Biography/ Historical Context

1. Biography/ Historical Context Ezekiel

2. Was the son of Buzi • He was part of the priestly class • Had been deported together with Joachim as a prisoner from Jerusalem in the year 598 B.C. • One of the four great Hebrew prophets • He was married and widowed • He preached his sermons in exile

3. His name means "God will strengthen". • He is the author of a book of Old Testament prophecies which looked forward to a new Jerusalem after the destruction of the old. • He eats the scroll so he can be with the Word of God

4. He was stoned to death by order of the Babylonian authorities. • Favored by God with the gift of prophecy because he soothed, comforted, and admonished his countrymen • Begins to prophesy after a vision in which he saw God's throne chariot and was given a scroll to eat

5. Call • Ezekiel’s call is less typical then others • He learns that Yahweh will send him to that ‘nation of rebels” and there he can communicate God’s word to them • Yahweh recognizes Ezekiel’s fear and reassures him that he doesn’t need to feel terrified [3:9] • Ezekiel is told to be a “watchman to the house of Israel”-someone who’ll warn impending danger. • The prophets duty was to warn but God’s plans were pre-ordained and in theory, unchangeable.

6. Eating the Scroll • Ezekiel not only spoke words of warning, but he also acted them out. • God told him to eat the scroll so he would always speak the words of God soEzekiel did as he was told and at the scroll that was placed in his hand • “You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear; for they are a rebellious house.  But you, mortal, hear what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you. 9I looked, and a hand was stretched out to me, and a written scroll was in it.” (Ezekiel 2:7-9)

7. Call of Ezekiel • His call was unusual and had a theme of consecration in Yahweh’s power offering the scroll of prophetic words to Ezekiel and he must eat the scroll in that he must consume the words of God (just like Jeremiah). • He fell on his face because he was overwhelmed by the presence of God. God says “Stand up and let me talk to you.” • God wants Ezekiel to go to the Israelites to communicate his word. • God says do not be afraid and reassures him he does not need to be scared. • Ezekiel sat overwhelmed for 7 days.

8. Mission • Yahweh comes to him miraculously through a curious mode of heavenly transportation. Through a “Chariot vision” • He was supposed to warn people of danger • He was known as the “good Shepherd”-one who seeks his lost sheep and bring them safely home. • Ezekiel becomes very lyrical at this point but goes on to warn that there’ll still be judgment. • The sheep will be weeded from the goats and a new line of Davidic Kings will be in charge

9. Mission of Ezekiel • Ezekiel was to be someone who warned Israel of upcoming danger. • He was given visions and symbols. • He was to give the Israelites hope during their trials and to fulfill God’s promises. • He was to be a “watchman to the house of Israel”.

10. Message of Ezekiel • He made them realize that they were a corrupt group of people who needed to change. • He warned the people about their need to repent before they could go back to Jerusalem • He speaks of upcoming judgment. God would use the fall of Jerusalem to draw his people back to them. • He told of God’s perfection • Every individual was responsible for their own sin

11. Message of Ezekiel • God would establish a new covenant and new temple. • This covenant would be based upon a desire to love and serve God. • This brings hope to the exiles. • Message included Sovereignty of God and direct purposefulness of God • Ezekiel speaks of the restoration of God’s people into their own land and to make Israel and Judah one nation again. • Restoration would not happen until there was true repentance among the Israelites. • God used these 70 years to cleanse the people of their sins.

12. Ezekiel’s Symbolism JP Galvin Mrs. Johnson Religion II, 6th 1/10/0 http://start.csail.mit.edu/images/texas-maps/middle_east_and_asia/israel_pol01.jpg

13. In one instance lay down on his left side on top of clay tablets and ate nothing but bread and water for 390 days to symbolize the suffering of Israel that was to come He then switched to his right for forty days to symbolize the suffering of Judah Ezekiel preached most of his messages through symbolism He took it upon himself to show the pain and suffering Israel would receive if they continued to disobey commons.wikimedia.org

14. In another story…

15. Another time he was to shave is head and beard, taking the hair and dividing it up. • Then he was to burn a third of it, cut a third of it, and throw the rest away in the wind. • Purpose: what would happen to the residence of Jerusalem after the siege.

16. Ezekiel’s visions Ezekiel’s visions are amongst the hardest to interpret in the bible Many of his visions are repeated in Revelations These visions repeat the theme of sin and forgiveness that Israel has and will undergo Ezekiel also mentions a new ruler from the line of David will take possession of a new heart and new spirit

17. Examples… • Ezekiel was carried to a valley of old, dry bones, and spoke the Words of the Lord. • The bones came together, became covered with skin, and became alive again. • This was a symbol of the Hebrews: returning to their own land and thriving.

18. Dry Bones • People back then could not touch dead bodies or dry bones so God instructed Ezekiel to do so. • The bones symbolized what the people were like before God, they were dry and incomplete. • God said with him He will attach tendons and flesh and they will be complete. • Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD (Ez.37:4... 4-6).

19. Uprooting • To show the uprooting of Judah and its kings Ezekiel used images of eagles, trees, and vines to help tell the coming of this. • He used the vine to compare with the people and to show what will happen if you do not do certain things. • “There was another great eagle, with great wings and much plumage. And see! This vine stretched out its roots toward him; it shot out its branches toward him, so that he might water it. From the bed where it was planted it was transplanted to good soil by abundant waters, so that it might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine.” (Ezekiel 17:7-8)