If anyone asks whether the vision is lucid, i confess its obscurity, and that i can scarcely understand it. Apr 22, 2018 the first reason to study ezekiel is that it will help you see yourself, and especially your sin, more clearly. Encounter divine dreams and visions in the book of ezekiel. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it contains key details god wants us to know about. It combines farout visions, judgments of violent destruction and death, and predictions of peace and consolation into a spicy prophetic gumbo. He is the author of biblical theology in the life of the church. From the first chapter, which graphically describes the overwhelming invasion of the divine presence into ezekiels world, to the last phrase of ezekiels vision the lord is there the book sounds and echoes gods sovereignty.
At first glance, ezekiel seems a little eccentric, but getting to know him is worth the effort. For all ezekiels outward appearance of severity, beneath the hard shell there was a heart that felt deeply for and with his. Study scripture verses and use highlighting, underlining, and take notes in the bible. Ezekiels prophetic ministry lasted from 593 bc to 571 bc see ez 29. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel. The book of ezekiel is one of the major prophets in the old testament. Ezekiel s visions came mostly from being lifted by the spirit. In the fifth year of his captivity god called the young priest to prophesy to a rebellious nation, impudent and stubborn. The book of ezekiel is the third of the books of the major prophets, coming after the books of isaiah and jeremiah in the christian canon. See the chart on the parallels between ezekiel s visions and the visions of st. So prior to the study it is best to have heard the sermon and read the relevant chapters.
The book of ezekiel takes its title from the priest of the same name, son to a man. See the chart on the parallels between ezekiels visions and the visions of st. It records seven visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet, wanted to know godand god revealed himself to this prophet in mysterious and mighty ways. The problem was the people didnt want to hear his warning 2. Ezekiel among the captivesnow it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as i was among the captives by the river chebar, that the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god. Ezekiel makes the other prophets seem almost tame by comparison, with his mysterious four. Study guide for ezekiel 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. To see the main deportations listed, study chart a, which follows. Ezekiel s mission to the judean exiles in babylon was to prepare them for the greatest crisis in the history of yahwehs covenant people.
Study the book of ezekiel, and your life will be transformed. Ezekiel in the picture study bible the book of ezekiel. There are only two old testament scriptures that directly reference this strange heavenly vision of a wheel within a wheel observed by the prophet ezekiel. Thirty was the age when priests commenced their office, so it was a notable year for ezekiel. These doubts were strong enough, in those early days, to raise the question of whether ezekiel should be one of the biblical books. Ezekiel with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day. Summary of the book of ezekiel the story of the bible. The prophet describes massive visions of gods spiritual forces in action behind the scenes and blueprints for the future. Not only does the book present a striking picture of the resurrection and restoration of gods people ezekiel 37, it. Because of this, for many christians, ezekiel is too strange and the book too complex and bizarre to deserve serious attention. Ezekiels inaugural vision in my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while i was among the exiles by the kebar river, the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god. From chapter 33 to the end of the book, ezekiel deals primarily with the restoration of israel and the rebuilding of the temple.
The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the color of beryl, and the four of them had the same likeness. The book of ezekiel is one of the major prophetic books in the old testament and had more influence on revelation than any other book. The visions ezekiel received when god called him to his prophetic ministry are some of the most vivid and dramatic images in sacred scripture. The first section of ezekiel, which is all of chapter one, presents a vision of the appearance of the glory of the lord. Jeremiah, ezekiel, and daniel were all prophets, but each had a particular and peculiar. Ezekiel 1 ezekiels inaugural vision in my bible gateway.
The book begins with the initial date of his divine calling. Sounds more like latenight cinemax than the bible god turns in. The prophet ezekiel the vision of the valley of dry bones ezekiel 37 ezekiel was carried away captive to babylon at the age of twentyfive one of 10,000 captives. Book of ezekiel read, study bible verses online bible study tools. The book of ezekiel takes its title from the priest of the same name, son to a man named buzi. Thirty was the age when priests commenced their office, so it was a. The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book of ezekiel. On the fifth of the monthit was the fifth year of the exile of king jehoiachin the word of the lord came to ezekiel the priest, the son of buzi, by the kebar river in the land of the babylonians. This seminar series highlights the differences between plan a and plan b. Ezekiel saw these visions on the 5th day of the 4th month. Verses 414 the visions of god which ezekiel here saw were very glorious, and had more particulars than those which other prophets saw. What exactly does ezekiel s wheel within a wheel vision mean. Ezekiels priestly lineage shines through in his prophetic ministry. Well, we know from his book that daniel was acquainted with the prophecies of jeremiah.
He engages in startling symbolic activities to teach gods people. From the first chapter, which graphically describes the overwhelming invasion of the divine presence into ezekiel s world, to the last phrase of ezekiel s vision the lord is there the book sounds and echoes gods. The overall theme of the prophecy of ezekiel is the glory of god. This is important to remember when discerning the meaning of this great vision. The prophet, fondly called son of man, was really a man of the spirit. It was authored by ezekiel who was set as a watchman to the house of israel. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy english. In this tensession lifeguide bible study, you will catch something of the awesomeness of god. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of king jehoiachins captivity, the word of the lord came expressly to ezekiel the priest, the son of buzi, in the land of the. The book of ezekiel opens and concludes with visions of the glory of god. The book of ezekiel is found in the old testament of the bible. The book of ezekiel is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre and even contains parables.
