Categoria: Ezekiel

Ezekiel 37 further informs concerning the future restored temple and emphasizes the reinvigorating nature of the presence of God. Water was observed flowing as a stream from the east from beneath the temple and as it flowed it miraculously got deeper… ankle deep… knee deep… waist deep… and then “now it was a river that I could not cross… because the river had deepened and was deep enough to swim in – a river that no-one could cross”. Fruit trees are watered by the banks of the river and the trees produce abundant monthly fruit for food and the leaves bring healing. The river symbolizes all that flows from God’s nourishing healing presence. Then God defines the boundaries that would be laid out in the promised land between the 12 tribes of Israel. God includes foreigners in this land distribution for those aliens who had settled in Israel and this was a precursor for the spreading of the Gospel to the gentiles in Christ. So God’s presence brings life and healing… and his spirit spreads grace to Israel and all nations!

Ezekiel 46 brings further instructions for worship in the eventually restored temple. To start with directives are given regarding the sabbath and new moon for which the east gate is to be opened and the prince enters through this gate on these days. There ensues clear instructions for burnt offerings, fellowship offerings and grain offerings, and the people are taught about orderly entrances and departures from the temple. Then comes discussions of the prince’s inheritance of which he may give partly and permanently to his sons whilst living. However if he gives land to a servant this will return to him in the year of Jubilee. The prince is also banned from taking land from anyone by force. Finally Ezekiel was shown the kitchens: “These are the kitchens where those who minister in the temple will cook the sacrifices of the people”. No aspect of the temple’s functioning was forgotten.

Ezekiel 45 continues in the vein of Israel’s eventual restoration now focusing on the land, worship and leadership. Initially God says that when the land is allotted a portion must be separated as holy serving for the sanctuary, area for the priests and levites, land for the city and for the prince (leader). Then God rebukes Israel’s past sinful oppression of the people telling them to “give up violence and oppression and do what is just and right… stop dispossessing my people… use accurate scales”! True worship must be accompanied by righteous living. Then the people are told to provide offerings for which the prince (leader) is responsible to give in the required feasts and festivals. Then the Passover and Feast of Tabernacles are reconfirmed to Israel.

This chapter continues focusing on the restoration of the temple emphasizing that holiness is its essential ingredient. Initially it is stated that the eastern gate must always remain shut and no-one can enter through it because it was through this gate that God’s glory entered. God then rebukes Israel’s past “detestable practices” and insists that the Levites would only be permitted to do lesser tasks in the temple owing to their past unfaithfulness. However the “Levites and descendants of Zadok” will be given preference of service in the temple because of their resolute faithfulness in the past when everyone else went astray. The descendants of Zadok also received special instructions concerning what to wear, their conduct, teaching the people, acting as judges, avoiding ceremonial defilement and receiving their priestly inheritance. So we see that faithfulness to God is rewarded where as unfaithfulness has long lasting consequences. Spiritual leaders are called by God to minister through holy example and to teach and practice the truth.

 Ezekiel 43 is the climax to Ezekiel’s temple vision when the glory returns: “I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east… and the glory of the Lord entered the temple… and filled it… this is the place of my throne… the house of Israel will never again defile my holy name… and all the surrounding area on top of the mountain will be most holy”. Then God gives detailed measurements for the altar and a 7-day consecration ceremony is prescribed with sacrifices by the priests. When all this is completed God says: “Then I will accept you, declares the Sovereign Lord”.

Ezekiel 42 continues the vision of the restored temple covering the rooms for the priests and the temple’s overall dimensions. Ezekiel was shown rooms on the north and south sides which were where the priests “will eat the most holy offerings… store the grain, sin and guilt offerings… and change their garments”. Then the general temple complex measurements were taken. “It had a wall all around it to separate the holy from the profane”.

