including the destruction of their sanctuaries. The message serves as a solemn reminder that God's judgment is certain and that true commitment to Him is essential.

Ezekiel's Vision of Temple Defilement and God's Judgment. Ezekiel 8 describes a vision where Ezekiel is supernaturally transported to Jerusalem to witness the defilement of the temple and the departure of God's glory due to Israel's idolatry and abominations. The people worship idols, including the image of jealousy, creeping creatures, and the sun, violating God's commandments. Despite God's mercy and desire to save them, their persistent sin provokes His anger, leading to judgment. The chapter emphasizes God's holiness, justice, and the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation.

Ezekiel's Vision of the Shekinah Glory Departing the Temple and God's Judgment. Ezekiel chapters 9-10 describe the Shekinah glory preparing to leave the temple in Jerusalem due to the great sin and abominations of the people. Six angels are sent to mark the faithful remnant and execute judgment on the rest. The glory of God, symbolizing His presence, departs from the Holy of Holies, signaling God's judgment on Jerusalem. The vision includes symbolic cherubim with four faces representing aspects of Christ and the wheels that signify God's active and purposeful movement. This departure foretells the destruction of Jerusalem but also points to God's eternal plan, including the incarnation of Christ.

Ezekiel’s Prophecies of Judgment and Condemnation of False Prophets. Ezekiel chapters 11-13 contain prophecies against Jerusalem's rebellious rulers and false prophets during the Babylonian siege. Despite captivity, Jerusalem's leaders, including King Zedekiah, falsely believed in peace and prosperity. God, through Ezekiel, warns of imminent judgment and destruction, symbolized by Ezekiel's dramatic acts like digging through a wall to signify exile. The people’s spiritual blindness and rejection of God's word are emphasized. Ezekiel also condemns false prophets and prophetesses who deceive the people with lies and superstitions, highlighting the ongoing danger of spiritual deception. God's judgment aims to bring a faithful remnant back to Israel with a renewed heart and spirit.

Ezekiel 14-16: Judgment on Israel’s Idolatry and God's Covenant Promise Ezekiel chapters 14-16 contain prophecies against the idolatry of Israel's elders, the inevitable destruction of Jerusalem due to persistent rebellion, and symbolic visions illustrating Israel's spiritual state. Chapter 14 condemns the elders for having idols in their hearts despite outward piety and warns of God's judgment. The destruction of Jerusalem is certain, and even righteous figures like Noah, Daniel, and Job could not save the city. Chapter 15 uses the parable of a fruitless vine to illustrate Israel's failure to bear spiritual fruit, leading to judgment. Chapter 16 likens Jerusalem to an abandoned, filthy orphan city that God adopted and blessed, but which later became unfaithful through idolatry. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God promises to uphold His covenant and restore the nation, emphasizing His ongoing purpose for Israel. The text warns against false doctrines and highlights the importance of genuine repentance and faithfulness to God.