Ezekiel Lesson 1

EZEKIEL
“The unfolding of the Government of God in history.”

Key Verse: Ezekiel 1:1b “…As I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.” Ezekiel 1:3 “The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest …The hand of the LORD was there upon him.”

THEME: Ezekiel’s message was a reminder of the awfulness of Israel’s sin and a summons for her to repent. He reminded Israel that Almighty God never changes. He is gloriously holy, just, and loyal to His covenants, and completely loving toward His erring people. His message was intended, not only as a stern rebuke, but also, as a source of encouragement to the nation. He, like Jeremiah, shared with them that a God of judgment who was forcing them to pay for their iniquities would also deal with them in grace and restore them to the heights of glory in the days to come.

DATE: The events of the Book of Ezekiel cover twenty-one years, from 595 B.C. to 574 B.C.

WRITER: Ezekiel. 1. The Book is named after its author, Ezekiel, who was a priest and major prophet. 2. He was carried captive to Babylon in 597 B.C., about eleven years before the destruction of Jerusalem. 3. He lived at the time of Jeremiah and was a disciple of the latter while in Jerusalem. 4. He received his call at the age of thirty and prophesied twenty-two years. 5. He was a man of moral earnestness and deep personal humility. 6. He was conspicuous for his faith to God in the trying time of the exile. 7. His name means, “God shall strengthen or strength of God.” 8. He was married (24:18) and had his own house (8:1). 9. His wife died suddenly (24:18). 10. He was held in high esteem by Judah’s elders, who consulted him frequently (8:1; 11:25).

WRITTEN: The book of Ezekiel is given in three clear divisions. 1. To the exiles before the final fall and siege of Jerusalem. 2. To the seven Gentiles nations. 3. To the exiles after the final fall and siege of Jerusalem to comfort the people with reports of glory and deliverance to come in the future.

THE BOOK: Number in Bible: 26th of 66 books of the Bible. Number of chapters: 48. Number of verses: 1,273. Number in order of writing: 4th o f17 books of prophecy.

PUROSE: There is a four-fold purpose of the book of Ezekiel: 1. To dispel foolish hopes of speedy deliverance from the yoke of Babylon. 2. To expose the backsliding of Judah. 3. To call Jews to individual repentance. 4. To call out a new Israel which would inherit the promises.

DIVISIONS: 1. Prophecies before the siege of Jerusalem. (1:-24). 2. Prophecies during the siege of Jerusalem (25-32). 3. Prophecies after the siege of Jerusalem. (33-48).

FACTS: 1. The River Chebar, as a ship channel or canal. 2. Ezekiel’s preaching was to the exiles in Babylon. 3. The generation born during the period of the captivity had trouble getting the message from God. 4. There are thirteen visions in the book. 5. Seventy times we read, “They shall know that I am God.” 6. Seven times we read, “The hand of the Lord was upon me.” 7. The messages in the book seem to have been dramatized to make impression on the minds of the children. They, of course, would be the ones going back to Jerusalem after the captivity. I. The fall of Judah (1-24). Prophecies before the siege of Jerusalem. 1. Judgment decided (1-3) 2. Judgment demonstrated (4-5). 3. Judgment declared (6-7). 4. Judgment demanded (8-11). 5. Judgment decreed (12-19) 6. Judgment deserved (20-24). II. The foes of Judah (25-32) Prophecies during the siege of Jerusalem. 1. Ammon (25:1-7) 2. Moab (25:8-11) 3. Edom (25:12-14). 4. Copyright © 2016 Revised 5-16-24 Ezekiel page 2 Philistia (25:15-17). 5. Tyre (26:1-28:19) 6. Sidon (28:20-26). 7. Egypt (29-32). III. The future of Judah (33-48). Prophecies after the siege of Jerusalem. 1. Nation’s troubles removes (33-36). 2. Nation’s tribes regathered (37-38). 3. Nations temple rebuilt (40-47). 4. Nation’s title restored. (48).

MISCELLANEOUS: Comparison of Ezekiel to other Old Testament books. 1. Isaiah speaks of God’s Salvation. 2. Jeremiah speaks of God’s Judgment. 3. Daniel speaks of God’s kingdom. 4. Ezekiel speaks of God’s glory. Ezekiel’s twelve symbolic acts. 1. Drawing a map of Jerusalem 4:1-3. 2. Lying on his left side for a portion of three hundred ninety days 4:4-5. 3. Lying on his right  side for a portion of forty days. 4:6. 4. Preparing a scant meal 4:9-17. 5. Shaving his head and beard 5:1- 4. 6. Stamping his feet and clapping his hands 6:11. 7. Digging through a wall 12:1-16. 8. Trembling as he ate his food 12:7- 20. 9. Slashing about with a sword 21:9-17. 10. Drawing a map of the Middle East 21:18. 11. Boiling a pot of water dry 24:1-24. 12. Remaining tearless at the death of his wife 24:15-18. SIX PARABLES OF EZEKIEL. 1. A fruitless vine tree 15:1- 8. 2. The adopted girl who becomes a harlot 16:1-63. 3. The two eagles 17:1-21 4. The tender twig 17:22-24. 5. The mother lioness and her cubs 19:1-9. 6. The two harlot sisters 23:1-49. Ezekiel’s account of the invasion of Israel by Russia 38-39. 1. The identity of the invaders. There is geographical, historical, and linguistic proof that Ezekiel is speak about Russia. 2. The allies in the invasion is Persia (modern Iran), Ethiopia (South African nations), Libya (North African nations, Gomer (Eastern Europe nations), and Togarmah (Turkey). 3. Reasons for the invasion: To cash in on the richer of Israel (38:11- 12), to challenge the authority of the antichrist (11:40-44). 4. The results of the invasion. Russia finally totally defeated by God (38:21-23). 5. The Russian troops destroyed on the mountains of Israel (39:2). Seven years to be spent burying the war weapons (38:9). Seven months to be spent burying the dead (38:12).

-Dr. Tom Wallace

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