Introduction to The Book of Ezekiel 1.Background 2.History 3.Main Parts 4.God Message in The Book

Background Ezekiel = The Strength of God or One strengthened of God Ezekiel and Daniel are the only writing prophets of the Old Testament who lived and prophesied any where but in the land of Israel, except we add Jonah, who was sent to Nineveh to prophesy. Ezekiel prophesied in the beginning of the captivity, Daniel in the latter end of it. Used parables, symbolic behavior, object lessons to drive his message.

History Was born about 623 AD to Boozy the Priest. At age of 25 (598 AD) was captured to Babylon. There the prophecies of this book were preached and written, while the prophet himself, and the people to whom he prophesied, were captives there. He could not practice priesthood however his thoughts were about the temple and the sacrifice. At the beginning, the temple was not destructed yet (587 AD) and the people thought that the captivity will not be for long and did not repent. He was put to death by the captives in Babylon, for his faithfulness and boldness in reproving them.

History Cont. Ezekiel lived and Influenced by: His father Boozy the priest. Jeremiah the prophet and his prophecies. Josiah the Good King and his revival of the temple and God’s commandments. The fall of Nineveh, Jehoahaz & Eliakim the bad kings, Egyptian Pharaohs, the captivity in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the flourish of his kingdom, the destruction of the Temple, and the surrounding kingdoms.

Main Parts The Judgment of Judah (Ch 4-24) The commission of Ezekiel (Ch 1-3) The Judgment of the Gentiles (Ch 25-32) The restoration of Israel (Ch 33-39) The New Temple (Ch 40-48)

The commission of Ezekiel (Ch 1-3) The Vision of God in His Glory, encouragement Ezekiel 2:8, 9 "But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you." Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book [was] in it. Ezekiel 3:2, 4 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll ….. and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. Ezekiel 3: "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: "When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. "Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

The Judgment of Judah (Ch 4-24) Parables: 4:1-3 The clay tablet. 4:4-8 Lie also on your left side, to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side. 4: 9-17 The bread of wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt. Your food shall be by weight and drink by measure. 5: 1-4 Shave your head and your beard; then scales to weigh and divide the hair.

The Judgment of Judah Cont. Messages of Judgment 6:3, 4 'O mountains of Israel, … Thus says the Lord GOD … "Indeed I will bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. "Then your altars shall be desolate, your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. 8:17,18 Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. "Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them."

The Judgment of the Gentiles (Ch 25-32) Israel was punished because of his sins, however God will punish the surrounding nations because they gloat over Jerusalem destruction. Ammon, Moab, Edom Philistia, Tyre, and Sidon will be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. 29:15, 16 Egypt shall be a lowly kingdom, it shall never again exalt itself above the nations, for I will diminish them so that they will not rule over the nations anymore. No longer shall it be the confidence of the house of Israel, but will remind them of [their] iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I [am] the Lord GOD."

The restoration of Israel (Ch 33-39) 33:11 "Say to them: '[As] I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?‘ 34:15 "I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord GOD. 16 "I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick 39:25 " Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name

The New Temple (Ch 40-48) Visions of comfort and consolation: The reconstruction of the Temple. The return of the glory of the Lord. Regulations concerning worship. The new land and city.

God Message in The Book There is hope even in the house of bondage. Though the reproofs and the threatening are very sharp and bold, yet towards the close of the book very comfortable assurances are given of great mercy God had in store. 36:22, 25,26 "Thus says the Lord GOD: "I do not do [this] for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake … "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. The Role of the Servant, 3:17-19, 33:7-9