Ralph Porter

© 2003

AUTHOR AND DATE

    Internal testimony and tradition credit the book to Ezekiel, son of Buzi, who ministered in the

        6^th century B.C.

    He combined the office of priest and prophet and therefore paid special attention to the

        details concerning the temple and the priestly character of Messiah.

    A summary statement of the life of Ezekiel may be found in the meaning of His name:

        "strengthened by God."

    His call to minister among the exiles in Babylon was received in 593 B.C.

    His last dated prophecy was given 22 years later in 571 B.C.

BACKGROUND

    Ezekiel was taken captive in the 2^nd deportation to Babylonia in 598 B.C. with Jehoiachin.

    He wrote the first 32 chapters as a pre-exilic book, before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

        The people developed a hard attitude toward the message of the prophets.

        They were warned of a coming judgment until they lost their fear of it.

        Now the judgment was to come at last.

        Preliminary judgment has come as a sign of what will yet come.

    The emphasis of this prophecy is from the perspective of the captivity.

        He uses the pre-exilic focus as part of his attempt to comfort them by explaining again

            why they are in the captivity.

    He then proclaimed a message of future restoration under the leadership of their Messiah.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    God is about to glorify His name which Israel has ignored and cheapened.

        He tells them how He is going to teach them Who He is.

        Repeated theme: "And you shall know that I am the Lord!"

    The book foretells the means by which this will be accomplished.

        God will defeat His people, destroy His city, and send them into captivity.

        Following this judgment, He will restore them again.

    They will learn Who He is because of all that He is going to do in their presence, both in

        judging them, as well as in restoring them.

    Prior to the destruction of the city, the purpose is to call the people to repentance.

    Following that judgment, the purpose is to encourage the people.

        Both aspects reveal God's holiness, His love, and His mercy.

        Both aspects reveal the totality of Who God is.

    The entire program revealed demonstrates God's sovereign control over His people and over

        the nations of the world.

"You shall know that I am the Lord!"                                                                         Ralph Porter

Ralph Porter

George Barna and others have done considerable research which demonstrates that there is

    little difference between the lifestyle of our pagan culture and that of those who claim

    to be Christians today.

Why has our lifestyle become so conformed to that of the world around us?

One of the primary motives of this similarity is that we have bought into a false concept of

    Who God is.

When our concept of God weakens, our lifestyle weakens along with it!

The same problem was true in Israel in Ezekiel's day!

    Even though they had a visible manifestation of God present with them to remind them

         of His glory for nearly a thousand years, they had begun to take Him for granted.

    They were so used to having God around that they didn't give Him His rightful

         importance.

God sent Ezekiel to warn them of the danger of this attitude.

After the judgment came, he was there to remind them again of God's love and promises.

When they see what God has done, the whole world will realize Who God is!

Ezekiel should serve to remind US of just how great our God is, and how important it is that

    we trust Him and obey Him daily.

AUTHOR AND DATE

    Internal testimony and tradition credit the book to Ezekiel, son of Buzi, who ministered in the

        6^th century B.C.

            Nothing more is known concerning Buzi.

    Ezekiel was one of the few prophets who combined the office of priest and prophet.

    Therefore, he paid special attention to the details concerning the temple and the priestly

        character of Messiah.

    The first event of Ezekiel's life recorded in Scripture is the captivity of 598 B.C.

         The first captivity and deportation had occurred in 586 B.C.

        It was in this second deportation that Ezekiel, together with Jehoiachin, king of Judah, and

            other priests and leaders from among the people, was taken to Babylon.

        This event was so important to him that he dates the other events of his life from it.

        The Babylonians placed him in Tel Aviv, a concentration camp southeast of Babylon,

            designed to hold those who had been removed from Jerusalem.

        This deportation occurred eleven years before the destruction of Jerusalem.

    When Ezekiel arrived in Babylon, Daniel had already been there nine years and was already

        famous throughout the land (14:14, 20).

            Conditions in Tel Aviv were pleasant for the Israelites.

            They were permitted to own their own homes (3:24).

            They were engaged in business, even to the point of controlling a large portion of the

                economy.

            Their leaders were able to meet together (8:1; 14:1; 20:1).

            The conditions were so good that many did not wish to return when the captivity was

                over.

    In the fifth year of his captivity, 593 B.C., Ezekiel say a vision of the glory of the Lord.

        It was at this time that God called him for a special ministry to the exiles in Babylon.

        He was then thirty years old.

    He was called to announce judgment on Jerusalem during the period preceding the fall of

        Jerusalem, and to correct the false hope of the exiles that God would not allow Jerusalem

        to fall, and that they would return soon.

