Ezekiel: [ /ih-zee-kee-uhl/ ] noun – meaning "God's Strength."
The author of the text is the prophet Ezekiel, a contemporary of both Jeremiah and Daniel. The Book of Ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 B.C. during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews.
OVERVIEW:
Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. By means of his prophetic ministry he attempted to bring them to immediate repentance and to confidence in the distant future. Ezekiel’s prophesied among the people for at least twenty-two years (29:17). The prophet discovered God was not confined to the narrow scope of Ezekiel’s native land. Instead, He is a universal God who commands and controls all persons and nations. In Babylon, God carried to Ezekiel His Word for the people. The call by God transformed Ezekiel. He became passionately devoted to God’s Word. He realized he had nothing personally to assist the captives in their bitter situation, but he was convinced God’s Word spoke to their condition and could give them peace in it. Since he spoke to a people who God had exiled due to their continued rebellion against Him, a majority of Ezekiel’s message communicates judgment for sins committed (1:1–32:32). However, like all the prophets, he also provided the people, now without a land of their own, some hope for the future (33:1–48:35). Ezekiel’s book can be divided into four sections: 1) Chapters 1-24: prophecies on the ruin of Jerusalem; 2) Chapters 25-32: prophecies of God’s judgment on nearby nations; 3) Chapter 33: a last call for repentance to Israel; 4) Chapters 34-48: prophecies concerning the future restoration of Israel.
As a prophet, Ezekiel used various methods to convey God’s Word to his people. He used art in drawing a depiction of Jerusalem, symbolic actions, and unusual conduct to secure the attention of God’s people. One example was that he cut his hair and beard to demonstrate what God would do to Jerusalem and its inhabitants.
One interesting foreshadowing is in Ezekiel 34 is the chapter as God denounces the leaders of Israel as false shepherds for their poor care of His people. Instead of caring for the sheep of Israel, they cared for themselves. They made sure they ate well, were well-clothed and well-cared for by the very people they had been placed over to care for (Ezekiel 34:1-3). By contrast, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep and who protects them from the wolves who would destroy the flock (John 10:11-12).
SO WHAT?
The Book of Ezekiel calls us to join in a fresh and living encounter with the God of Abraham, Moses, and the prophets. We must be overcomers through Christ or we will be overcome by the world and sin. Ezekiel challenges us to experience a life changing vision of God’s power, knowledge, eternal presence, and holiness. We must look to God to direct us, while seeking to comprehend the depth of and commitment to evil that lodges in each human heart. We must recognize that God holds His servants responsible for warning wicked men of their peril by proclaiming the judgement to come, while also speaking about the forgiveness granted and found by faith in Christ. Lastly, we can experience a living relationship with Jesus Christ, who said that the new covenant is to be found in His blood and who transforms those who abide in Him. This text, as in much of the Bible, draws our eyes to behold God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. He is the one who works to do wonderful things, like bringing dry bones to life (Ez. 37). We also see a wonderful future promise for all those who place their faith in Jesus, the Son of God: Ezekiel 37: 27, “My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” This is fulfilled at the end of time in Revelation 21:3, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Friends, if you find yourself in a dark place, a time when you feel abandoned or far from God, seek and draw near to Him through Christ. The promise seen through the book of Ezekiel, as one example, is that He will draw near to you (James 4:8). He is truly the One True God who has worked for the good of those who humble themselves before Him and works for the glory of His name. Come and see what He has done!
Next month, we will look closer at the book of Daniel, the young man brought into exile who lived purely and faithfully in the foreign land of Babylon throughout his entire life by God’s sovereign hand of grace.
If you have questions, need prayer, a word of encouragement, or a cup of coffee, please contact me. Reach out to me via email: Colin@nlcwanamingo.org or by phone: 507-824-3019.
