Overview of Ezekiel
The prophet Ezekiel lived during a time in which the Babylonians had taken Jerusalem and were holding many captives. He received his calling from the Lord at age 30 in 593 BC. Ezekiel, during his ministry, focused on the sovereignty and glory of Yahweh. He points out that the Israelites may be in exile, but Yahweh is still in total control of history, and that He is moving events along according to His sovereignty and glory. His second major theme is the presence of Yahweh. Also, like many of the other major prophets, the book of Ezekiel contains three parts. The first, Ezekiel 1-24, emphasizes judgment and the destruction of Jerusalem; some glimpses of deliverance and restoration are shown. Ezekiel 25-32 contains the oracles against nations, and Ezekiel 33-48 looks to a bright future filled with restoration, a new temple, and the renewed presence of Yahweh.
Ezekiel’s message is similar to that of Isaiah and Jeremiah. That being said, each of their messages is divided into three parts. The first part emphasizes judgment and destruction, the second part, oracles against nations or kings, and the third part is the bright future and the emphasis on Yahweh’s presence being restored and Him bringing restoration to Judah.
Ezekiel 1-24 emphasizes the coming judgment and destruction of Jerusalem. Let’s dive into this piece by piece. In Ezekiel 1-3, Ezekiel has an encounter with Yahweh and receives his calling from Yahweh. However, the way Ezekiel encounters Yahweh is significant. Daniel J. Hays explains, “Recall that Isaiah’s encounter with Yahweh and his commission to be a prophet came while he was in the temple (Isaiah 6). That made sense, for the presence of Yahweh was located in the temple. Like Isaiah, Ezekiel also encounters Yahweh seated on his throne. Unlike Isaiah, however, Ezekiel is not in the temple. He is in exile by a river in Babylon.” This is significant because it shows that Yahweh is not limited to being in His temple and is free to move throughout the world. As opposed to what was originally believed, that He was only tied to His temple. Ezekiel describes his encounter with Yahweh, and, like Isaiah, he is probably limited in how well he can look directly at Yahweh's glory. Ezekiel 1:4-28 states,
As I looked, behold, a high wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing intermittently and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like gleaming metal in the midst of the fire. And within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form. Each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they sparkled like polished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward. As for the form of their faces, each had a human face; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies. And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living beings ran back and forth like bolts of lightning. Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the ground beside the living beings, for each of the four of them. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling topaz, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship being as if one wheel were within another. Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions without turning as they moved. As for their rims, they were high and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were covered with eyes all around. Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. And whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose just as they did; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. Whenever those went, they went; and whenever those stopped, they stopped. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose just as they did; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads. Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had two wings covering its body on the one side and on the other. And I also heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of abundant waters as they went, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of a crowd like the sound of an army camp; whenever they stopped, they let down their wings. And a voice came from above the expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stood still, they let down their wings. Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. Then I noticed from the appearance of His waist and upward something like gleaming metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. Like the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.
This is one of the most important pieces of Ezekiel, as this is not only His vision but the start of his calling from the Lord. “In Ezekiel 2:1-3:15, Yahweh commissions Ezekiel to be His prophet. As with Jeremiah and Isaiah, Yahweh warns him that the people are rebellious and probably won’t listen to him.”
Throughout Ezekiel 4-7, there are lessons and signs of the coming judgment from Yahweh on Judah and Israel. “In Ezekiel 4 Yahweh tells Ezekiel to build a model of Jerusalem under siege. He is to lie next to it for 390 days (for the sin of Israel) and then 40 days (for the sin of Judah). This is to be a sign or an object lesson to the people.”
Yet another sign occurs in Ezekiel 5, where the prophet shaves his head and divides his hair into thirds. “One third he burns inside the city, one he strikes with the sword outside the city, and one third he lets the wind scatter. This represents the fate of the inhabitants of Jerusalem when the terrible judgment comes.” Ezekiel 6-7 is the highlighting of the sin and coming judgment upon Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 8-11 takes place right before the fall of Jerusalem (592 BC, approximately 5 years before the fall). Yahweh gives Ezekiel yet another vision of the future of Jerusalem and the coming judgment upon the people. We also get a more in-depth look at just how bad the sin and idolatry were in Jerusalem at that time. “Ezekiel watches as the glory of Yahweh departs from the temple and leaves Jerusalem.”
