The message of doom and gloom for Judah and Israel Ezekiel 1-24

Introduction to the Prophecy of Ezekiel

First section of Ezekiel is addressed to a specific people (Judah) facing a specific crisis (National collapse) at a specific time in history.

Ezekiel ministered during the darkest moments in Judah’s history: the seventy-years of Babylonian captivity. Why was Israel divided?

· Israel’s rebellion stemmed all the way back during the days of Jacob, Genesis 36:1-11; 1 Kings 12:19.

· Israel was divided into Northern Kingdom; Israel, and Southern Kingdom; Judah.

· From God’s viewpoint, the division was a judgment on not keeping God’s commands, specifically the commands prohibiting idolatry. From a human viewpoint, the division was the result of tribal discord and political unrest. The principle is that sin brings division 1 Corinthians 1:13, 11:18; James 4:1.

The nation of Israel had become like a valley of dry bones, Ezekiel 37. But the hope of the Southern Kingdom is that God would reassemble them, and breath into them life. They would be a nation again, Ezekiel 6:7, and know that God is Jehovah.

Ezekiel occupies a dual office of Priest and Prophet, Ezekiel 3:16-21.

Very little is known about his priestly office and ministry. A major part of Ezekiel’s life is focused on his ministry as a prophet.

Ezekiel is a Cohen, a priest of the tribe of Levi. He mimics John the Baptist, comes to Judah and Israel to fulfill God’s call as prophet on his life.

The glory of God appears to Ezekiel in the fourth month. It was in the fourth month (July) that Zacharias, John the Baptist father received revelation from God.

It is the fourth month (July) Ezekiel receives the first vision and is to encourage the exiles their captivity will not be too long.

It was the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of the reign of king Jehoiachin. (Ezekiel is twenty-five years old when taken into captivity.) (5- number of grace)

Ezekiel ministered at the same time as Daniel. Ezekiel on the river of Chebar, while Daniel occupied a position in the palace of king Nebuchadnezzar.

There are actually five prophets who minister at the same time, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.

Daniel was a Seer more than a prophet. His ministry was to disclose, beforehand, coming events in the providential plan of God; the outward relations to God’s kingdom.

Ezekiel was a prophet in the sense after that of a priestly origin; representing God to the Southern Kingdom, and represent the Southern Kingdom before God.

i. Ezekiel is 30 years old at the beginning of his ministry; this is the age that priests take office (Priest begin at thirty and retire at fifty). John the Baptist began his ministry at thirty. Jesus’ ministry began when he was thirty, but he never made it to fifty, died at thirty-three.

Ezekiel uses prophecies, parables, signs, and symbols to dramatize God’s message to His exiled people.

Ezekiel is a prophecy of word pictures, Ezekiel 1:1 I saw visions of God.

Ezekiel’s ministry had to do more with the inward concerns of the Kingdom; the heart.

Ezekiel was to faithfully execute the office of prophet (27 years) without any distractions, Ezekiel 29:17

Ezekiel is forbidden to mourn the death of his wife, Ezekiel 24:15-27.

Daniel’s ministry was more to the physical, and Ezekiel’s more spiritual; the hearts and conscience of the Southern Kingdom.

i. Ezekiel confronts the evils that were forming in the hearts of God’s people. (Ezekiel 1-24 is God’s judgment against Israel’s crimes against God’s love for them).

Ezekiel was to contend with the abominations which were destroying the Kingdom.

Israel as well as us, must learn how holy God is and how much he hates sin.

Ezekiel’s ministry was that of tearing down and building up, Jeremiah 1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Ezekiel’s ministry was confined to the exiles who were settled by the river Chebar in the land of Chaldeans, Ezekiel 1:3; Psalm 137.

There were three attacks against Jerusalem.

i. The first occurs during the reign of Jehoiakim, this is when Daniel is taken captive, Daniel 1:1. (Daniel prophesies for all seventy-years of captivity.)

The second comes during the short reign of Jehoiachin, Jehoiakim’s son, Ezekiel 1:2, this is when Ezekiel is taken captive. (Ezekiel prophesies in Babylon, Ezekiel 8,9).

The third is during the close of the reign of Zedekiah, 2 Chronicles 36:12-13 (Zedekiah reigns for eleven-years).

There was an eleven-year period where the situation of the exiles on the banks of the Chebar were trying and perilous (Jeremiah is not taken to Babylon).

The risk was great. On one hand they were defeated, and in danger of sinking in darkness and corruption. On the other hand, they were being misled into false expectations rather than personal reformation.

They had been led to believe there was hope of getting permission from the king of Babylon to return to their land; Egypt invading and freeing them.

God had raised up Jeremiah amid the severe and painful struggle (Jeremiah prophesies for over 40 years).

Jeremiah 50, Jeremiah announces the fall of Babylon.

Jeremiah warned them, on another occasion, not to believe the false prophets who were falsely teaching of flattering hopes of a speedy return to the land of their fathers. Jeremiah stresses that no return is possible until 70 years has elapsed, Jeremiah 29:1-10.

Jeremiah had told them to settle down in Babylon for seventy years, but the false prophets told the people that God would destroy Babylon and set the captives free, Jeremiah 28–29.

It was during this time that God raised up a man for the purpose of giving full utterance and a pointed application to the truths and lessons expressed by Jeremiah; Ezekiel being that man (Ezekiel prophesies in Babylon, Ezekiel 8,9).

In the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign, Jeremiah ministered, Jeremiah 51:59.

It was shortly after this that Ezekiel embarked on his ministry, Ezekiel 1:2.

It was Ezekiel’s task to tell the people that God would destroy Jerusalem, not Babylon, but that there would one day be a glorious restoration of the people and a rebuilding of the temple.

It was a time of great change.

It was a time of great despair.

Ezekiel was to continue the message in a new form that had been delivered by other servants of God, Ezekiel 1:1 Now it came to pass.

“Now it came to pass,” it refers to the unwritten history which was before the mind of the writer. The prophet by it, as it were, continues the history of the preceding times. In the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign, Jeremiah 51:59, Jeremiah sent by Seraiah a message to the captives, Jeremiah 29:1–32, to submit themselves to God and lay aside their flattering hopes of a speedy restoration.

“Ezekiel” meaning “God’s Strengthens,” he was sent to do just that. Strengthen God’s people amid darkness and despair.

Ezekiel needed strength to faithfully minister in the face of fierce opposition to his preaching, Ezekiel 3:8.

God’s people need strength in times of difficulty, Ezekiel 34:16.

Ezekiel would be a witness to the Lord’s faithfulness. He emphasized God’s sovereign rule over their lives.

Ezekiel ministered in a time when Israel was collapsing to Babylon.

He was to show Judah’s mistakes and sins against Jehovah. God’s message would grind their false hopes and assumptions.

This was proof that God still loved and cared for His people.

God was their temple, greater than the physical temple which had sunk back into nothingness.

Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon’s temple, so there is no temple.

Ezekiel is to know the future restoration of all Israel to the Promise Land by Jesus Christ, Ezekiel 36:24-26, 33-36.

Ezekiel 37 (Key Chapter) Restoration and Resurrection of a Redeemed Israel.

There were four revelations given to Ezekiel, three being external realities, and the fourth being an internal assurance to his calling and commission.

The heavens were opened, Ezekiel 1:1.

I saw visions, Ezekiel 1:1.

The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel, Ezekiel 1:3.

The hand of the Lord was there upon me, Ezekiel 1:3.

Lesson of Ezekiel: The phrase “The Word of the Lord came” is used nearly fifty times in this book. How wonderful to know that God’s Word is never far from God’s people if they will only listen. There is strength in the Word of God!