Ezekiel is one of the major prophets in the Old Testament. He lived during a pivotal time in Israel’s history – the Babylonian exile. Ezekiel’s ministry took place while he was in exile in Babylon between 593-571 BC. His prophecies contain visions, parables, symbolic acts and messages of warning and comfort to the exiles. Here are some key questions people often ask about the prophet Ezekiel and his book:
Who was Ezekiel?
Ezekiel was a priest living in Jerusalem until he was exiled to Babylon in 597 BC along with King Jehoiachin and other nobles, soldiers and artisans (2 Kings 24:10-16). He was married but his wife died during the siege of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 24:15-18). Ezekiel was called by God to be a prophet while living in exile in Babylon along with thousands of other Jews (Ezekiel 1:1-3).
Why was Ezekiel exiled to Babylon?
The reason Ezekiel and many others were exiled was due to the sins of Judah. God allowed Babylon to conquer Judah and take its people into exile. false gods and committed many sins against God (2 Kings 21:1-18). The people of Judah had turned to false gods and committed many sins against God (2 Kings 21:1-18). God sent prophets like Jeremiah to warn them but they refused to repent. Finally, God allowed the Babylonians to besiege Jerusalem and take them captive as judgement for their rebellion and idolatry. Ezekiel and others like Daniel found themselves snatched away from their homeland and deported to Babylon.
What was Ezekiel’s calling as a prophet?
During exile in Babylon, Ezekiel experienced a dramatic call from God to be a prophet (Ezekiel 1:4-3:15). He received visions of God’s glory and was commissioned to be a “watchman” who would warn the rebellious “house of Israel” to turn from their sins and face judgement if they refused. His ministry focused on proclaiming oracles and visions to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Ezekiel acted out prophetic parables or symbolic acts as sermon illustrations. He also delivered messages of judgement and consolation to the exiles regarding the fall and future restoration of Jerusalem.
What is the overall theme of the Book of Ezekiel?
The overall theme is God’s sovereignty. Ezekiel proclaimed that the Lord was in control, despite the Babylonian conquest and exile. Through Ezekiel, God communicated that He was bringing judgement on Judah for their idolatry, but also gave hope that He would one day restore them and give them a new heart and spirit to follow Him (Ezekiel 11:19-21). Judgement would purge those who persisted in sin, but the righteous remnant would be blessed. So amidst judgement, hope glimmers through in Ezekiel’s prophecy.
What are some key events in Ezekiel’s ministry?
Some key events include:
– Ezekiel’s commissioning and calling as a prophet (Ezekiel 1:4-3:15)
– His symbolic acted parables like laying on his side for 390 + 40 days depicting the siege of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4:1-6:7)
– His temple vision and the departure of God’s glory from the Jerusalem temple (Ezekiel 8:1-11:25)
– His visions of judgement on Jerusalem for her sins (Ezekiel 12:1-24:27)
– His prophecies against foreign nations like Tyre, Egypt and Babylon (Ezekiel 25:1-32:32)
– His vision of the valley of dry bones representing Israel’s restoration (Ezekiel 37:1-14)
– His detailed vision of a new temple (Ezekiel 40:1-48:35)
What are some key theological themes in Ezekiel?
Some theological themes include:
– God’s sovereignty – God is sovereign over all nations and in control of all circumstances
– God’s holiness and glory – Ezekiel emphasizes God’s surpassing holiness and glory in visions and the departure of His glory from the defiled temple
– Sin and judgement – God judges sin but also graciously restores those who repent
– Individual responsibility – People are individually responsible for their own sin before God
– Hope and restoration – God promises to restore and redeem a remnant of Israel in the future
What makes Ezekiel’s prophecies unique?
