The Book of Ezekiel is one of the major prophetic books in the Old Testament. It records the visions and prophecies of Ezekiel, a priest exiled to Babylon during the Babylonian captivity. Some key themes and events in Ezekiel include:
Ezekiel’s Call and Commission (Chapters 1-3)
Ezekiel describes his dramatic call to be a prophet, including visions of God’s glory (Ezekiel 1:1-28). God appoints him as a “watchman” to warn Israel of judgment (Ezekiel 3:16-21).
God’s Judgment on Jerusalem (Chapters 4-24)
Through various symbolic acts and prophecies, Ezekiel warns Jerusalem and Judah of God’s impending judgment because of their idolatry and sins. These include the siege depicted on a clay tablet (Ezekiel 4:1-3), Ezekiel lying on his side (Ezekiel 4:4-8), a depiction of the exile (Ezekiel 12:1-16), and the vision of the departure of God’s glory from the temple (Ezekiel 10:1-22).
Oracles Against the Nations (Chapters 25-32)
Ezekiel prophesies God’s judgment on several nations surrounding Israel and Judah: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt.
Prophecies of Future Restoration (Chapters 33-48)
After Jerusalem’s fall, Ezekiel begins to prophesy about Israel’s future restoration. This includes prophecies about:
- Israel’s renewal (Ezekiel 36:22-32)
- The resurrection of the dry bones, representing Israel’s restorative return from exile (Ezekiel 37:1-14)
- The prophecy against Gog of Magog (Ezekiel 38-39)
- A new Temple (Ezekiel 40-43)
- A renewed land of Israel (Ezekiel 47:1-12)
- A new division of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel (Ezekiel 47:13-48:35)
Major Themes
Some key themes in Ezekiel include:
- God’s Sovereignty – God is in complete control over history and the nations.
- God’s Glory – The book begins with a vision of God’s glory (Ezekiel 1:28) and ends with the glory of the Lord filling the temple.
- Idolatry and Sin – Israel and Judah’s idolatry and sins leads to God’s judgment.
- God’s Judgment – God judges both Israel/Judah and the pagan nations.
- Restoration – Despite judgment, God restores Israel to the land and gives them a new heart.
- Individual Responsibility – Ezekiel emphasizes responsibility of individuals for their own sin.
About Ezekiel
Ezekiel was a Zadokite priest exiled to Babylon in 597 BC after the first siege of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 1:1-3). He lived in the settlement of Tel-abib by the Kebar River during his ministry (Ezekiel 3:15). His wife died during the siege of Jerusalem around 586 BC, fulfilling one of his prophecies (Ezekiel 24:15-27). According to tradition, he was murdered around 560 BC by a Jewish prince angered by his prophecies.
Ezekiel combined elements of priest, prophet, and sage. As a priest, he was concerned with the temple, God’s glory, and Israel’s purity. As a prophet, he conveyed God’s word of warning and judgment. As a sage, he taught wisdom principles.
His prophetic visions employ elaborate metaphors and symbolic actions. Ezekiel uses parables, allegories, dirges, and apocalyptic imagery masterfully. However, his epochal prophecies and stress on individual responsibility made him unpopular with some exiles who criticized him (Ezekiel 33:30-33).
Composition
The book combines prose sermons and speeches as well as poetic oracles and visions. It is structured around three main sections:
- Chapters 1-24 concern God’s judgment on Jerusalem
- Chapters 25-32 contain oracles against the nations
- Chapters 33-48 deal with Israel’s future hope and restoration
Ezekiel is thematically linked to other prophetic books. Like Jeremiah, he was called to be a prophet and warned of Jerusalem’s destruction. But Ezekiel focuses more on Israel’s future restoration. Ezekiel and Isaiah both emphasize God’s sovereignty and glory.
Context
Ezekiel ministered before and after Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon in 586 BC. His early prophecies warn that this catastrophe is coming due to Israel’s idolatry and injustice. After 586 BC, Ezekiel then shifts to a hopeful message of Israel’s future deliverance and restoration.
Ezekiel interacted with false prophets among the exiles who predicted a quick end to Babylon’s dominance (Ezekiel 13:2-3). He preached obedience and righteousness to the exiles in Babylon who thought God’s promises were no longer reliable after Jerusalem’s fall.
Themes and Literary Features
Some key themes and literary features in Ezekiel include:
- God’s Sovereignty – Seen in God controlling history and all nations.
- Judgment for Idolatry – Judah is judged for breaking the covenant and worshiping idols.
- Restoration – There is hope beyond judgment as God restores Israel.
- Elaboration on Holiness – Ezekiel expands on the Holiness Code from Leviticus.
- Apocalyptic – Use of vivid prophetic symbols and apocalyptic themes.
- Marriage Metaphor – God depicts his covenant with Israel as a marriage that was broken.
- Performance Prophecy – Ezekiel acts out prophecies through performances.
- Logical Argument – Ezekiel emphasizes reasoned argument and logic.
- Laments – Ezekiel contains many laments and dirges.
Themes of Judgment in Ezekiel
Judgment is a major theme in Ezekiel. God judges both Israel and the surrounding pagan nations for their sins. Some key aspects of Ezekiel’s theme of judgment include:
- Judah and Jerusalem are judged for breaking their covenant with God through idolatry and injustice (Ezekiel 8:5-18, 16:1-63).