Ezekiel 41 continues the vision of the restored temple, and Ezekiel sees the inner sanctuary which is carefully measured emphasizing God’s perfection and holiness. Ezekiel’s guide measures the Most Holy Place, then he sees 3 levels of side rooms surrounding the temple. Then further measurements of the temple are taken emphasizing that the Lord is a God of holy meticulous order. The walls were decorated with “carved cherubim and palm trees” and each cherubim had 2 faces of a man and of a lion. There was also a wooden altar “before the Lord”.

 Ezekiel 39 continues the prophesy against Gog saying “on the mountains of Israel you will fall… all your troops and alliance… and vultures and wild beasts will scavenge the corpses”. Then the Israelites gather the weapons of the defeated armies which gives them 7-years worth of firewood! Then God decides to give the valley of Hamon Gog as a burial ground for the defeated armies and it took the Israelites 7 months to bury them all. Then God also summons vultures and wild beasts to feast on Gog’s corpses! There were an awful lot of dead bodies! Then God again reminds everyone that the exile was the result of Israel’s sin, but the Lord promises to restore Israel. “When I have brought them back… I will show myself holy through them before the nations… and I will pour out my spirit on the house of Israel”.

 Ezekiel 38 starts a prophecy against Gog, of the land of Magog, who leads a big alliance including Persia, Cush, Put, Gomes and Beth Togarmah. God declares that he will draw Gog’s alliance to do battle with Israel. Gog schemes an invasion of Israel without realizing that this is what God wants. Then when Gog attacks he falls into God’s ambush and God reacts with earthquake, confusion of the enemy bringing about friendly fire, pestilence, bloodshed, torrential rain, hailstone, burning sulphur and fire engulf the enemy. The result of the Lord’s multifaceted attacks is a total trouncing of Gog and his massive alliance. The power of God was thus revealed to all.

Ezekiel 37 is one of the most positive hopeful chapters of the book pointing to spiritual and national renewal of the Jews through 2 prophetic visions. First of all comes the vision of the valley of dry bones which clearly represents the desperate situation of Israel in exile. God tells Ezekiel to prophesy life to the dry bones and “the bones came together… then tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them… but they just lacked breath… so Ezekiel prophesied again… and they came to life and stood up”. These bones restored represent Israel restored, revived and with new life. For God says: “I will put my spirit in you and you will live”. Then comes the second vision of the chapter with the vision of 2 sticks representing Judah and Israel united in one kingdom. “I will make them one nation… there will be one king over all… they will no longer defile themselves with idols… I will save them from their sinful backsliding… David will be king over them… and they will have one shepherd.. and follow my law… David will be their prince forever… and I will make an everlasting covenant with them… and my sanctuary is among them forever”.

This chapter is one of hope and restoration as God promises to bless his people and renew them spiritually. First of all God promises to restore the Land: “O mountains of Israel you will produce branches and fruit for my people and they will soon come home… I will look on you with favour… and men and animals will be fruitful and numerous… and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples”. God then goes on to remind Israel that they were exiled because of their sin as “they defiled the land by their conduct and actions… I judged them according to this… because they profaned my holy name”. But God will restore Israel for his name’s sake… “I am going to do these things for the sake of my holy name… and I will take you out of the nations… and give you a new heart and a new spirit… and you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers… crops, grain and fruit will be abundant… and the land will flourish again like the Garden of Eden… the Lord will rebuild that which was destroyed and replant that which was desolate… and Israel will become as numerous as sheep!” 

This chapter is a prophecy against Mount Seir representing Edom. “I will stretch out my hand against you and make you a desolate waste… because you harboured an ancient hostility against Israel… since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you… I will fill the mountains with the slain… I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy of them… for you boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint… so I will make you desolate'”.

This chapter focuses on Israel’s false shepherds (kings, rulers and spiritual leaders) as God promises to be their true shepherd. God said: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel… woe to the shepherds… who only take care of themselves… you have ruled harshly… so I will hold them responsible for the flock… and I myself will search for the sheep… and look after them… I will rescue them.. I will tend them in good pasture… and I will judge between the fat and lean sheep… and I will save my flock and they will no longer be plundered… and I will rid the land of wild beasts… and they will live in safety… then they will know that I am the Lord their God… you my sheep are my people and I am your God declares the Sovereign Lord”.