            God hardened him so that he could stand in the midst of rejection and opposition

                (3:8-9).

    While in exile he married, and was apparently happily married.

        The day that the siege of Jerusalem began, God took his wife's life, as an object lesson of

            the destruction of Jerusalem.

        He was instructed not to weep, as a symbol that none would mourn the destruction of

            Jerusalem.

        After its destruction, Ezekiel was given a ministry of comforting the exiles with the hope

            that God would restore Israel.

    Concerning the later events in Ezekiel's life, nothing is recorded.

        It appears that he died in exile, as no reference is made to him after the captivity period.

        Tradition says that he was slain by another man in exile, because Ezekiel rebuked him for

            idolatry.

    A summary statement of the life of Ezekiel may be found in the meaning of His name:

        "strengthened by God."

    If ever a man's life bore testimony to this fact, it is the life of Ezekiel, the prophet-priest of

        God to the exiles.

    His call to minister among the exiles in Babylon was received in 593 B.C.

    His last dated prophecy was given 22 years later in 571 B.C.

    The specific messages occurred at different times within this period.

BACKGROUND

    Deuteronomy 28:1, 15

    Nearly a thousand years had passed since Moses issued these words.

        The history of Israel since that time had been filled with disobedience to God's commands.

        God sent repeated warnings to the people through His prophets.

        In spite of their warnings, the people persisted in sin and idolatry.

    The people developed a hard attitude toward the message of the prophets.

        They were warned of coming judgment until they lost their fear of it.

        Now the judgment was about to come at last.

        Preliminary judgment has already come as a sign of what is yet to come.

    Ezekiel will see the fulfillment of the words of the previous prophets and will announce the

        judgment to those in exile in Babylon.

            Previous to the ministry of Ezekiel, the northern kingdom, Israel, had been taken

                captive by Assyria in 722 B.C.

            The Chaldeans defeated Assyria and established their own empire.

    In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar launched his first campaign against Jerusalem.

        He made Jehoiakim subservient to himself and took captive certain young men of noble

            birth, of whom Daniel was one (Dan. 1:1-7).

        Within three years, Jehoiakim revolted against Nebuchadnezzar.

    In 598 B.C., during the reign of Jehoiachin, Nebuchadnezzar again took control of Jerusalem.

        At this time he took the king and most of the significant people back to Babylon.

        He left Zedekiah as a vassal king over the insignificant people left behind.

    Ezekiel was taken captive in the 2^nd deportation to Babylonia in 598 B.C. with Jehoiachin.

    He wrote the first 32 chapters as a pre-exilic book, before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

        The people left behind in Jerusalem thought God was punishing those taken captive.

             They were left behind because "they were especially pleasing to God."

            This fallacy was re-enforced by the false prophets among them.

            All were sure God would never let HIS chosen city fall!

        In reality, God took the remnant to Babylon to preserve them-those left behind would die

            there.

        It was against this backdrop that the prophet was called to minister.

        He was to announce the impending destruction of Jerusalem.

    The emphasis of this prophecy is from the perspective of the captivity.

        He uses the pre-exilic focus as part of his attempt to comfort them by explaining again

            why they are in the captivity.

        He then proclaimed a message of future restoration under the leadership of their Messiah.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    For generations the people have defiled the name of Yahweh.

    Ezekiel's message is that:

         God is about to glorify His name which Israel has ignored and cheapened.

            He tells them how He is going to teach them Who He is.

             Repeated theme: "And you shall know that I am the Lord!"

    The book foretells the means by which this will be accomplished.

        God will defeat His people, destroy His city, and send them into captivity.

        Following this judgment, He will restore them again.

    They will learn Who He is because of all that He is going to do in their presence, both in

        judging them, as well as in restoring them.

            God is going to have His day!

    Prior to the destruction of the city,

        the purpose is to call the people to repentance,

        therefore he uses a message of coming judgment.

    Following that judgment,

        the purpose is to encourage the people,

        therefore he uses a message of coming restoration.

            Both aspects reveal God's holiness, His love, and His mercy.

            Both aspects reveal the totality of Who God is.

    The entire program revealed demonstrates God's sovereign control over His people and over

        the nations of the world.

ORGANIZATION

    The book divides into two major sections.

    Both sections result in the knowledge and glory of the Lord.

    The book hinges on 33:21-the fall of Jerusalem.

         Prophecies before the fall of Jerusalem   1-32

                Judgment is about to come.

                Primarily against Israel, but the surrounding nations will also receive God's correction.

            Concerning the prophet   1-3

            Prophecies of judgment against Jerusalem   4-24

            Prophecies of judgment against the nations   25-32

         Prophecies after the fall of Jerusalem   33-48

                Restoration and millennial blessings to be received by Israel.

