Bible Studies

A SIMPLE TEACHING GUIDE By Henry Jaegers THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

by Henry Jaegers
05/07/20
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A SIMPLE TEACHING GUIDE
By Henry Jaegers

THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

Title: The Future Glory for the People of God

Time of the Book: The events recorded in this book took place during the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his first siege upon the land. Ezekiel, as well as Daniel and his friends, were part of that first siege. However, Daniel's group was placed in the King's domain and Ezekiel was placed among the first group of captives located by the river of Chebar. Ezekiel was a priest and he was 30 years old when God called him.

It’ Relationship to the book of Jeremiah:

Ezekiel's message took place toward the end of Jeremiah's ministry prior to the total destruction of Jerusalem. We know this because Ezekiel deals with that destruction as yet future as he details the great sin of the people that brought it about.

Easy kill among the Old Testament prophets, can be compared to Luke in the Gospels. He goes into greater detail in his presentation and seems to leave no stones uncovered. Ezekiel is difficult to read because of its long chapters and intricate details. It gives us details not covered by the book of Jeremiah.

Because of the many details in the book of Ezekiel, it will be necessary to spend a longer time in the presentation of these lessons because of the many important details that should not be overlooked. We will give further attention to these in our questions for discussion.

ANALYSIS AND OUTLINE

I.             Chapter 1-3: The Vision, The Call, and the Instructions

In chapter 1, Ezekiel is given a visitation by God which was unique in its description. We must simply see this as a vision of the glory of God without having to understand and elaborate upon all the details. It is a form in which the vision came, and it is repeated a few more times within the book.

The first thing that Ezekiel was instructed to do, was to take a book and digest it. Both Jeremiah and John, the writer of Revelation, also was called to do the same. This is symbolic in its interpretation referring to the importance of having our lives saturated by the word of God in order to more properly present the message of God. It is similar to meditating on the Scripture. It means hearing, ruminating, (like a cow chewing its cud), and making the application to life.

Finally, in chapter 3, God tells Jeremiah about the people to whom he is to preach. They are obstinate, dull of hearing, and unwilling to obey and listen to God. He gave the same message to Isaiah in his call as well. The purpose of this situation is meant to cast the results upon God. It removes expectations from a human level to take place leaving the outcome to God alone. The call of God is always accompanied by difficulty and requires God's servants to be patient, prayerful, and to trust God for the results that will take place to the glory of God.

II.            Chapter 4-20 is a message to the children of Israel

We have these words in I Peter 4:17, “the time comes to that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins at us, what shall the end  be of those who obey not  the gospel of God.”

It is truly by the mercies of God that he disciplines us with the intent of correcting us and bringing us back. For now, the wickedness of the Israelites has been clearly placed before them and the cry of God is for their return before their continual actions result in final destruction. It is within the purpose of God that he deals with the people of God first. If they are to be effective in their witness, they must be forgiven and restored in their relationship to him. The judgments in these verses are severe, but once again, you must be reminded that the severity of God is often necessary to bring us back into the fold.

III.          In Chapter 21-32, the Message to the Enemies of God is given.

These nations are those nations who were once the enemies of Israel, but in some cases, God has used them to punish Israel. They were God's instruments in a discipline like Babylon, and Assyria. But now their time has come and judgment from God is theirs because of how they treated Israel. In Genesis 12: 3, God promised Israel that He would bless those who bless Israel and curse those who cursed Israel. This is a fulfillment of that promise. Although God uses these nations to chasten Israel, their use went beyond the purposes of God and was performed out of wicked, selfish ambition and pride. And like Peter said in his epistle, "And what shall the end be of those who obey not the gospel of God?" That applies to these as well. In chapters 38 and 39 a further group of nations is addressed from the north who came about and attacked Israel.

But at the end of chapter 39, God gives a positive message: “When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations: “Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.

Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 39: 27-29)

IV.          Chapter 33-38 The Hope of restoration

In these chapters, new hope and new life are now promised, despite Israel's previous devastation. Chapter 33 begins with God declaring unto Ezekiel that he has been appointed a watchman over the nation of Israel. He is to warn them when evil comes and be alert to any situations which might call forth the blowing of the trumpets, warning Israel of impending danger. The responsibility is great and the consequences of neglect are serious.