Ezekiel 32 presents 2 laments for Pharoah and Egypt declaring its downfall to be a result of its pride. Pharoah is compared to a lion and sea monster… “but I will throw you on the land… and beasts will gorge on you… I will drench the land with your flowing blood… snuffing you out will darken the stars, sun and moon… when I bring about your destruction among the nations… the sword of Babylon will come against you… I will make Egypt desolate and all will know that I am the Lord”. Then comes the second lament which points to how Egypt lies in Sheol with other nations judged by God… like Assyria, Elam, Meshech and Tubal, Edom, Sidon… so you too Pharoah will be broken and lie among the uncircumcised, and with those killed by the sword”.   

Ezekiel 31 prophesies against Egypt using a Lebanese cedar as an example. The text points to Assyria, “once a cedar in Lebanon… majestic… with beautiful branches… nourished by abundant water… and it towered higher than all the other trees… no tree in the garden of God could rival it… but it was filled with pride because of its height and splendour and foreign nations came and cut it down… and I made the nations tremble at the sound of its fall when I brought it down to the grave… you too Egypt will be brought down as was the cedar of Lebanon… you will lie with the uncircumcised… this is what will happen to Pharoah and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord”.

Ezekiel 29 speaks against Egypt’s Pharoah and nation because of its pride and because of its unreliability in its support for Israel. God says: “I am against you Pharoah… I will put hooks in your jaws… I will give you as food for the beasts and birds… I will bring a sword against you and kill your men and animals… I will make Egypt a desolate waste… no one will live there for 40 years… and it will never again rule over the nations”. Finally God gives Egypt to Babylon to compensate for their hard work against Tyre. And God will restores Israel’s strength (horn) and enable Ezekiel to speak out boldly”. 

Ezekiel 28 starts with a condemnation of the ruler of Tyre, then goes into a lament concerning the King of Tyre, this is followed by a prophecy against Sidon, and concludes promising a gathering from the nations of Israel. First then the ruler of Tyre was inflated by his pride as he even thought he was a god! Because of his arrogance God says he will judge him and he “will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners”. Then in the next section a lament about the King of Tyre ensues saying how he was “the model of perfection… you were in Eden… blameless in your ways… but then wickedness was found in you… so I drove you from the mount of God… your heart become proud… so I reduced you to ashes… and you have come to a horrible end”. Then God announces judgement on Sidon which is another Phoenician city: “I will send a plague on her and make blood flow in her streets”. Then finally God promises the gathering of the Israelites from the nations… “and they will live in their own land… and they will live in safety”. 

In this chapter the subject of the condemnation of Tyre continues with a lament or funeral song for a beautiful ship which sinks symbolizing Tyre’s downfall under God’s judgement. “You say, O Tyre, I am perfect in beauty… your deck inlaid with ivory… awnings of blue and purple… all the ships of the sea came alongside to trade your wares… men of Persia, Arvad and Helech brought your beauty to perfection… Tarshish did business with you… and Greece, Tubal, Meshech, Beth Togarmah, Rhodes, Aram. Judah, Israel… your oarsmen take you out to the high seas but the east wind will break you to pieces… everyone on board will sink into the sea… all who handle the oars will abandon their ships… and cry bitterly over you… they will shave their heads… they will take up a lament concerning you… now you are shattered by the sea in the depths and your wares and all your company have gone down with you!”

Now starts a series of prophecies against the wealthy Phoenician city of Tyre which it thought would be benefitted by Jerusalem’s downfall. “She lays in ruins”, they gloated, “so we will prosper”. So God in retribution says “I will bring many nations against you… they will destroy the walls of Tyre… and will become plunder for the nations”. So God chooses Nebuchadnezzar to lead the charge against Tyre and “he will ravage your settlements… he will bring battering rams against them… and they will plunder your wealth… and break down your walls… leaving just bare rock to dry the fishing nets!” So the whole region was shocked by the fall of Tyre… “the coastlands tremble on the day of your fall”. “I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more…. to never again be found”.

