Today, we continue our journey through the Bible with today’s study of Ezekiel. May God show us what He wants us to learn?
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14
As we study the Bible alone or in a group setting, there are several questions we can ask ourselves to help us dig deeper. The five questions are:
- What does the scripture say about God
- Then what does the scripture say about me
- Does something in this passage challenge me
- What gives me hope in this passage
- Is anything unclear to me
I hope these questions help you as much as they help me.
Book of Ezekiel
- Author: Ezekiel, a priest.
- Audience: Jews in captivity in Babylonia.
- Date Written: Around 571 B.C..
- Length: 48 Chapters.
- Keywords: The glory of the Lord (1:28, 10:4, 10:18 &43:2).
- Key Verses: “For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (36:24-26).
- Key People: Ezekiel, Israel’s leaders, Ezekiel’s wife, Nebuchadnezzar.
Summary of Ezekiel:
Ezekiel lived during a time of international upheaval. Under Nebuchadnezzar and his successors, Babylon ruled the area until it was crushed by Cyrus the Persian in 539 B.C. The reign of the house of David ended during this time; the kingdom of Judah was no longer an independent nation. Also, Jerusalem and the Lord’s temple lay in ruins.
Ezekiel’s prophecy began shortly after he arrived in Tel-abib (Ezekiel 1:2) which is near Babylon. He continued to prophesy with the people for about twenty years. Most of his messages concerned the judgement of sins. This occurred because God’s people continued rebellion against Him, which is also why God exiled them. However, like all the prophets, Ezekiel also provided some hope for the future (33:1–48:35).
Sections of the Book:
The book of Ezekiel contains four significant themes, which are:
- The appearance of the glory of the Lord (1-3).
- Departure of the glory of the Lord (4-13).
- God’s glory and the surrounding nations (15-31).
- Return of the glory of the Lord (33 to end).
Messages in Ezekiel:
God had a bigger purpose when He exiled the Israelites. He always has a purpose in the things He did in the lives of the Israelites. And he has a purpose in correcting us, too. God’s not interested in punishment for punishment’s sake. Instead, He wants to bring His people into a state of repentance and humility before the one true God. And He wants the same thing for us today.
Ezekiel strongly depicts the glory of God’s sovereign rule and his holiness. The book’s theological center is the unfolding of God’s saving purposes in the world’s history. The message of Ezekiel foreshadows the future works of God that the New Testament will later proclaim.
Final thoughts:
And like so many other books in the Bible, we see God’s character on display in this book. They are:
- Glorious – 1:28; 3:12, 23; 9:3; 10:4, 18, 19; 11:23; 43:4, 5; 44:4.
- Holy – 1:26-28; 8:11; 43:1-7.
- Just – 18:25, 29; 33:17, 20.
- Long-suffering – 20:17.
- Provident – 28:2-10.
- Wrathful – 7:19.
We might sometimes wonder and asking “Why, Lord?” Then we wait and wonder in silence for the answer. And we see in the book of Ezekiel that we should seek the Lord in those dark times. We need to examine our own lives, and then re-align ourselves with the one true God in areas that are lacking.
All Lessons from the Bible
Each book of the Bible contains lessons for us to learn and historical information. We must study God’s Word to see what to do and what not to do in life. Paul reminds us of the importance of the words within the text in 2 Timothy 3.
“14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Prayer
Please grant me the understanding and knowledge of You and Your word. As I open my Bible to read the scriptures, it gives me wisdom and discernment. And even as I sit and listen to the pastor, preacher or apostle reveal what Your Holy Book is speaking into my life, help me see and understand. Help me know Jesus Christ and how He lived His life so I can follow in His precious footsteps.
How helpful and timely this was for me. I was just studying and writing about hope during dark times today. I enjoyed this review of Ezekiel. It helps put things in context.
Thanks so much Candyce. This is why we write, to encourage and give hope. God bless.
As I read Ezekiel, I see eerily similar lessons that can apply to America today. A great lesson from this book, as you point out, is that “When God goes quiet, we need to listen even more closely and review all the events and your actions leading to this season. He has often already told you His desire for you.” So appreciate your review of this important book of the Bible. Too many today think the OT is no longer applicable. They have been blinded to see how the NT completes the OT.
I noticed all the similarities to our country today which causes me to pray more fervently for us. I’m loving all the things I’m relearning from the OT. And we ignore it at our own peril. God bless
Yes, God always has a plan. We can find rest in knowing He is in control and knows the plan. Have a blessed day! 🙂
I hope your day is full of blessings too. Thanks Melissa
What a great study of Ezekiel. That was one book I didn’t get to work through when I was writing my series. I love this presentation. It makes all of the research plain and spells out things so nicely. Thank you for continuing to share your dad’s notes.
Thanks so much Melinda. I appreciate you. God bless
Great message, Yvonne. I agree with JD. Listening closely, seeking Him, evaluating our own hearts toward repentance may be how we can avoid being exiles within our own land. Thanks and God bless!
Amen Nancy and thank you. God bless
Great overview, Yvonne. I especially liked this line: “We should seek the Lord in those dark times. We need to examine our own lives, and then re-align ourselves with the one true God in areas that are lacking.”
Yup and We do need to seek the Lord now in these dark times too. Thanks Annie. God bless
Thank you Yvonne! What great guidelines in working through Ezekiel. I appreciate your study helps and making them available. Loved this!
Thanks so much Sylvia. I appreciate your commenting. God bless
Love this! Many people get hung up on the “rules” God has, as if that’s all He cares about. But as you say, “He wants to bring His people into a state of repentance and humility before the one true God. And He wants the same thing for us today.” Obedience is about God’s purpose and helping us live well and be blessed in order to fulfill the master plan.
Spot on Jessica. He wants relationships where we do things out of our love for Christ. God bless
This sentence that you wrote is the key to understanding why God does what He does: “God’s not interested in punishment for punishment’s sake. Instead, He wants to bring His people into a state of repentance and humility before the one true God.” So true!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Ezekiel.
Too many people lose sight of this message. It’s about relationship with Christ and understanding that He knows best. Thanks Lisa and God bless
Yvonne, your post would make an excellent introduction to a long-term study of Ezekiel. I especially appreciated the way you pointed out how the character of God is revealed in the book. Thank you.
Thanks Jeannie. God bless
Another good book study, Yvonne. I especially like what we can learn from Ezekiel’s message of true “repentance and humility before the one true God.”
Amen Karen. I appreciate you and your comment. Thanks and God bless
I always appreciate your wisdom and insight as your share lessons on books of Scripture. Thank you. I’m thankful our Father gives us a “clean heart” as well.
Thanks so much Katherine. God bless