            Prophecies concerning their restoration   33-39

            Prophecies concerning the millennium   40-48

    The result of BOTH sections is that ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS WILL KNOW THAT YAHWEH IS

        LORD!   33:29; 39:28; 48:35

ARGUMENT

CONCERNING THE PROPHET HIMSELF   1-3

        The prophet begins with information concerning his own preparation and call.

    His historical context   1:1-3

    His vision of the Lord   1:4-28

        Ezekiel comes face to face with the glory of God that has been defiled by God's people.

            What is it?   1:28

                "This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord."

            The vision caused him to fall before it.

        He sees what the people need to see: just how great the Lord really is!

    His commission   2-3

        The commission to go as a prophet to Israel   2:1-3a

        The rebellion against God's Word   2:3b-7

            God does not expect them to respond to the message, but they will be judged for

                rejecting the message of His prophet.

        The appropriation of the message   2:8-3:3   (Compare Rev. 10:9-10)

            In preparation for his position, Ezekiel is told to eat a scroll on which are written words

                of judgment and woe.

            The eating of the scroll signifies Ezekiel's appropriation of God's message.

        The hardness of heart   3:4-9

            God describes the hardness of Israel, which is supposed to be His people.

            He equips Ezekiel by hardening him also.

        The preparation for the job   3:10-15

            God empowers him for the job he is to do.

        The responsibility of a watchman   3:16-21

            He is reminded of a watchman's responsibility and the guiltiness which is his if he doesn't

                deliver the warning.

            He is responsible to sound the alarm-what they do with it is their responsibility.

            God tells him up front that they won't listen to him.

            God will hold him accountable for his assigned task, but not for their response.

        The silence of the spokesman   3:22-27

            His mouth is going to be sealed except when God tells him to speak.

             They will not receive a message from God when they want to hear it.

            God will determine the time to speak to them.

            Once again Ezekiel is reminded of the rebellion in the hearts of the people and told not

                to look for results from his ministry.

            He is responsible to warn them-not to make them move.

    What lessons do we learn from this introductory message concerning Ezekiel?

AGAINST JERUSALEM 4-24

        After establishing the source and authority of his message, the prophet begins to announce

            the judgment which is about to come upon Jerusalem.

    Four signs of coming judgment   4-5:4

        City on a tile   4:1-3

            Ezekiel sets up a little model camp there and then destroys it.

            That is what God is going to do to Jerusalem.

            God is going to destroy Jerusalem.

        Prophet on his side   4:4-8

            Ezekiel lies on his left side for 390 days and on his right side for forty days.

                Each day represents one year.

                The sign represents the attack against Jerusalem.

            God will judge Israel for 390 years for the sin of Israel (N) and 40 for the sin of Judah.

        Defiled bread   4:9-17

            Ezekiel was to take several types of grain, put them into one vessel, and make bread of

                it.

            Food and water are rationed, which announces coming famine and thirst.

            The sign is a graphic picture of the effects of the Babylonian invasion on the people.

            The use of dung to bake the bread is a picture of their inability to get firewood from

                outside the city and demonstrates the extent of the defilement.

        Shaved head and divided hair   5:1-4

            Ezekiel is to take a razor and shave both his head and his beard.

            He divides the hair into three parts.

                The razor is a picture of Nebuchadnezzar.

                The three parts represent what will happen to Israel.

                    Some will burn.

                    Some will be slain by the sword.

                    Some will be scattered.

    Three explanatory messages   5:5-7:27

        Explanation of the four signs 5:5-17

            Interprets the last sign, but serves as a commentary on all four.

            Because of Israel's rebellion and disobedience, God is about to bring severe judgment on

                them.

        Cause of judgment   6

            Begins and ends with an announcement of judgment.

                1^st announces the destruction of the city   1-7

                2^nd emphasizes the death of many individuals   11-14

            In both cases the cause is idolatry.

            In the middle God promises to preserve a remnant (8-10) because He wants them to

                know that He still loves them and still has plans to bless them in the future.

        Description of judgment   7

            Seems to imply the response of the people to the prophet's message.

            They have become hardened to the prophets because of the long delay in the judgment.

            Ezekiel announces that the day of judgment has come.

            This is their last chance to repent.

            He then describes again in detail what they can expect to happen, to strengthen the

                urgency of his appeal.

    Four visions concerning abominations   8-11

            Actually this is all one vision which points to four aspects of the same condition.

            Their abominations have become so gross in God's sight, that He must leave the city-the

                glory is about to depart!

            Shows the contrast between the glory of God and the defilement of His name by the

                people.