Ezekiel 24 marks the point where the judgement of the siege of Jerusalem started on January 15th in 588 BC. God then brings Ezekiel the parable of the cooking pot with the pot representing Jerusalem and the meat being cooked in the pot representing the people. “Woe to the city of bloodshed!… cook the meat well… and let the bones be charred… you will not be clean until my wrath against you has subsided… you will be judged according to your conduct and actions”. Following the parable of the cooking pot comes the death of Ezekiel’s wife which was a painful acting out of the loss of someone precious like Jerusalem is about to lose their precious temple, and Ezekiel was not even allowed by God to mourn his wife’s passing! Finally with the news of Jerusalem’s siege beginning “at that time your mouth will be opened… and be no longer silent… and they will know that I am the Lord”.

Ezekiel 23 brings an allegory or parable of 2 sisters: Oholah who represents Israel (Samaria) and Oholibah who represents Judah (Jerusalem). Through this story God exposes his people’s unfaithfulness showing why judgement is inevitable. These 2 sisters “became prostitutes in Egypt… Oholah gave herself as a prostitute to all the Assyrian elite and defiled herself with their idols… therefore I handed her over to the Assyrians… and they punished her… Oholibah her sister was even more depraved… she too lusted after the Assyrian governors, commanders, warriors, horsemen and handsome young men… she lusted too after the Chaldeans… and then the Babylonians… and I turned away from her in disgust as I did with her sister… yet she became more and more promiscuous… and lusted after Egyptian genitals that were like those of donkeys… so Oholibah I will stir up your lovers against you… the Babylonians, Chaldeans and Assyrians… and they will come against you with chariots… I will turn you over to them for punishment… and they will deal with you in fury… so I will put a stop to your lewd prostitution… you will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow… I have spoken declares the Sovereign Lord… judge Oholah and Oholibah… for they committed adultery with idols…. and desecrated my sabbaths… and sacrificed their children… you even sent for extra men from far away to have sex with… blood is on their hands… bring a mob against them… and I will put an end to lewdness in the land… and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry… then you will know that I am the Lord”.

Ezekiel 21 proclaims God’s imminent judgement because of Israel’s sin. The instrument of this judgement will be the Babylonians. Initially God describes his decision to judge as a drawn sword: “my sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north… it is a sword sharpened and polished for slaughter”. Then Nebuchadnezzar seeks an omen and opts to attack Jerusalem and the Jews will be reminded of their guilt and be taken captive. Then the text says that “the profane and wicked prince of Israel” (King Zedekiah) will be dethroned and the Davidic lineage to the throne “will not be restored until he comes to whom it rightfully belongs (Jesus the Messiah)”. Then the chapter comes to an end predicting judgement on the Ammonites too: “I will pour out my wrath upon you”. 

Ezekiel 20 gives an overview of Israel’s constant historical rebellion against God. Initially some elders came to consult Ezekiel but God forbid this. Then God reminds Israel how he brought them out of Egypt yet “they rebelled against me and would not listen to me… and they would not forsake the idols of Egypt”. God however gave them the law and taught them to worship his alone, but they ignored the law: “They rejected my laws and utterly desecrated my sabbaths”. Eventually God punished that generation by not allowing them to enter the promised land: “Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel”. Then God said to the people: “Do not follow the statutes of your fathers… or defile yourselves with their idols… but keep the sabbath, reject idols and obey the law”. Despite this the following generation also rebelled against the Lord! Even after entering the promised land they rebelled “sacrificing their sons in the fire… defiling themselves with idols… and worshipping in the high places”. God then says “I will rule over you with a mighty hand…. I will bring you from the nations… and eventually I will judge you and bring you into the bond of the covenant… there on the holy mountain the entire house of Israel will serve me”. The chapter ends with a prophecy of consuming fire on the southern forest (Israel) by the flames of Babylon.

