The Book of Ezekiel Page A-1
Book of Ezekiel
Ezekiel: “God will strengthen” A. His calling B. His servetitude C. His life
Book Summary:
A. The book of Ezekiel begins with the divine calling of Ezekiel in the era of captivity. Ezekiel was commissioned to announce God’s impending judgment on the rebellious nation and the desolation of Jerusalem. After Jerusalem had fallen, Ezekiel’s message turned to the Lord’s consolation and hope for his people. They would experience revival, restoration, and a glorious future as the redeemed and perfected kingdom of God (Ch. 33-48).
B. The book contains: 1. Four visions (1-3, 8-11, 37:1-14, 40-48) a. Ezekiel inaugural visions (1-3) b. Vision of corrupted temple (8-11) c. Vision of dried bone resurrected (37:1-14) d. Vision of New Jerusalem (40-48) 2. 12 symbolic acts a. Symbolic acts to rebellious house (3:22-26) b. The seized Jerusalem (4:1-3) c. Lying down on both side (4:4-8) d. A scent, vegetarian diet (4:9-11, 12-14) e. Shaved head and beard (5:1-4) f. The exile baggage (12:1-16) g. Anxious eating (12:17-20) h. Groan with broken heart and bitter grief (21:18-24) i. Death of Ezekiel’s wife (24:15-24) j. Writing on sticks (37:15-28)
3. Five messages in parables (15-17, 19, 23) a. Useless vine (15) b. Unfaithful bride (16) c. Two eagles and a vine (17) d. The trapped lion (19) e. Two adulterous sisters (23)
Themes: A. God’s sovereignty 1. He will be known and acknowledged: “they will know that I am the Lord.” (65 times) a. God will be revealed in the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. (1-24) b. The nations will know God through His judgment. (25-32) c. God will be known through the restoration and spiritual renewal of Israel. (33-48) 2. He initiate and control
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3. He reigned Ezekiel’s service a. Ezekiel was commissioned by God to serve. b. The divine presence to Ezekiel’s service from beginning to the end. 4. He is free to judge and to be gracious B. The covenant between man and God C. The chosen’s unfaithfulness and God’s faithfulness 1. The unfaithfulness of the chosen a. Lust after their idols. (6:9) Idols in Jerusalem provoke God’s jealousy (8:3) Elders worship idol (8:11) b. Repay God’s love with evil of idol worship. (16) c. God’s glory left the temple. (10:18-19) 2. The faithfulness of God a. God is faithful and His covenant is prevailing. b. God will shepherd them and revive them. (34-37) c. He will fulfill His promise of a restored new Jerusalem. (40-48) D. God’s justice and mercy a. God of wrath (1, 6:12, 7:8, 13:15, 20:8, 21) and God of comfort. (48:35) b. Temple desecrated (8-11) and restored & purified temple. (40-48) c. Watchmen of divine judgment (3) and watchmen of new age. (33-34) d. The mountain of rebuke (6) and the mountain of consolation. (36) E. “Then they will know that I am the Lord” a. When God has spent His wrath upon them. (5:13, 14:8, 38:28, 39:6-7) b. When judgment and retribution came upon them (6:7,13;7:4,9;11:10,12;23:49;24:24;25:11;26:6;28:22, 24) c. When God dispersed them among the nations (12:15,16;22:15,16) d. When the land became desolated (12:20;15:7;33:29; 35:9,15) e. When God was against the false prophet (13:9,14,21,23) f. When they were under captivity (17:21;25:5,7;39:22) g. Returned from exile and blessed (20:42,44;34:30;36:11;39:28) h. The diminish of Egypt (29:13-16,21;30:19,26) i. The spiritual revival (37:6,28) F. The structure A. Ch. 1-24 Warning before the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple B. Ch. 25-32 The judgment against foreign nations C. Ch. 33-48 The hope of restoration and spiritual renewal of Israel
Highlights of spiritual teachings
A. The vision of calling of Ezekiel (1:1-3:27) 1. Chosen people under captivity a. Good figs preserved (Jer 24:5) b. The word of God and the rod of God benefit the chosen (Ps 94:12) c. The chosen are captured but the word of God is not bound (2 Tim 2:9) 2. Ezekiel was commissioned a. The spirit of God enables him to see and hear b. He was spiritually revived before he revived the chosen from calamity