In chapter 34, God is dealing with false shepherds. They have failed as shepherds to take care of the sheep. Instead of feeding the sheep they fed themselves and have neglected their responsibilities to nourish those for which they have a charge. But God promises that there will be a new Shepherd that will care for the sheep; that he will raise up even David. Of course, this is not speaking of David their past king but is referring to one greater than David. David's greatest son, Jesus Christ who is the good Shepherd, who will care for the sheep and lay down his life for them.

Then in chapter 35, the message sausage is given concerning the of Edom, Esau's descendants, who have harbored hostility toward Israel all his days. Now the promise is that the hostilities shall cease and Esau will be destroyed and Israel once again will live in peace.

In chapter 36, the mountains of Israel are addressed, and God promises that those mountains will bring forth blessings. The land will flourish, the wind will flow, crops will be abundant, and there will be joy in the land because God has in mind to bring blessing to them. How can one not be encouraged when God has given us his words of promise and a new covenant?

In chapter 37, we come to the more positive prophecy found in this book. It contains two visions given by God pertaining to a restored and revived nation of Israel

The first vision shows Ezekiel being taken to a place where there is a valley of dry bones. As he views these bones, God asks Ezekiel if those bones can live. Then he instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to these bones and as he did so, the bones came together, flesh and sinews came upon them and as he prophesied again, the wind blew and brought life into these dead bodies. The message from God is that Israel is like the valley of dry bones is going to experience new life similar to those of the dry bones.

In the second vision, Ezekiel is instructed to take two sticks and with them, write down the names of the two tribes of Israel, the northern and southern tribes. He is then instructed to make the two sticks into one and write the names again, but this time they will no longer be two separate nations but one. More will be given in the questions for discussion.

V.           Chapter 40-48: A Vision of The Gory of God in the Temple of God

In chapter 40, Ezekiel is taken up into a high mountain and was met by a man holding measuring tools in his hand. They journeyed to the location of the Temple and the man with the tools began to measure while Ezekiel recorded the details. The message is contained in chapters 40-42 and his purpose is to declare that the rebuilding of the temple is a serious matter requiring a detailed account. This message is meant to bring hope to the people that the temple of God and the future of Jerusalem is assured.

In chapter 43, the glory of God is revealed and in the continuing chapters, we see the glory of God revealed in a restored priesthood performing all the duties that were neglected previously. In chapter 48, the book is completed by the distribution of the land as promised by God, to the nation of Israel. The ending of the book ends with the words concerning God's new name being "the Lord is there". 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In chapter 1:1, 2, discuss the period in which Ezekiel prophesied.

2. From chapter 1:26-28, compare this vision of Ezekiel to that of the apostle John in Revelation chapter 4,

3 In describing the people to whom Ezekiel is being sent, describe why God would send anyone to preach to the people who will not listen. Is that a modern-day problem as well?

4. In chapter 33, discuss the responsibilities of Ezekiel as God's watchman over Israel. In verse 11, discuss the heart of God toward men who choose to reject his message.

5. In chapter 34: 11-34, it discusses the solution that God will bring to the problem of false shepherds no ruling the flock of God.

6. In chapter 37, discuss in detail the vision that Ezekiel saw in the Valley of dry bones. In verse 12, 13, what promise is given through the interpretation of this vision?

7. In chapter 37:14, describe this vision and its promise from God in verses 12-28. Who is the king whom God is describing and what will the covenant be?

8 in chapters 40 through 48, we see similar prophecy being fulfilled as those mentioned in the book of Zechariah. Discuss the similarity between the measuring of the temple in chapter 40 and that found in Zechariah chapter 2:1-10.

9. Compare chapter 47:1-12 with Revelation chapter 22:1-2. And contemplate the glories that weight faithful in Christ Jesus.

10. As we close the book of Ezekiel, I would recommend that you read through Zechariah chapter 2 and discover what Ezekiel did not tell us. Consider these details in closing the book of Ezekiel.