Ezekiel 19 is a lament about the rebellion of the princes of Judah. Judah is compared to a lioness which had “young lions and reared her cubs (or princes). The first cub becomes a fierce lion but is captured and taken to Egypt (King Jehoahaz) and then comes a second cub who eventually is captured too and taken to Babylon (King Jehoiachin or Zedekiah). Finally Judah is compared to a fruitful vine as a symbol of prosperity. However under God’s judgement “it was uprooted in fury… it shrivelled and was stripped of its fruit… and no strong branch is left fit to rule”. 

Ezekiel 18 focuses on individual responsibility of each person before God. God tells Israel to stop quoting the proverb: “the fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”. That is that each individual answers for his own sin and should not blame it on previous generations. Ezekiel gives 3 examples of this principal starting with a righteous man “who does what is just and right… he will surely live declares the Sovereign Lord”. Next comes the righteous man’s violent son who “defiles his neighbour’s wife… oppresses the poor…and does detestable things… will such a man live? He will not!” Then comes the violent son’s son who “keeps God’s law’s and follows his decrees… he will surely live”. Thus it was shown that nobody is judged according to the behaviour of another person. Then the text goes on to show that repentance will be rewarded and that the ways of God are just. The chapter concludes exhorting all to “get a new heart and spirit” from the Lord and live. 

Ezekiel 17 starts with a parable of 2 eagles and a vine which God gave to Ezekiel. “A great eagle with powerful wings (Babylon) chops the top off a cedar tree in Lebanon (King Jehoiachin) and takes it to Babylon. The eagle plants a seed “and it sprouted and became a low spreading vine”. Then comes a second eagle (Egypt) and the vine turns towards it rather than Babylon. Because of this betrayal God says “All its new growth will wither”. For this betrayal was not pleasing to God. Finally God says “I myself will take a shoot from the top of a cedar… and plant it on the mountain heights of Israel and it will become splendid”. This messianic promise is confirmed saying: “I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it”.

Ezekiel 16 is a very long and graphic chapter using the allegory of a woman to describe God’s relationship with Jerusalem. Initially God finds and rescues Jerusalem as an abandoned child “for on the day you were born you were despised”. God cared for her: “I made you grow like a plant of the field… I then when you were older married you and entered into a covenant relationship with you… I dressed you with fine linen and costly garments and adorned you with jewelry… you became very beautiful and rose to be a queen… but you trusted more in your beauty than you trusted in me… and you used your fame to become a prostitute… and you made gaudy high places to practice your prostitution… and you sacrificed your children to idols… and you forgot from where I had brought you… Woe to you declares the Sovereign Lord… and then you engaged in prostitution with the Egyptians… and with the Philistines and Assyrians… and then included the Babylonians… you are a brazen prostitute… you prefer strangers to me your husband… you adulterous wife… in the light of all this I will gather all your foreign lovers and expose your nakedness… they will stone you and hack you to pieces… and I will put a stop to your prostitution… for you are worse than your sister Sodom… your sins were more vile than theirs… so I will deal with you as you deserve but I will remember the covenant of your youth and will establish an everlasting covenant with you… and you will know that I am the Lord”.

Ezekiel 15 compares Jerusalem with a vine. A vine does not produce wood to make useful things but is only good if it produces fruit… the fruit of righteousness, obedience and commitment to God. This Jerusalem has not done. So God says: “I will set my face against them… and the fire will yet consume them… I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign Lord”.

Ezekiel 14 tells of how some elders came to consult the prophet but he was not happy to help them because he perceived that they has “set up idols in their hearts… and he told them to repent… turn from their idols and detestable practices… for I will set my face against that man… then you will know that I am the Lord”. God then says that he will condemn the prophet who deals with those who have idols in their heart. Then the text goes on to say that the country’s judgement is inevitable and not even Noah, Daniel and Job could hinder it! So too such just men could do nothing either to stop wild beasts devouring people, the sword killing or the plague killing too… so it will be when God sends similar judgment and nothing or no-one will be able to hinder him… though there will be a remnant of survivors.

