EZEKIEL
Name means ‘God is strong’ or ‘God strengthens’.
Priest , taken captive to Babylon in 597.
Prophesied for 22 years.
Repeated theme, ‘you will know that I am the Lord’, occurs 23 times in this Book.
What do you want out of life? For what do you strive?
What does God want? [They shall be my people and I shall be their God]
How do we get there from here?
EZ.1
3 - “...the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the Lord came upon him...”
4-14 Vision of 4 creatures
12 - Moved “...wherever the spirit was about to go...”.
Each had 4 faces: Lion, Bull, Man, Eagle
14 - Moved like lightning.
17-20 - Wheels that moved without turning.
18 - were full of eyes.
19 - went wherever the living beings were.
20 - which was where the spirit moved.
26 - Above the expanse over their heads was a throne occupied by a figure like a man, similar to what John described in Revelation.
EZ.2 Call and commission of Ezekiel
3 - to a rebellious people.
4 - to stubborn and obstinate.
6 - instructed not to fear them or their words.
7 - to speak to them whether they listen or not.
9-10 Scroll handed to him, full of lamentations, mourning, and woe.
EZ.3
3 - He eats the scroll and it was sweet as honey.
10 - “...Moreover, He said to me, "Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely...”
17 - “...Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me...”
26,27 Ezekiel’s mouth will be shut and opened by God.
EZ.4
Acting out the siege of Jerusalem.
4,5 - 390 days on left side.
6 - 40 days on right side.
During this time he was to eat specific quantities of food fixed over human dung, but he successfully negotiated for cow dung.
EZ.5
Failure to fulfill national responsibilities will lead to judgment on God’s people.
1-4 To shave his head with a sword:
Burn 1/3 of his hair.
Strike 1/3 with a sword.
Scatter 1/3 to the wind.
Few strands bound to robe (remnant), but even some of these are thrown in the fire.
9 - “...And because of all your abominations, I will do among you what I have not done, and the like of which I will never do again...” Is this why America still exists?
16 - “...When I send against them the deadly arrows of famine which were for the destruction of those whom I will send to destroy you, then I will also intensify the famine upon you and break the staff of bread...” What causes famine? What should our response be? [repentance]
EZ.6
What is the desired result of judgment? 7 - “...The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the Lord...”
Why do we try to make everyone fell good? Is self-esteem overrated?
What will it take for us to ‘know that He is Lord’?
EZ.7
5 - Unique disaster.
15 - Can’t hide from judgment.
25 - No peace to be found.
EZ.8
Ezekiel lifted by the Spirit and given a view of Jerusalem.
5,6 - abominations that prevent God’s presence.
7-12 abominations done in secret, though God sees all.
14 - abominable focus on false gods.
16-17 abomination of turning backs to God.
EZ.9
1,2 - Six executioners are called.
4 - “...The Lord said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst..."
5-8 City is destroyed, starting at the sanctuary.
EZ.10
The whirling wheels
9-11 Four wheels moving in sync with cherubim.
EZ.11
12 - “...Thus you will know that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor have you executed My ordinances, but have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you..." God sees the evil rulers.
14-20 A remnant will return and remove the detestable and abominable things.
24,25 The Spirit takes Ezekiel to the exiles to let them know what is coming.
EZ.12
Ezekiel acts out what is coming for the people in Jerusalem.
19 - “...Then say to the people of the land, 'Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, "They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because their land will be stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it...”
28 - “...Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God, "None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,""' declares the Lord God...”
EZ.13
2-6 Foolish prophets prophesy
From their own inspiration.
Following their own spirit.
Hope for the fulfillment of their word.
EZ.14
3 - Idols are set up in the hearts.
6 - “...Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord God, "Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations...”
12-23 Famine, beasts, sword, plague are calamities from? [Heaven’s throne]
EZ.15
7 - “...and I set My face against them. Though they have come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them...”
EZ.16
2 - “...Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations...” Sin must be identified!
4-13 Description of God bringing life and beauty to a people.
14-34 Description of God’s people using their God given beauty for selfishness and sin, leading God to anger.
35-43 Description of loss of beauty.
49 - “...Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy...”
63 - “...so that you may remember and be ashamed and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done," the Lord God declares...”
EZ.17
1-10 Two eagles.
11-18 1st eagle is Babylon, 2nd eagle is Egypt.
19-24 God interacts in the affairs of man.
EZ.18
4 - “...Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die...”
21 - “..."But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die...”
24 - “...But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die...”
32 - “...For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord God. "Therefore, repent and live..."
EZ.19
Lamentation for God’s nation
EZ.20
1-32 Recap of Israel’s history
8 - “...But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt...”
10,11 - “...So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. "I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live...”
12 - Why the Sabbaths? [that they might know that I am the Lord]
15-16 “...Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their idols...”
Why didn’t they get to the promised land? [rejected ordinances, didn’t walk in statutes, profaned sabbaths]
20 - “...Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.'...”
21 - "...But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness...”
24 - “...because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers...”
33-44 Restoration from God
38 - “...and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the Lord...”
44 - “...Then you will know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel," declares the Lord God.'... "
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