‘Thoughts'
EZEKIEL
Author: As is indicated in the first chapter and third verse , the author is Ezekiel the son of Buzi. Ezekiel wrote the book while in captivity. He, along with many other residents of Judah where brought in captivity and placed by the river Chebar, in the land of the Babylonians.
This time frame made Ezekiel a contemporary of Jeremiah during his final years and of Daniel.
Ezekiel's name meant, ‘God Strengthens'. A play would be made in the third chapter concerning the strength that God has given him, verses the hard headedness of the people he would go to ( 3:7-8 , 14 ).
Ezekiel began his ministry to the people of the captivity in the fifth year of that captivity. He was a powerful preacher, using allegory, figures, and symbolic illustrations in his messages. The unbending nature of his message to the people (condemnation for their sins), caused the people, in much the same way as Jeremiah, to hate and resent him (the life of a prophet of God).
Unique to this book, the author refers to himself as the son of man (87 times). This term has direct reference to his human nature and his need for God's strength to guide him.
The Book: The book of Ezekiel is divided into three parts:
• Judgment on Judah and Israel ( 1-24 ), which includes the final events of the destruction of Jerusalem . This shows the Ezekiel was part of an earlier deportation, like Daniel (as he spoke of these things while in Babylon and spoke as being transported by God in a vision). Included in these chapters are the prophets call ( 1-3:15 ), the general carrying out of his commission ( 3:16 – 7 ), the rejection of the people because of their idolatrous worship ( 7-11 ), the sins of the people rebuked in detail ( 12-19 ), the nature of the judgment ( 20-23 ), the meaning of the present punishment ( 24 ).
• Judgments on seven foreign nations; Ammon , Moab , Edom , Philistines, Tyre , Sidon , and Egypt ( 25-32 ).
• The future restoration of Israel , to include the triumph of the kingdom of God and its continued establishment and prosperity ( 33-48 ).
The central thrust of the book revolves around the sovereign activity of God (specifically, righteous judgment). The message to the unfaithful people of Judah and Jerusalem is that the great King of the earth has come for judgment; who then will escape ? However, to the faithful remnant, the message is that God Himself will act to restore his people, who can prevent Him ?
God will always act decisively, in judgment and blessing for the sake of His glory!
Ezekiel 36:32 “ Not for your sake do I do this ," says the Lord God , "let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel !"
Ezekiel 36:38 “Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord ."
Good Reading !