Ezekiel 13 contains a firm condemnation of false prophets and false prophetesses that “prophesy out of their own imagination”. God says “woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing”. God says “I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord… they lead my people astray saying peace when there is no peace”. It’s as if they build a flimsy wall and cover it with whitewash to make it look good and safe! “I will tear down the cracked wall”. Then too God condemns the prophetesses who put magic charms on their wrists to ensnare the people. “By lying to my people you have killed those who shouldn’t have died and spared them who should not live… I will tear off your magic charms and veils… because you disheartened the righteous with your lies… I will save the people from your hands”.

 God’s word came to Ezekiel again warning of imminent judgement on his “rebellious people”. God instructed Ezekiel to pack his belongings as if preparing to go into exile so as to act out to the people what they were about to experience. Then at evening he digs through the city wall and carries out his belongings as the people watched. And Ezekiel said to them, “I am a sign to you… as I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives”. It specifically points to King Zedekiah who tried to escape and was taken prisoner to Babylon. Then God tells him to eat and drink with fear and trembling to symbolize what the people would face when Jerusalem was under siege. Finally the text shows that the people are falsely optimistic thinking that God will never fulfill his threats, and God says: “None of my words will be delayed any longer. Whatever I say will be fulfilled”.

 God’s word came to Ezekiel again warning of imminent judgement on his “rebellious people”. God instructed Ezekiel to pack his belongings as if preparing to go into exile so as to act out to the people what they were about to experience. Then at evening he digs through the city wall and carries out his belongings as the people watched. And Ezekiel said to them, “I am a sign to you… as I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives”. It specifically points to King Zedekiah who tried to escape and was taken prisoner to Babylon. Then God tells him to eat and drink with fear and trembling to symbolize what the people would face when Jerusalem was under siege. Finally the text shows that the people are falsely optimistic thinking that God will never fulfill his threats, and God says: “None of my words will be delayed any longer. Whatever I say will be fulfilled”.

 Ezekiel 11 points to God’s judgement on the corrupt leaders of Jerusalem. Ezekiel is shown 25 leaders who are misleading the people with over optimistic messages. Rather than being secure in Jerusalem they are in fact totally vulnerable says the Lord. God then makes it very clear that although the Jewish exiles are now far away in Babylon they are still his people. God says “I have been a sanctuary for them where they have gone”, and he makes clear that he will yet restore them to their land. Then he “will give them an undivided heart and a new spirit”. The chapter ends with the glory of the Lord departing from Jerusalem and it stopped at a mountain to the east, perhaps the Mount of Olives.

Ezekiel 10 describes the glory of the Lord departing from the temple. Initially a man clothed in linen is told by God to scatter fiery coals of God’s judgement over the city. Then “the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim” and the cherubim each had 4 faces of a man, lion, ox and eagle, and they were completely covered by eyes. Beside each cherubim were intersecting wheels which gave mobility to the throne. Then the text says that the glory of the Lord departed and stopped at the entrance to the east gate. 

 Ezekiel 9 is a gruesome sad chapter with a vision depicting God’s wrath upon Jerusalem because of their persistent idolatry. Initially those against the idolatry received a mark on their foreheads to protect them. The protected ones were “those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things” being practiced. Then the command was given to go to the rest in the city and kill everyone “without showing pity or compassion… slaughter men, women and children”. Ezekiel cried to God asking him if he was going to kill everyone, but God would not budge saying “I will not look on them with pity or spare them”.

In Ezekiel 8 the prophet is given a visionary journey to the temple by God where he saw the outrageous idolatry and defilement underway. Initially he was taken to see the idol that provokes jealousy. Next he went through a hole in the wall to see a secret chamber of idols where 70 elders were secretly worshipping their gods thinking they were hidden from the Lord. Then Ezekiel witnesses weeping for Tammuz, a pagan fertility deity. Finally Ezekiel saw 25 men worshipping the sun. God then drew attention to all the detestable things being practiced and said to Ezekiel that he would deal with the people in anger.