Some unique aspects include:
– Layers of intricate visions with vivid imagery, cosmic geography and angelic guides
– Acted out prophetic parables utilizing props, gestures and symbolic actions
– Emphasis on God’s glory with a vision of His glorious presence
– Extensive use of imagery and extensive allegories or parables like two eagles and a vine (Ezekiel 17)
– Dramatic focus on Israel’s sin, rebellion and judgement more than any other prophet
– Encouragement that judgement is intended to purge sin and bring restoration
– Detailed vision for a restored temple and system of worship in the future
What messages did Ezekiel give to the exiles in Babylon?
Messages Ezekiel gave to the exiles included:
– Explanations about why the exile happened – it was God’s judgment for Israel’s sins
– Calls to repent from idolatry and turn back to the true God
– Warnings about coming judgment on Jerusalem for unrepentant sins
– Promises that God still loved them and had a hopeful future for the remnant who were faithful
– Visions of a restored community, a new covenant, and new temple worship after the exile
– Encouragement to be strong in their faith in God’s sovereignty and glory despite circumstances
– Insights into God’s majesty and holiness through Ezekiel’s throne visions
– Hope beyond the exile – God would restore them to the Promised Land in the future
What are some ways Ezekiel’s message applies today?
Some modern applications include:
– God hates sin and rebellion but graciously restores those who repent
– Staying faithful to God in difficult circumstances and exile
– Appreciating God’s majesty and glory seen in creation and Christ
– Obeying God’s call even when it leads to rejection and suffering
– Prioritizing intimate worship of God over ritual or empty religion
– Experiencing renewal by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit
– Looking forward to the future restoration that Jesus Christ will bring at His return
– Trusting that God is still sovereign over all earthly powers and events
What was unique about Ezekiel’s vision of God’s glory?
Ezekiel’s vision of God’s glory was highly complex and vivid (Ezekiel 1:4-28):
– He saw four living creatures with four faces (human, lion, ox eagle) full of eyes, with gleaming wheels full of eyes
– Each had wings, hands, and wheels that sparkled like chrysolite gemstones
– Above the creatures was a throne of sapphire stone with a glowing humanlike figure and fire surrounding Him
– The creatures sped back and forth with the wheels beside them in perfect synchronization
– Wherever the spirit went they moved without turning and their wings sounded like an army or Shaddai
– A sparkling expanse spread out above the heads of the creatures
– The vision highlights the transcendence, power and mobility of God’s glory and presence
– It contrasts with idols that cannot move, see, or display splendor like God does
How was Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple significant? (Ezekiel 40-48)
Ezekiel’s visionary temple was significant because:
– It offered future hope beyond judgement that God would restore proper worship
– It corrected past temple abuses and rebellion with a holy temple plan
– The new temple would have God’s glory return to it (Ezekiel 43:1-5)
– The temple dimensions and details showed God’s meticulous concern for holiness in worship
– It highlighted that God would make Israel secure in their land and relationship with Him
– The temple river (Ezekiel 47) signified life flowing from worship to renew the land
– The vision energized exiles to rebuild the temple after returning from exile in 538 BC
– Its pattern of worship informed temple plans in later centuries including Herod’s temple
What was the purpose of Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones?
Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones coming to life pictured Israel’s national restoration from exile (Ezekiel 37:1-14). Key purposes included:
– Giving exiles discouraged about their current “dead” state hope for the future
– Conveying in vivid fashion that God could recreate Israel as a nation after exile
– Demonstrating that Israel’s restoration would require God’s direct, supernatural intervention
– Illustrating the reviving work of God’s Spirit in renewing His people individually and corporately
– Displaying that the same God who judges also restores in keeping with His covenant promises
– typifying the resurrection life Christ would bring to both Jews and Gentiles in the church
How do Ezekiel’s visions and symbolic acts reveal God’s character?
Ezekiel’s dramatic visions and prophetic sign-acts demonstrate:
– God’s sovereign rule over all – no earthly power thwarts His plans
– God’s holiness and concern for pure worship – His glory leaves defiled temple
– God’s mercy offering restoration after judgment rather than complete destruction
– God’s justice in punishing Israel’s sin while also offering mercy to the repentant
– God’s covenant faithfulness by promising to recreate Israel after judgment
– God’s supreme worthiness to be worshipped as the incomparable Creator over all
– God’s desire for Israel to return to intimate relationship and righteous living
What messages of hope did Ezekiel give to the exiles?