God strengthens, or god will strengthen ezekiel is one of the three that were called the captivity prophets the other two are. The book of ezekiel he will be strengthened of god. This book is basically about the destruction and exile of judah and the promise of its eventual restoration by god. The six men of ezekiels vision were armed, each with a battleax in his hand. In contrast to various other prophets ezekiel has not been criticised as much. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to gods plans for reconstructing the present. It is probably the most ignored book in the old testament. And their appearance and their workmanship was like a wheel inside of a wheel. Its best to understand these six men as angelic beings with responsibility over jerusalem. Verses 23 king jehoiachin was still the proper king. A much larger group of exiles, ezekiel and king jehoiachin among them, went to babylonia in 597 b. But similar to isaiahs vision, ezekiels vision reveals the character of god. Remember, the designation major or minor simply refers to the length of the book, not its importance.
This summary of the book of ezekiel provides information about the title. The prophets wrote over a period of 250300 years, spanning the decline, the exile, and the return of the children of israel. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very. The prophet ezekiel was commissioned to be a watchman sounding the warning for the early waves of exiles in babylon 3. At first glance, ezekiel seems a little eccentric and difficult to get close to, but he is worth the time and effort to get to know. Among the exiles in babylon, ezekiel shows that israel. Ezekiel was a fascinating man who wrote a wonderful book filled with strange and powerful visions. The first reason to study ezekiel is that it will help you see yourself, and especially.
Ezekiel s in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. Next to the book of revelation, ezekiels probably the weirdest and most dramatic book of the hebrew bible. God will fulfill ezekiels visions of destruction and doom. When the people start to say that these visions probably relate to the distant future, god tells ezekiel to tell them that theyll be fulfilled sooner rather than later. Ezekiel 1 new international version niv ezekiels inaugural vision. John in the book of revelation in appendix iv of this lesson. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his government through the four living creatures. The prophet ezekiel had a most unenviable assignment.
The book of ezekiel is the third of the books of the major prophets, coming after the books. Knowing god is the basic theme of the book of ezekiel. The book of ezekiel is poorly understood and the results are that many people have been led to believe things about ezekiel that have nothing to do with the intended meaning. Moses described parts of his heavenly vision with the blue color and brilliance of a sapphire stone exodus 24. I think ezekiel saw it better than any of the other prophets. Ezekiel looked beyond the sufferings of christ to the glory that should follow. As peter said of the prophets, they saw the sufferings and they saw the glory that would follow 1 pet. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his.
He was called to preach a message of coming judgment to the rebellious children of israel, on the occasion of the lords delivery of the nation into enslavement under the babylonians. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the color of beryl, and the four of them had the same. A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel st albans. Ezekiel was a priest who was among the jewish captives carried away to babylon by king nebuchadnezzar in approximately 597 b. And nowhere in the bible are gods initiative and control expressed more clearly and pervasively than in the book of ezekiel. To possess the prophets mind with very great, and high, and honourable thoughts of that god by whom he was commissioned and for whom he was employed.
Ezekiel among the captivesnow it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as i was among the captives by the river chebar, that the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god a. Meaning of ezekiels wheel within wheel bible study. Ezekiel uses visions, prophecies, parables, signs and symbols to proclaim and dramatize the message of god to his exiled people. Writing from a firstperson perspective, ezekiel recorded the visions and revelations he received from the lord. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to gods plans for reconstructing the present world and restoring his people to our former days in the garden of eden.
Ezekiel witnessed marvelous things in his prophetic visions even as he lived through terrible things on earth. The book of ezekiel introduction to the book of ezekiel in the bible. In other words, it was as if ezekiel could see beyond the skies. Ezekiels visions came mostly from being lifted by the spirit. Mar 17, 2016 the book of ezekiel is one of the major prophets in the old testament. Ezekiel was taken up in visions and set on a very high mountain. Most of the book of ezekiel contains prophecies that were given before the final fall of jerusalem to the babylonians. The book of ezekiel has always been a problem book. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading secrets of the dry bones. The book of ezekiel pronounces judgment on both israel and surrounding nations, but it also provides a vision of the future millennial kingdom that complements and adds to the vision of other old and new testament texts.
Ezekiel in the picture study bible the book of ezekiel with. The book of ezekiel predicted a glorious future for israel if they had cooperated with god. The visions, and the book, are structured around three themes. The first reason to study ezekiel is that it will help you see yourself, and especially your sin, more clearly.
Ezekiel study guide for growing christians ministries. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah. A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel.
Ezekiel s prophetic ministry lasted from 593 bc to 571 bc see ez 29. Ezekiels mission to the judean exiles in babylon was to prepare them for the greatest crisis in the history of yahwehs covenant people. Ezekiel 1 international standard version isv an introduction to ezekiels visions. Next to the book of revelation, ezekiel s probably the weirdest and most dramatic book of the hebrew bible. Jul 03, 2016 watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
Book of ezekiel overview insight for living ministries. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it. In the book of isaiah we have the principles of the throne of god. Watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book is filled with many visions and allegories and the prophets strange actions and behavior. So prior to the study it is best to have heard the sermon and read the relevant. Key personalities include ezekiel, israels leaders, ezekiels wife.
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