God then spoke to Ezekiel that “the end has come upon the four corners of the land… I will unleash my anger against you… an unhear-of disaster is coming… doom has come upon you… I will judge you according to your conduct… then you will know that it is I the Lord that strikes the blow… the time has come, the day has arrived… every hand will go limp and every knee will become as weak as water… their silver and gold will not be able to save them in the day of the Lord’s wrath… prepare chains because the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of violence… calamity upon calamity will come… by their own standards I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the Lord”. 

 Now God instructs Ezekiel to condemn the mountains of Israel saying “I will destroy your high places. Your pagan altars will be demolished… and I will slay the people in front of their idols and scatter their bones round the altars… and you will know that I am the Lord”. However God promises to spare a remnant who will be scattered around the nations, and there they will remember God and repent of their sins. Then Ezekiel is told to act out intense grief “striking his hands… stamping his feet and crying out Alas because of all the detestable practices of Israel… and people will die through plague, sword and famine…. and they will know that I am God”.

In Ezekiel 5 God tells him to shave his head and beard with a sword. He was then to burn one third of the hair, another third was to be chopped by a sword all round the city, and the final third was to be scattered to the wind. However Ezekiel was to bind a few remnant hairs in the folds of his garment and burn a few of these. God then explained that this all meant that one-third of the people will die in the city through famine and disease, one-third would die outside the city by the enemy’s sword, and one-third will be scattered and pursued by God’s sword. God ends saying that he will shoot his deadly arrows of famine on them and leave them childless, devastated by plague, bloodshed and sword. “Then my anger will cease… and I will be avenged”. 

 In Ezekiel 4 God commands Ezekiel to act out and dramatize different things so as to transmit to Israel the seriousness of the imminent Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Initially God tells Ezekiel to make a clay model or toy city of Jerusalem under siege, and then put an iron pan between himself and the model probably to represent the separation between Israel and God by their sin. The second stage of Ezekiel’s dramatization involved him lying down on his left side tied up with ropes for 390 days representing 390 years of Israel’s sin. Then he turned similarly on his left side for 40 days representing Judah’s 40 years of sin. Then in the final part of the chapter to the imminent starvation and thirst situation in the siege of Jerusalem it was acted out with Ezekiel lying down and restricted to 220 grams of food per day which had to be cooked initially using human excrement, though this was later changed to cow dung! On top of this he could only drink 0.6 litres of water per day. There was going to be lots of starvation and thirst in Jerusalem!

 Ezekiel 3 tells of Ezekiel receiving a scroll from God to eat, and it was “sweet as honey” prior to taking the message to the rebellious, hardened and obstinate people. God sent Ezekiel as a “watchman for the house of Israel” and is responsible for warning the wicked, for which he will be accountable if he fails. God temporarily made him mute: “I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth… but when I speak to you then you will speak to them in the name of the Sovereign Lord”. Ezekiel could thus only speak when authorized by God.

 Ezekiel says that God told him to stand so that he could speak to him and the Spirit came into him. God said he was sending him to the Israelites who were a rebellious nation, obstinate and stubborn. He was to tell God’s message straight without fear. For “you must speak my words to them whether they listen or not”. God then told Ezekiel to eat the scroll he was giving him symbolic of the internalization of the difficult message he had to deliver.

The Book of Ezekiel was written by Ezekiel the priest during the Babylonian exile and it covers the judgement of God owing to the Jews idolatry, it highlights that God is sovereign, and it points to eventual restoration with a new covenant. 

In Ezekiel 1 Ezekiel receives the initial call of God in Babylon by the Kebar River in 593 BC. He had a vision of the glory of God and in the fire he saw 4 living creatures like men and each of them had 4 faces and 4 wings. Their faces were of men, lions, oxen and eagles. Accompanying the creatures were 4 very big wheels whose “rims were high and awesome, and all 4 were full of eyes all around”. Above all this the was an “expanse” and above this there was “a throne of Sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man”. “This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord”, and the whole vision would seem to be symbolic of the majesty of God.