Ezekiel

A Simple Outline

Judgment on Judah 1-24

Judgment on the Gentile Nations, 25-32

Blessings on Israel, 33-end

Some of this appears to be yet unfulfilled

Author and Date

Ezekiel—name means God will strengthen/harden

Any doubts were recent and have been successfully answered by conservative scholars

He was a priest (1:3) (along with Zechariah and Jeremiah)

Very accurately dated

He was exiled in 597 BC; began to prophecy in 593

Began in the 5th year of the exile, ending with the 25th year of exile

It appears that he was 30 years old: 1:1

Arranged in chronological order, except for two events in 29:1, 17; grouped topically

Location of writing: from within Babylon

An example of apocalyptic literature, a revealing

Other examples, many in the apocrypha

A Quote to Note

Holman Concise Bible Commentary (Theological and Ethical Significance)

Even in exile, far from home, God was accessible to the prophet. God’s faithfulness was Ezekiel’s hope. God is the caring Shepherd of His people (Ezek. 34). God is the only hope for new life for the dead bones of the nation Israel (Ezek. 37).

Some Notable Events

Chapter 1—the wheel and the Glory of God 1:26

The Glory of God plays heavily into the book

Also leaving the temple chapt. 10:18 ff.

…and returning, 43:4

…and when will that occur? Did it already?

Partial in Mal. 3:1

Malachi 3:1 ESV

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

John 2:11–12 ESV

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

First we have to have a new temple, chap. 40...

We get an image of the future temple

Takeaways

God does deal with rebellion

Yet, He always saves a remnant

He is good to the faithful