Ezekiel Introduction
The book of Ezekiel was written during the time of the Babylonian exile in order to encourage exiles of God’s prophetic plan for Israel. Ezekiel, whose name means “God strengthens,” was living in Jerusalem as a priest before the first wave of Babylonian exile. However, God had something different in mind for Ezekiel and called him instead to prophetic ministry. This book is a reminder that even though God’s people were in exile and their nation was about to be destroyed, God was still on the throne and sovereign over it all. This book also revealed to the Israelites God’s holiness and power as the Lord over all creation. Ezekiel is a contemporary of Daniel and Jeremiah taking place around 593-571 BC.
The phrase that is stated repeatedly throughout the book is “You will know that I am the Lord.” This is ultimately the desire of the Lord that we see throughout all of Scripture: His glory to be made known amongst all people. Amidst the rampant idolatry, God shows that He alone is the One true God and He alone deserves the glory. God’s glory is a repeated theme in Ezekiel as we see the glory of God revealed in chapter 1, the glory of God rejected in chapter 1o, and the glory of God return in chapter 43. There is so much we can unpack in this book. Ezekiel reveals the fate of Judah (Ch. 1-24), the fate of the nations (Ch. 25-32), and the hope for future restoration and redemption of Israel (Ch. 33-48). God is going to redeem all things.
Ezekiel is filled with detailed imagery: from a watchman, to a faithless wife, to shepherds of Israel, to the valley of dry bones, and ultimately the millennial temple. Ezekiel wants his readers to know that God will wake up His people and bring them from death to life! The Lord declares, “I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:6).
Sometimes prophetic books can get confusing, but stick with us! We’ll do the best we can to understand it together. Join us as we journey through the book of Ezekiel and see that we serve a God who desires to dwell with His people and brings dry bones back to life.
Read Ezekiel 1
Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision
1 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.
2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— 3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the Lord was on him.
4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings,9 and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.
10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body.12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.
15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16 This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.20 Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.21 When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
22 Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. 23 Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. 24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
25 Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Go Deeper
The book begins with Ezekiel’s vision of the likeness of the glory of God. Dr. Thomas Constable, a former professor from Dallas Theological Seminary, describes the glory of God as “the expression, or the outshining, of His person. It is the beauty, radiance, splendor, and magnificence of God’s person… an unveiling of God Himself, in unusual clarity and relevance.” The vision in this chapter is considered one of the most detailed visions in all of Scripture. Ezekiel sees a whirlwind coming from the north, which is significant because the north was associated with God’s judgment through foreign enemies to Israel. There was brightness and a raging fire showing both the glory of God and images of His presence. Ezekiel sees three things in this vision.
The four living creatures He saw had four faces. As described, “Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.” (v. 10). The four living creatures are representations of the character of God, and more specifically the character of Jesus throughout the four gospel accounts. In Matthew, Jesus is depicted as a lion as a picture of His sovereignty and supremacy. In Mark, Jesus is depicted as an ox as a picture of sacrifice and servitude. In Luke, Jesus is depicted as a man as a picture of intelligence and understanding. Lastly in John, Jesus is depicted as an eagle symbolizing power soaring over all creation.
Ezekiel also sees whirling wheels. The wheels in the vision represent characteristics of God’s divine nature. The mobility shows the omnipresence of God; He is everywhere at the same time. The eyes depict the omniscience of God; He is all-knowing. The elevated position shows the omnipotence of God; He has power over all things. These four living creatures and whirling winds were later described in Ezekiel 10 to be cherubim, which are angelic guardians of God’s holiness. Ezekiel saw a great expanse over the heads of the four living creatures and he heard a voice coming from the expanse, which was the voice of God.
Ezekiel responds to this vision saying, “Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking” (v. 28). The rainbow is a symbolic reminder of the faithfulness of God despite judgment (a common theme throughout scripture). The Israelites were not going to understand God’s just judgment towards them while they were in exile without fully understanding His glory and holiness. They needed to be reminded that regardless of their situation, He is still on His throne and has not forsaken them.
Despite the details in Ezekiel’s vision, the imagery is somewhat hard to picture. The word “likeness” or “appearance of” is repeated over and over in this chapter. God is so holy and set apart that words are not sufficient in conveying fully His majesty and glory. His glory is far beyond what our minds can comprehend or imagine. Throughout Scripture, when people get a glimpse of the glory and holiness of God, their only response is humility and worship. They realize how big God is and how small we are. This was a reminder to the exiles of God’s holy nature, His consistent character, and His care for His people, even while they were in Babylon. Whatever we are walking through today, we can rest assured that God is sovereign and in control. He is holy and He is still on His throne.
Questions
- What is something that stands out to you in Ezekiel’s vision?
- Followers of God need to righty understand the glory of God. What does this chapter teach you about the glory of God?
- Whatever is on the throne of our lives is going to be what is guiding us. Is there something that you put on the throne of your life other than God?
Watch This
For an overview of the book of Ezekiel, check out this video from The Bible Project!
2 thoughts on “Ezekiel Introduction + 1”
Having just completed the study of the book of John and now beginning Ezekiel, the beautiful scarlet thread of Christ is evident in both old and new testaments. He is present throughout the pages of scripture that we might believe. Revelation 1:8 proclaims,” I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” The vision Ezekiel has seems straight out of a sci-fi movie fraught with symbols that convey ideas. Holy God chooses to reveal himself in an unforgettable way to convey an urgent message. This was the beginning of Ezekiel’s unforgettable call and commissioning as a priest and prophet to the exiles of Babylon. I’m drawn to Ezekiel’s response to the vision and glory of the Lord, “When I saw it, I fell face down in the dust” (v28). How will we respond to God’s holiness? Philippians 2:9-11 declares “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” All will one day bow either out of reverence for his mercy or fear of his judgement. Praying our lives exude surrender, awe and gratitude to the glory of God evidenced in his Son.
The Glory of the Lord, our God is a consuming Fire (Heb 12:29). Our God is Holy. Ezekiel fell on his face in fear. We meaning I, do not have that fear, respect, reverence, marvel, adoration, deep desire, attentiveness, consideration, or esteem for God. If we/I did we/I would be so obedient and our world would be radically different I believe. Wow what a dream Ezekiel had!! To see even in a dream a touch of His glory is mind-boggling. From the sound of the Bible Project the things he has to endure sound not so fun. To be a prophet is kinda going against the grain of things from what I understand. So perhaps we all need to pray about what that would look like today, for us, in this world.?
God thank You for Your Glory, Your consuming Fire, Your Holiness. God help me to be so obedient in all areas and aspects of my life. I want/desire, think about, pray for that fear of You that brings me to my knees. Thank You for such obedience that I am radically different!!! But all that difference is for YOU!! YOUR GLORY!!!! in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!