In Ezekiel 12, Ezekiel performs a skit symbolizing the exile. He packs up his belongings and walks out of the city like he is going into exile. This is a sign to those in the city that they will soon go into exile. John D. Barry writes in his commentary, “While Ezekiel will act out his prophecy in plain view, the people will still not understand.” This signifies that many did not have the eyes to see; this is similar to the events of Matthew 13:13.
Ezekiel 13-15 talks about false prophets and more coming judgment on Jerusalem. Ezekiel 16 compares Jerusalem to a prostitute. Yahweh uses this analogy, stating that He is like the faithful groom awaiting his bride, but instead of devoting herself to Him after he gave her everything, raised her from nothing, cared for her, and remained faithful, she abandons Him and becomes a prostitute.
Ezekiel 17-24 is the judgment and fall of Jerusalem. We also get an inside view of how Yahweh views the situation. It is revealed that He is not delighted in the punishment of the wicked, but would rather that they turn to Him and repent. “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked,’ declares the Lord God, ‘rather than that he would turn from his ways and live?’” The LBD explains God’s forgiveness of sin using this text, stating, “Just as the Old Testament text emphasizes sin’s grave consequences, they also express hope for a restored relationship with God. This can be seen in the purification rituals of the law, penitential prayers such as Psalm 51, and eventually the eschatological hope seen in the Prophetic Books of God’s forgiveness of Israel and their return from exile. Such a hope is not merely wished for by Israel, but reveals the character of God, who desires the conversion and repentance of sinners rather than their destruction (Ezekiel 18:23).” However, Ezekiel explains later in 18:30-32 that they will receive a “new heart and a new spirit,” signifying that Yahweh will not abandon His people. “Ultimately, everyone will know Yahweh, either through His judgment or through His restoration and blessing.”
Ezekiel 25-32 focuses on the judgment of the surrounding nations. “This section of Ezekiel contains judgment oracles directed at Judah’s seven hostile neighbors. Ammon, Moab, and Edom, the three nations to the east and southeast, are addressed first. Then Yahweh addresses Philistia to the west and Tyre and Sidon to the north. Finally, Yahweh turns to Egypt, the nation to the south.” These are the nations God will bring judgment on, as well as judgment on the kings of these regions.
Ezekiel 33-48 is focused mainly on Yahweh’s presence being restored. “Yahweh promises a new covenant in which He will put His Spirit within His people.” In Ezekiel 33, we get the last bit of judgment before the coming restoration. During this time, Yahweh and His prophet continue to call for repentance; it is the only way to avert the coming judgment. However, that repentance did not happen, and judgment was carried out. Ezekiel 34 pictures Yahweh as the good shepherd. In it, Yahweh declares that He will restore a Davidic king and that He Himself will shepherd His flock (sound familiar?!). This is clearly prophecy pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ, as He is both in the direct line of David and declares that He Himself is God in the flesh, also declaring Himself as the shepherd of His flock. James D. G. Dunn states, “Israel’s kings are its shepherds; they have failed in their leadership, and they are to be dismissed.” Canne Browne states, “They knew nothing about their flocks: it might be diseased, infirm, bruised, maimed, strayed, or lost, for they watched not over them.” This explains why a new shepherd is needed, and God takes the initiative to be the perfect and good shepherd.
Ezekiel 35-36 contains a brief oracle against Edom. Ezekiel 37 contains the hope for that which was once dead to be renewed in God. Ezekiel 38-39 describes a future invasion to come. “In Ezekiel 38, the prophet describes a coalition of nations that attacks peaceful Israel. “In Ezekiel 40-48, the prophet brings his book to a climactic close by describing in detail the new temple of the future.”
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