Ezekiel Study, Part One

 

This year I have a spiritual goal of studying, in-depth, 2 of the major prophets from the Old Testament.  As most Christian, I tend to focus on the New Testament.  But I also love reading Psalms, the minor prophets, and Proverbs.  I rarely really study the major prophets.  So I'm beginning with Ezekiel because that book is the one I turn to the least. I'm using a study titled Ezekiel: For His Glory. I found it via the You version Bible app.  I highly recommend that app!

This is a summary of Chapters 1-8.

In the beginning of the book, Ezekiel is describing what I always thought were what we would expect at the end times. However....this study says it is actually a vision of God's glory that Ezekiel saw (chapter 1: 1-14) and because God is so indescribable, He appeared to Ezekiel in a windstorm and as 4 creatures combined. This represents God's Presence.  The wheels beneath the creatures represent that He can move anywhere and everywhere. He is the King of the universe. In verses 22-28, there is an expansive throne above the creatures....a bright figure like a man....this is Jesus. When the Scriptures talk about coming from the north, this represents that God will judge His people (the traditional approach from which Israel's enemies attacked them was from the north). 

Ezekiel wholeheartedly worshipped God....it was the ultimate revelation of God's glory and Ezekiel could barely put it into words. 

At the beginning of chapter 2, the Holy Spirit brings Ezekiel to his feet. He is to give God's people....the Israelites...a message.  They've been very rebellious.  In fact, their rebelliousness is mentioned 7 times and it's been going on for generations. 

Ezekiel is to listen and obey God even if he and his words/message are rejected. 

Even God's "doom and gloom" words are sweet like honey because they are HIS words!  We are to eat of His word (our daily bread) every day. Ezekiel had "swallowed" the words of God and had to deliver them to the rebellious Israelites. In Deuteronomy 18:18 we learn that these words come directly from God. 

This basically means that when God speaks to us through a prophet (this was a prophecy about Jesus) we are to listen!  We are to take heed.......

In Chapter 4, Ezekiel performs "sign acts".  These are actions with a significance beyond themselves and Ezekiel's held prophetic significance for Israel: 

1. the Iron Pan= the barrier in the relationship  between God and Israel
2. Ezekiel lying on his side is symbolism that he is bearing the people's sin (fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross for our sins!)
3. the restricted diet= leading the people to see the root cause of their  distress is because of their sin!  There are consequences to when we sin. 
4. the eating of cow dung symbolizes the unclean food that God's people would eat in exile.  

They had judgements coming upon them:  siege, famine, and exile to unclean lands......this is God's punishment because they were sinning.  They were not worshipping the One True God.   This was not effective as a punishment.

Jesus, Who performed the ultimate "sign act" of the Cross (by dying on the Cross for our sins) cleanses and redeems us when we turn to Him and repent of our own sins. 

Chapter 5 shows us more "sign acts".  (v 1-4).  They would be punished by fire, sword, and scattered....however, God does show a hint of mercy (represented by the few strands of hair that escaped).....it symbolizes a remnant of people in Jerusalem who would be spared, although they would still be punished by God.  (they would live but still be in exile). God is a jealous God.  He gave Israel a position of privilege which is talked about in Exodus 19: 5-6) 

Israel was meant to be the center of God's purposes for the nations....they were meant to show God's character and bring blessing. However, they didn't live up to their calling or identity.  In fact, they were worse than the nations around them!!  

As Christ followers (born again/saved/Believers), we are to live up to our identity in Christ.  We are to live up to our calling. 

We need to remember that the world is observing us!!

In Chapter 6, Ezekiel's audience is widening. Now he's speaking to the people outside of Jerusalem.  (the rest of the land). They will be punished for their false idol worship but again, God's grace breaks through (in verses 8-10) as God says a remnant will be spared.  They will detest  themselves and turn to repentance.

God is anguished over Israel's unfaithfulness. He must destroy the land and people...but He is heart broken because of their idolatrous hearts. We are to worship ONE God...the Living God.  It is repeated again in the New Testament by Jesus and is known as the greatest command. 

In Chapters 7-8 the end has come. Ezekiel talks about 3 aspects of God's judgement.

1.  It is imminent.  (v 2-4)
2. it is just and personal:  God punishes according to past conduct.
3. It is wide ranging in its scope and effect: it involves the whole land. 

 Guidance from their leadership will fail; commercial transactions will halt; military warfare will be useless (sound familiar??!!) 

I liked this quote from the study:

"there comes a time when God's judgement is all that is left for people, especially if there is sustained, persistent rebellion against Him." 

Chapter 8 also includes mention of idolatry in the Temple!  In Ezekiel's vision, he is touring God's house (the temple in Jerusalem) and goes to 4 different locations: 

1.  the North Inner Court (v 1-6): this idol provokes God to jealousy...the people are breaking the covenant relationship. 

 

 2. the Entrance to the Outer Court (v 7-13): this is secretive....70 of the elders were worshipping false gods. 

3. the North Gate: these were women in mourning of a Babylonian god!  They believed this god would bring back fertility for their crops and animals. 

4. the Inner Court: these were 25 men worshipping the sun!  They were facing east.  This is both literal and figurative: totally turned away from God. They were  worshipping the gods of other nations: Canaanite, Babylonian, Egyptian).  There was major spiritual adultery going on!  I Peter 2: 9 says we belong to God alone!!

So, overall, this is a great book to study.  It shows that we serve a jealous God. He has a covenant relationship with us when we repent of our sins and turn to Christ, the one who saves us from God's wrath and judgements. 

I encourage you to read some of this prophet in your own Bible...it's really quite fascinating!