Welcome To The Study Of The Book Of Ezekiel
Unlike many other books of the prophets, the book of Ezekiel has never been seriously questioned as to its authenticity or authorship. It plays an important part in God’s revelation to Israel, and shows clearly once again that God can use the individual characteristics of people to serve His purpose.
The Book of Ezekiel is generally ignored. It is probably not even read by most Christians. This is possibly due to the supposed problems with the first chapter, but we must not let the details of the vision in Ezekiel 1 put us off reading this great book.
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Condensed Study
Ezekiel has been called ‘the prophet of the Exile’, but before becoming a prophet and the leader of those taken captive to Babylon, he was a priest in Jerusalem and one of the first batch of the nobility and prominent citizens who were taken into captivity. A Condensed Study Of The Book Of Ezekiel
Full Study
The book of Ezekiel is sadly neglected by many Christians who think it a hard book to understand. That is not the case. Difficult parts there may be, but it’s never a difficult book. The message is very singular, the method of portrayal very interesting and exciting. Complete Study Of The Book Of Ezekiel
Chapter By Chapter
Just as Ezekiel was a faithful messenger for God, warning of judgement for the unbelieving, and assuring of blessing for the believing, so we today have the unparalleled privilege to call all men to the truth in Christ. If we have ever had a view of the holiness and majesty of our God, how can we fail to herald His message of urgency to the lost! Ezekiel 1
We find the prophet is told to whom he will be sent, and the type of people that he will be working with.
God will show him the real people, not the outward, superficial holiness put up by them. Ezekiel 2
Eating the scroll signifies the need for Ezekiel to be actively believing and living the words is to preach. The message was to become a part of him.
He was not allowed to eat the scroll then spit it out, but swallow it; fill his stomach with it. It became a part of him. Ezekiel 3
This chapter begins Ezekiel’s first six years of singular preaching that Jerusalem must fall. That is what all the signs and preaching are meant to tell us and the people of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel does his preaching and prophesying by symbols and his own actions. Ezekiel 4
The prophet cuts some of the hair from his head and his beard. He then takes a balance and carefully weighs the cut hair into three equal parts.
Can you imagine the interest and reaction of the people by this time? All the exiles coming to see this weird priest. Ezekiel 5
The land is addressed by God rather than its inhabitants. A survey of the religious corruption of this time will show that there were shrines and temples and so on in every valley, on every hill there was.
So, it is as if the land had been polluted by this idolatry. Ezekiel 6
Throughout the former prophets had been warnings about punishment soon to come. There had been warnings of destruction and judgement before, but they had always been partial and not total.
Here in Ezekiel we find the time has come. Ezekiel 7
Ezekiel was brought in a vision to Jerusalem. The first things he saw there was an image of jealousy, and the glory of God. There is a sharp contrast between these two.
God will now give the prophet a ‘guided tour’ of the city pointing out the major problems. Ezekiel 8
7 men appear in the vision described as executioners of the city. 6 of them have weapons for destroying. There is no mistaking what these men are here for.
They have one job to do, and are equipped to do it well. Ezekiel 9
Ezekiel will like the nice easy work of the priest, looking after the ‘innocent’, but he doesn’t care for the work of the prophet handing out messages of judgement to those who appear innocent but are rotten. He is being told to do as the man in linen is doing, to carry out tasks of justice as well as mercy. Ezekiel 10
Ezekiel is shown the political and moral corruption in Jerusalem.
We learn that the exiles and not the inhabitants of Jerusalem are being protected by God.
The glory of the Lord leaves Jerusalem. Ezekiel 11
This is a straight forward sign by the prophet to show the people that there would be a further group of people go into exile including the king, Zedekiah.
There is no indication that this is a vision, so we see the prophet carrying out these strange actions. Ezekiel 12
The condemnation of false prophets and false prophetesses. One of the primary reasons that people have so little confidence in God’s word, is that many false messages are being preached by those pretending to be men of God. Over the centuries there will be no end to such men. Ezekiel 13
Israel’s leaders have idols in their hearts. They are fascinated and allured by the various idols they have set up in their hearts, but deep down in those same hearts.