Ezekiel gave exiles hopeful promises from God that:
– God would restore scattered Israel again in their land (Ezekiel 34:11-16)
– God would give Israel a new heart and renew them by His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:22-32)
– Israel would receive a Davidic Shepherd-King who would unify them (Ezekiel 34:23-24)
– The dry bones of Israel would be revived and restored (Ezekiel 37:1-14)
– Israel and Judah would again be one nation united under one King (Ezekiel 37:15-28)
– The new temple would have God’s glory return (Ezekiel 43:1-5)
– God’s presence would again dwell with His people forever (Ezekiel 48:35)
– This offered hope that God still loved them and had a purpose for Israel in the future
What warnings did Ezekiel give to the exiles?
Ezekiel gave stern warnings that unrepentant sin would bring further judgment:
– Warnings to individuals to turn from idols or face death (Ezekiel 14:6-8; 18:1-32)
– Warnings that false prophets would face God’s judgment (Ezekiel 13:1-23)
– Warnings that Jerusalem would be destroyed for her sins (Ezekiel 4:1-7:27)
– Warnings that unfaithful shepherds and leaders would be judged (Ezekiel 34:1-10)
– Warnings that failure to grieve over sin would bring more calamity (Ezekiel 24:15-27)
– Oracles against foreign nations like Ammon, Moab and Edom (Ezekiel 25:1-17)
– Warnings that the king of Tyre’s pride would be humbled (Ezekiel 28:1-19)
– Warnings that Egypt would be overthrown by Babylon (Ezekiel 29:1-32:32)
How did Ezekiel’s life illustrate his message?
Ezekiel’s life illustrated his prophecies in the following ways:
– He lived out the exile to Babylon he warned about and navigated life there as an example
– His grief over his wife’s death (Ezekiel 24:15-18) mirrored his calls to mourn over Jerusalem
– His dramatic symbolic acts enacted the coming siege of Jerusalem and exile
– He restricted his food, drink and speech as an example of the deprivation coming (Ezekiel 3:26; 4:9-17)
– He displayed no fear or favoritism in rebuking Israel’s sins despite opposition
– He lived out reliance on God when his prophecies were not initially believed
– He modeled faithfulness to his ministry despite its costs and rejection by many
– He looked expectantly to the future restoration God promised after the exile.
How did Ezekiel’s message differ from Jeremiah’s regarding the exile?
Jeremiah prophesied before the exile while Ezekiel ministered during it, so Ezekiel could reflect on it as present reality while Jeremiah warned it was coming.
Key differences:
– Jeremiah highlighted Judah’s sins causing the coming exile and warned them to repent
– Ezekiel explained the theological meaning of the exile already happening as God’s judgment
– Jeremiah urged surrender to Babylon as God’s will to avoid further judgment
– Ezekiel ministered among exiles already deported, giving them hope beyond exile
– Jeremiah wrote a letter urging exiles to build lives in Babylon (Jer 29). Ezekiel focuses more on looking forward to return and restoration.
– Jeremiah uses more laments and poetic imagery. Ezekiel uses acted parables and extensive, intricate visions.
– Both offer warnings against false prophets and messages of future hope for Israel.
What are some lessons we can learn from Ezekiel today?
Some lessons include:
– God hates sin and rebellion but graciously restores those who repent
– Staying faithful to God in difficult circumstances and “exile”
– Obeying God’s call even when it leads to rejection and suffering
– Prioritizing intimate worship of God over empty ritual religion
– Looking forward to the future restoration Christ will bring at His return
– Appreciating God’s surpassing greatness and glory
– Experiencing renewal by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit
– Trusting God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises
– Developing courage to speak God’s truth despite opposition
– Allowing hope to arise from God’s messages amid circumstances that tempt despair
