Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Outline

Ezekiel 1-24 - Oracles against God’s People

Ezekiel 1:1-3 - Ezekiel the Priest

Ezekiel 1:1 - The Visions of God

Ezekiel 1:2-3 - The Word of the Lord

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Ezekiel is Yahweh rebukes His people for their sinfulness and He promises to restore His glory so all nations will know He is the one true Lord.

In short, the purpose of Ezekiel is the glory of God.

Main Point

While in exile, Ezekiel the priest, is commissioned as a God-consumed prophet and he receives grand visions from the throne room of the Lord

Ezekiel 1:1 - The Visions of God

1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month

Approximately 593 BC between June-July

Ezekiel is 30 years old and this would have been the date he would have been commissioned for temple service

His prophetic ministry begins when his priestly would have began if he were able to pursue his priestly ministry - hopeless dream, but Yahweh hasn’t forgotten Ezekiel

As I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal

As an exile, Ezekiel is living outside his native land - away from the glory of Yahweh

Unlike Daniel, Ezekiel is not taken to Babylon - he is sent to the Nippur region

The Chebar canal is a man-made canal for irrigation that brought water from the Euphrates

The heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

The heavens were opened

The door of the throne room of God is opened and Ezekiel is able to peer in to see realities that are not normally seen by mere mortals - based upon judgment

Visions of God

Ezekiel 1-3 - The Glory of God

Ezekiel 8-11 - Yahweh Abandons the Temple due to Wickedness

Ezekiel 37 - Reviving the Dry Bones

Ezekiel 40-48 - Renewed Temple and Land

Ezekiel 1:2-3 - The Word of the Lord

2 On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.

2 On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin)

King Jehoiachin

During this time, there were many in both Babylon and Jerusalem who thought the captivity would be short, but both Jeremiah and Ezekiel stated the exile would be long and Jerusalem would be destroyed not restored

Upon the exile of the King, the Israelites traditional understanding of themselves becomes confusing

They, as a nation, do not own any of the promised land per the Abrahamic Covenant

They, as a nation, do not have a king as promised per the Davidic Covenant

They, as a nation, are punished by God per the Sinai Covenant

As we shall see, Ezekiel believes the future of God’s people rests in the exiles, not those left behind - Jehoiachin NOT Zedekiah

3 The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal

The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel

The divine inauguration of Ezekiel as prophet

Introduces a divine message to the prophet

Chaldeans

Refers to the Babylonians

The Chaldeans were an Aramean group that won it’s independence from Assyria in 625 BC when the neo-Babylonian dynasty was formed

And the hand of the Lord was upon him there.

“Hand”

Yahweh has divine possession in a very real, physical way

The Spirit of God comes upon Ezekiel and more than all others he is a man possessed by the hand of God

The visions/prophecies come from the Lord, not Ezekiel

Christ Connection - Ezekiel was a priest, but we have one who is greater

How Should we Live in Light of Ezekiel 1:1-3?

Like Ezekiel, we are royal priests unto God.

Let the hand of the Lord fully consume our lives.

As a priest, live a God-centered life being fully devoted to the Lord ONLY!

Main Point

While in exile, Ezekiel the priest, is commissioned as a God-consumed prophet and he receives grand visions from the throne room of the Lord