26) The Book of Ezekiel

EZEKIEL and Jeremiah seem to constitute a prophetic pair. Both prophets were of priestly descent; both prophesied of the same events; both sharply rebuked the priests, prophets, and princes; both magnified the words of God; both witnessed the overthrow of Judah; and both suffered with the conquered people of Judah. Jeremiah mainly preached in Jerusalem, while Ezekiel was carried to a place of dragons in Babylon (Isa. 34:13; Jer. 51:37; Mal. 1:3-4).

Ezekiel was a prophet and priest of the exile. He prophesied of strange events and strange occurrences, which resulted in strange doctrines (Heb. 13:9). The Lord ordered Ezekiel to act in unusual behavior (4:1-14; 24:15-27). The phrase the word of the LORD occurs 60 times; the phrase the glory of the LORD occurs nine times; and the phrase the hand of the LORD occurs seven times in the 48 chapters and 1,273 verses of the book. The Lord gave Ezekiel incredible visions because he honored the words of God and he gave the glory to God.

The book seems to be divided into seven prophetic messages with each section beginning with the phrase the hand ofthe LORD (1:3; 3:14, 22; 8:1; 33:22; 37:1; 40:1). The last section describes in detail the Jewish temple during the glorious, 1000-year reign of the LORD Jesus. In these major sections several brief messages began with the phrase the word of the LORD. Ezekiel records the influence of the Spirit of the LORD in his life and work (11:5, 24; 37:1). Every faithful prophet of God needs the fullness of the Holy Ghost and the sacred Scriptures in order to honor God (Acts 4:31; Eph. 5:18-21; Col. 3:16; 1 Tim. 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:15).

King James Version.