        Vision of the abomination in the temple   8

            1-4 reveals the glory of God

            5-18 reveals the defilement of the temple-goes from bad to worse:

                An image in the north gate provokes God to jealousy   5-6

                Pictures on the inside temple walls of beasts and idols   7-10

                70 elders inside offering incense to the paintings, claiming "God is dead"   11-12

                Men at the temple door worshiping the sun   15-16

            God declares that their idolatry has provoked Him to judge the house of Judah   17-18

        Vision of the man with the inkhorn   9

            God calls for those who have charge over the city to come with their weapons.

            One of the men is sent with an inkhorn to mark the forehead of all who mourn because

                of the abomination which has taken place.

            The others are sent out to slay all those who are not marked.

            Message: though God is about to destroy the city, a remnant will be preserved.

            The glory of the Lord moves from its position by the ark to the threshold of the

                temple.

        Vision of the coals of fire   10

            The man clothed in linen is commanded to reach into the wheels described as those seen

                by the river Chebar, take coals of fire, and spread them throughout the city.

             Message: from the same glory of the Lord that they have defiled, judgment is going to

                come.

            The glory of the Lord moves from the Holy of holies to the east gate of the Lord's

                house.

        Vision of the judgment   11

            Depicts the judgment of the leaders of the city.

            God sends Ezekiel to prophesy against the city.

            When he is through, Pelatiah, one of those who led the people in their sin, dies.

            Ezekiel fears that the result of his prophecy will be the extermination of the people.

            God promises to preserve a remnant.

            The glory of the Lord is seen departing from the city and standing on the Mount of

                Olives-it is understood that it leaves from there.

    Symbols and messages announcing judgment   12-19

        A series of announcement and predictions concerning the coming judgment follows in

            12-24.

        First Ezekiel uses signs, messages and parables to announce the judgment.

        Two signs   12:1-20

            Sign of the removal of the prophet's possessions   12:1-16

                God instructs Ezekiel to pack his bags and move to another place In sight of the

                    people.

                 Message: God is going to send them into exile.

                 He represents the prince in particular, whose face would be covered so he might not

                    see the ground and who, though he would die in exile, would never see Babylonia

                    (that is, Zedekiah).

            Sign of trembling   12:17-20

                The people would eat trembling, as the prophet had eaten.

                The land would be desolate and waste.

                Soon! (Not as far off as many thought)

        Five messages   12:21-14:23

            A proverb rejected   12:21-25

                "The days are long and every vision fails."

                Don't misinterpret the delay. God doesn't forget.

                The judgment is sure; 1000 years are like a day to God (2 Pet. 3:3-9)!

                Time is only an issue from a human perspective; not to God.

                "The days draw near as well as the fulfillment of every vision."

            A saying denied   12:26-28

                "The vision he sees is for many years from now; he prophesies of times far off."

                The delay is over.

                This generation will see its fulfillment.

                It's imminent!

            Message against the false prophets   13

                They are lying. God hasn't spoken to them.

                They promise what they desire.

                God is against them. He will destroy all they have.

            Message against the elders   14:1-11

                The elders come to Ezekiel for advice.

                He condemns them for their idolatry and exhorts them to repent.

                Any who refuse will be judged.

                If they seek out a prophet, God will deal with them personally.

                If the prophet doesn't condemn them, both the prophet and the elders will be judged

                     by God.

            Message concerning the impossibility of salvation for this generation   14:12-23

                 They will not be delivered, regardless of who intercedes for them.

                Nevertheless, there will be a remnant preserved through the judgment.

        Three parables   15-17

            Parable of the vine   15

                 The vine is only good for bearing fruit.

                It can't perform any work.

                God planted Israel as a vine to bear fruit.

                Since it has not produced fruit, it is worthless.

                God is going to cut it down, and use it as fuel for a fire.

            Parable of Israel's marriage   16

                Israel is like an abandoned child whom God cleansed and raised to marriageable age.

                He then took responsibility for her and married her, raising her to a royal state.

                After God had done all this for her, she became a prostitute, and made idols of the

                    jewels He had given to her.

                She turned to everyone but Him, committing fornication with Egypt, Assyria, and

                    Chaldea.

                Therefore, she must be punished as an adulterous wife.

                Nevertheless, afterwards God will restore her and reestablish His marriage covenant

                    with her, because He still loves her.

            Parable of two eagles   17

                Israel is like a cedar whose high twigs (= royal house) were taken by an eagle

                    (Babylon) who protected and cared for them.

                The king tried to ally himself with a second eagle (Egypt).

                Israel is no more faithful to its human commitments than it is in its commitment to