There is evidently the realisation that only a much greater God can provide the real answers to life. Ezekiel 14
Using three allegories, God foretells Judah’s imminent destruction. The first allegory shows Judah as a useless vine to be burned. The second is a vitriolic attack against Judah’s unfaithfulness. The third allegory, using two eagles and a vine, calls specific attention to the personal ruin of King Zedekiah. Ezekiel 15
Here we find the figurative resume of Israel’s history. We see the undeserved kindness shown by God.
Jerusalem makes Sodom and Samaria look righteous and we find a promise of reconciliation. Ezekiel 16
Though God does not call himself an eagle, he takes the part the other two eagles have played.
He takes a small twig from the most tender part of the tree and places it on the highest point of the mountain. It is one of the royal line to be established in Judah. Ezekiel 17
The individual’s responsibility to God. The individual’s ability to change his ways.
It is only natural in times of pending punishment to place the blame on other, to hide behind prior good conduct, or perhaps to take security in one’s family or heritage. Ezekiel 18
Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin both taken into captivity. This will also happen to Zedekiah. As a lasting reminder of how the wicked are brought down, Ezekiel writes a lament for two of Judah’s kings who were taken by Judah’s oppressors. Their capture and exile are witness to Judah’s vulnerability to God’s judgment. Ezekiel 19
Ezekiel gives the elders a review of their history. Their idolatry is bringing the judgement.
He reminds Israel that they continue to be as sinful as their father, but that a day is coming when God’s chosen ones will be an obedient and holy people. Ezekiel 20
Jerusalem will be punished with a flaming sword. Babylon will be God’s executor of judgement. Priestly and kingly authority will be removed from Judah. Ammon will also be judged by God. Because of Israel’s rebellion, judgment has already come against the northern tribes, and God’s vengeance is poised against Judah. Ezekiel 21
Here we find a catalogue of every type of sin in Jerusalem.
Every type of person was involved in sin. They are condemned as dross to the fire.
All are found guilty. Ezekiel 22
Modern readers are almost offended by the candid exposure of two promiscuous sisters, representing Israel and Judah.
You can get at least an idea of the degree to which God himself is offended by his people’s unfaithfulness. Ezekiel 23
A most amazing thing happens on the very day of the siege, in the ninth year of king Zedekiah’s reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day.
Some 300 to 700 miles away from Jerusalem, in the city of Tel. Abib, near the river Kebar in Babylonia. Ezekiel 24
If God will not tolerate ungodliness and insolence in his own people he will certainly not tolerate it in others. God is no local deity whose power is limited to the land of Palestine.
He can reach out and judge nations wherever they live for he is Lord of all. Ezekiel 25
Prediction of Tyre’s doom, they will broken and destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar will bring about their destruction. The people will mourn their princes. Tyre will be totally destroyed. Tyre sought to prosper from Judah’s downfall. Ultimately they were being punished because of their pride. Ezekiel 26
This chapter describes the beauty and wealth of Tyre. We see that Tyre’s army was made up of many nations.
We also see the splendour of Tyre’s commerce but the time is coming when all who praised her will despise her. Ezekiel 27
Sidon is to Perish by pestilence and sword. Sixteen years from now, after Nebuchadnezzar has laid a 13-year siege against Tyre, Ezekiel will now record a footnote to his present prophecy. The fall of Sidon but to complete annihilation. In contrast, the Lord’s people to be healed. Ezekiel 28
The Egyptians were full of pride. Pharaoh’s pride is the cause of its downfall. We read about God’s judgment of Egypt and told that Egypt will be destroyed but her restoration is foretold.
Nebuchadnezzar will conquer and plunder Egypt. Ezekiel 29
The Lord will have vengeance on Egypt and her allies. Egypt’s supporters will leave her. Nebuchadnezzar will be God’s method of vengeance.
And this chapter we see God describing how his vengeance will be inflicted. Ezekiel 30
This message is dated about two months after the previous message. The prophecy here was directed to Pharaoh.