- God uses Babylon as an instrument of judgment on Jerusalem, but Babylon also stands under judgment for its own arrogance (Ezekiel 29:17-20).
- Ezekiel declares that the people are suffering exile and judgment because of their own sins, not God’s unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 18).
- Ezekiel also pronounces oracles against the nations surrounding Israel for their idolatry and mistreatment of God’s people.
- Despite their sin, God promises to one day bring Israel back from exile to the land after they have been purified (Ezekiel 11:14-21).
- Judgment is ultimately about refining and restoring God’s people to proper covenant relationship.
Major Prophecies in Ezekiel
Some of the major and most influential prophecies found in Ezekiel include:
- The Vision of God’s Glory (Ezekiel 1:4-28) – Ezekiel describes his vivid vision of God’s divine glory.
- A New Heart and Spirit for God’s People (Ezekiel 11:19-21) – God promises to give his people a new heart and his spirit, foreshadowing the New Covenant.
- Prophecies Against Jerusalem (Ezekiel 12:1-20) – Ezekiel acts out the coming exile of Jerusalem through dramatic prophetic performances.
- The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14) – God shows Ezekiel a vision of scattered bones resurrecting as a picture of Israel’s future national restoration.
- Gog and Magog Oracle (Ezekiel 38-39) – Ezekiel prophesies a future eschatological battle victory over Gog and Magog after Israel’s restoration.
- A New Temple (Ezekiel 40-43) – Ezekiel sees a vision of a glorious future temple, often associated with the millennial reign of Christ.
False Prophets and True Prophets in Ezekiel
Ezekiel contrasts true and false prophets and prophecy:
- False prophets prophesied peace when God was about to judge Jerusalem (Ezekiel 13:10).
- They relied on their own ideas rather than standing in God’s council (Ezekiel 13:2-3).
- False prophets failed to hold Israel accountable for their sins (Ezekiel 13:22-23).
- In contrast, Ezekiel faithfully communicated God’s word. He called Israel to righteousness.
- He shared God’s grief over Israel’s sin rather than supporting their actions (Ezekiel 9:4).
- True prophets have the difficult task of warning of coming judgment according to God’s word.
Restoration in Ezekiel
Restoration after exile is a major theme in Ezekiel. Some elements of this promised restoration include:
- Gathering Israel back to their land from the nations (Ezekiel 20:34, 28:25).
- Cleansing from sin and idols and following God’s laws (Ezekiel 36:25-27).
- A new heart and new spirit given by God (Ezekiel 11:18-21, 36:26).
- The resurrection of the dry bones as a revival of Israel (Ezekiel 37).
- Reunification of Israel and Judah into one kingdom (Ezekiel 37:15-28).
- A future Davidic king to shepherd God’s people (Ezekiel 34:23-24, 37:24).
- A glorious new temple (Ezekiel 40-43).
- A renewed Promised Land divided among the 12 tribes (Ezekiel 47-48).
- Security, prosperity, holiness, and the glory of God among the people (Ezekiel 28:25-26, 43:1-7).
This restoration is both physical and spiritual. God gives Israel a new heart to follow him and restores their blessing in the land. It offers hope after judgment.
Key Interpretative Issues in Ezekiel
Some key exegetical and interpretive issues and debates in Ezekiel include:
- Literal vs Figurative – Are prophecies like the temple and divided land literal or figurative?
- Already/Not Yet – Have some prophecies been fulfilled partially but await a later, fuller fulfillment?
- Millennium – Do Ezekiel’s visions of restoration relate to a literal 1000 year reign of Christ?
- Zadokite Priestly Focus – Does this reflect Ezekiel’s priestly perspective and interests?
- Apocalyptic Genre – When did apocalypticism arise and was Ezekiel an early pioneer?
- Post-Exilic Redaction – Some scholars see evidence of later editing and updating.
- Covenant Theology – Ezekiel develops key covenant themes like God’s sovereignty, judgment, and restoration.
There are also debates about the authenticity and unity of the book, the dating of its compilation, and the chronology of the prophecies.
New Testament Use of Ezekiel
The New Testament draws on Ezekiel in several ways. Examples include:
- Ezekiel’s prophecy of a new heart and spirit is reflected in the promise of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:26-27).
- Jesus builds on Ezekiel’s theme of Himself as the Good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16).
- Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones is echoed in the idea of spiritual resurrection through Christ.
- The DAY OF THE LORD theme (Ezekiel 30:3) is developed in the New Testament.
- John’s visions in Revelation allude to some of Ezekiel’s apocalyptic imagery.
- Ezekiel’s focus on idolatry provides a background for some comments in Acts and the Epistles.
While not directly quoting Ezekiel, the New Testament relies on some of his key themes, imagery, and prophecies.
Lessons and Applications from Ezekiel
Key lessons and modern applications from Ezekiel include:
- God hates idolatry and commands our exclusive worship.
- True prophets often have the unpopular task of warning people to repent.
- God is sovereign over all earthly kingdoms and powers.
- Judgment ultimately leads to restoration for God’s people.
- We need spiritual revival in times of decline and hopelessness.
- God graciously gives us a new heart and identity in Him.
- God’s glory should be the center of our worship and lives today.
- As Christians, we look forward to perfect communion with God in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-4).
Ezekiel teaches vital theological principles while offering hope for God’s restoration after suffering and exile.