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c. Direct and powerful experience of calling 3. Clear divine guidance a. Convey Lord’s message (2:4; 3:1) b. disregard consequences (3:7-9) B. Symbol of the siege of Jerusalem (4-5) 1. Retribution according the sin committed 2. They will know the Lord because of God’s wreath (5:13) C. The approaching divine judgment (6, 7) 1. The remnant will know the Lord in calamity (6:7, 14) 2. Spiritual unfaithfulness aroused God’s anger (6:9-10) 3. God’s temple will be ruined due to idolatry (7:20-21) 4. They will know the Lord when God judge them (7:4, 9, 27) D. The temple vision (8-11) 1. The idol and God’s glory in Jerusalem (8:4) 2. The four detestable things alienate God from His temple (8:6,3,11,14,16) 3. The idolaters killed in Jerusalem and spared those who grieve over the detestable things (9:4,9) 4. The glory of God departed from the temple (10:18) 5. They will know the Lord when Israel’s leaders are judged (11:1,10-13) 6. Promised return of Israel (12:16-20) E. Symbol of exile (12) 1. Israel exiled and land desolated 2. They will know the Lord (16, 20) F. Explain divine judgment (13-24) 1. Woe to the foolish prophet (13) a. Who has not fulfilled their duties (5) b. Who gave false word and lying vision (8) 2. Idolaters condemned (14) a. False God alienate the true God b. The judgment inescapable 3. Jerusalem is a useless vine (15) 4. The unfaithfulness of Jerusalem (16) 5. The two eagles and a vine (17) 6. The sinner will die (18) a. Each one is responsible their deeds b. Repent and live (32) 7. Prediction of the captivity and destruction of Jerusalem (19) 8. The rebellions Israel (20) a. God hold the wreath for the sake of his name(9, 14, 22, 44) b. Restoration after the judgment (32-42) 9. Babylon, God’s sword of judgment (21) 10. Jerusalem’s sin (22) a. Israel will be dispersed among the nations (22:15) b. God poured out wreath because none stand before the breach (22:30) 11. Two adulterous sisters (23) 12. Cooking pot (24) G. Judgment against the nations (25-32) 1. Malicious joy over the destruction of Jerusalem (25:3,8;26:2-27:11) 2. Take revenge on the house of the chosen (25:12,15;28:24) 3. Seat on the throne of God (28:2)
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4. Pride and boasting (29:1-60;30:6;31:10;32:12) H. Consolation for Israel (33-48) 1. The restoration (33-39) a. Ezekiel was appointed as watchman to warn the chosen (33:1-20) b. Jerusalem’s fall explained (33:21-33) c. The Lord will be their shepherd (34:1-31) d. For the sake if His holy name, God will bless the Israel again (36:1-38) e. Spiritual transformation of Israel and the eternal covenant (37:1- 28) f. The downfall of Cog and revival of Israel (38-39)
2. Vision of new Jerusalem (40-48) a. The city built on high mountain (40:2) b. Built in accordance to God’s measure (40:3) c. Holy precincts to be kept holy (42:13-14) d. The glory returned to the temple (43) Glory will come from the east (43:1-5) The temple is the throne of God (7) God abides forever (9) e. The law of the temple: holy (43:10-12) f. Offer sacrifices to God (18-27) g. Take heed of the temple regulation and Guard the entrance of the temple (44:5) no uncircumcised to enter (44:9) Priest be holy to serve the Lord (17-27) God is the inheritance of priest (44:28) h. Worship God in order (46:9)
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Appendix
THE PROPHETS
Micah: Coming Prince of Bethlehem, and his Universal Reign Nahum: Impending judgment on Niniveh Zephaniah: Coming of a New Revelation, called by a New Name Jeremiah: Jerusalem’s sin, doom, and future glory Ezekiel: The fall of Jerusalem, restoration and glorious future Obadiah: Edom shall utterly perish Daniel: The Four Kingdoms, and God’s Everlasting Kingdom. Habbakkuk: Ultimate triumph for Jehovah’s people Haggai: The second Temple, and Coming Greater Temple. Zechariah: The coming King, his House and Kingdom Malachi: Closing message of Messianic Nation
Historical Setting and Approximate Dates of the Prophets Division of the Kingdom (933 B.C.)
ISRAEL JUDAH PROPHETS
Jeroboam 933-911 Rehoboam 933-916 Nadab 911-910 Abijah 915-913 Baasha 910-887 Asa 912-872
Rise of Assyria to World Power (about 900 B.C.)
Elah 887-886 Zimri 886 Omri 886-875 Ahab 875-854 Jehosaphat 874-850 Elijah 875-850 Ahaziah 855-854 Jehoram 850-843 Elisha 850-800 Joram 854-843 Ahaziah 843 Jehu 843-816 Athaliah 843-837
God began to “cut off” Israel (II Kings 10:32)
Jehoahaz 820-804 Joash 843-803 Joel 840-830 Joash 806-790 Amaziah 803-775 Jeroboam II 790-749 Uzziah 787-735 Jonah 790-770 Zechariah 748 Jotham 749-734 Amos 780-740 Shallum 748 Hosea 760-720 Menahem 748-738 Isaiah 745-695 Pekahiah 738-736 Pekah 748-730 Ahaz 741-726 Micah 740-700
Captivity of North Israel (734 B.C.) Hoshea 730-721 Hezekiah 726-697
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End of Northern Kingdom (721 B.C.) Manasseh 697-642 Amon 641-640 Josiah 639-608 Zephaniah 619-608 Jehoahaz 608 Nahum 630-610 Jehoiakim 608-597 Jeremiah 626-586
Fall of Assyria, 607 B.C. (Rise of Babylon) Jehoiachin 597 Habakkuk 606-586 Zedekiah 597-586 Obadiah 586
Jerusalem conquered and burned (606-586) The Captivity (606-536) Daniel 606-534 Ezekiel 592-570
Fall of Babylon, 536 B.C. (Rise of Persia) Return from the Captivity (536 B.C.) Joshua 536-516 Haggai 520-516 Zerubbabel 536-516 Zechariah 520-516
Temple rebuilt (520-516) Ezra 457-430 Nehemiah 444-432 Malachi 450-400
From: Halley’s Bible Handbook page 283
NYTS 2005