However, Assyria is used to illustrate that no matter how great a kingdom might be, it can be brought down by God. Ezekiel 31
This message was against Pharaoh. No matter how fierce and large Pharaoh presumed himself to be, he would be caught and entangled in the net of God.
Pharaoh would be brought out of his protective waters and laid out on the ground. Ezekiel 32
This is the link chapter between the two messages of the prophet. This section repeats Ezekiel 3:16-21.
The only difference being one of direction. The people are being told that they had been given a watchman. Ezekiel 33
Ezekiel now deals with a prophecy about the lost sheep of Israel.
God is going to gather his scattered people back to Palestine, as Canaan will become known, and that one day he will raise up a Saviour for his people, the Messiah, who will be the good shepherd. Ezekiel 34
During the siege Ezekiel brought judgment against Judah’s oppressors, particularly for the glee with which they would welcome the fall of Jerusalem. Using Edom to represent all the nations. Ezekiel again promises that destruction awaits them. He then consoles Israel with more assurances of the national restoration. Ezekiel 35
After a reminder of the reason for their punishment, Ezekiel shows the people that they will be restored to a fruitful land.
Note again that the mountains are addressed, but of course the message is for the people. Ezekiel 36
The vision of the valley of dry bones. The sign of the joining of the two sticks.
God brings a fascinating vision to Ezekiel in demonstration of the new life which Israel will have.
The visual image, of dry bones. Ezekiel 37
The climax of Ezekiel’s prophecies takes his hearers not only to the new kingdom of the good shepherd, but apparently to a time when the forces of evil will be destroyed forever. The language is apocalyptical, that is symbolically predictive of future events, and challenging to interpret. Ezekiel 38
After the defeat, the people of Israel go out to pick up the pieces. They are able to use Gog’s weapons for fires which will last for 7 years. The people are also given the job of burying the dead. The coastal plain, of Palestine, is given as a burial ground, and it takes them 7 months to bury all the bodies of Gog’s defeated army. Ezekiel 39
It has been some 12 years since any recorded word of the Lord has come to Ezekiel.
In what seems to be a mere continuation of his previous futuristic vision, Ezekiel now sees the the new kingdom of God and the new temple, its extent and splendour. Ezekiel 40
This is a continuation of Ezekiel’s great Temple vision from the previous chapter.
Again, we read that more measuring is done. He measures the most holy place, the porches and back buildings. This truly is an impressive structure. Ezekiel 41
This is a continuation of Ezekiel’s great Temple vision from the previous two chapters.
Again, we read that more measuring is done. The priests’s rooms and outer temple area are all measured. This would give Ezra and Nehemiah some measuring guidelines for the new temple when they returned from captivity. Ezekiel 42
Here is a picture of the restoration of the Jewish religious system. It is imperative for the remnant to know this will happen to be assured that he can be ceremoniously clean.
Not only that but the Lord will come back and will once again place his throne there. Ezekiel 43
Again, we have a continued picture of restored Jewish religious activities.
Circumcision, the Zadokite priesthood, the division of the land for the priests and instructions for the sacrifices which the priests were to carry out. Ezekiel 44
When the Jews are restored to the land, there was to be an allotment of land for the sanctuary, to the priests, the prince and for the city.
The land was to be divided by allotment, thus assuring that there would be a fair division of the land. Ezekiel 45
The restored Israel never again had a God anointed king to reign over them on earth.
We learn about grain offerings, free will offerings and burnt offerings. In the restored order of ceremonial practices, the ‘prince’, leader, in this context seems to be a reference to the high priest. Ezekiel 46
The temple, healing river gets bigger and deeper as it flows out of the south side of the sanctuary. Then it turns east and flows to the Dead Sea.
Here is a river providing what the people of the land needs and it clearly originates from God, Holy of Holies. Ezekiel 47
The final chapter brings everything to a grand climax. There is a new temple and a penitent and chastened people restored to their own land and city. And the most wonderful message of all, the name of the City shall be, ‘YHVH is there!’, because the ‘GLORY of YHVH’ has returned! Ezekiel 48