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Summary - The Book of Ezekiel:
The book describes God's promise that the people of Israel will maintain their covenant with God when they are purified and receive a "new heart", which will enable them to observe God's commandments and live in the land in a proper relationship with Yahweh, the Lord God. Ezekiel's imagery provided much of the basis for the Second Temple mystical tradition in which the visionary ascended through the Seven Heavens in order to experience the presence of God and understand His actions and intentions. The book's literary influence can be seen in the later apocalyptic writings of Daniel and Zechariah. Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. By means of his prophetic ministry he attempted to bring them to immediate repentance and to confidence in the distant future. He taught that: (1) God works through human messengers; (2) Even in defeat and despair God’s people need to affirm God’s sovereignty; (3) God’s Word never fails; (4) God is present and can be worshiped anywhere; (5) People must obey God if they expect to receive blessings; and (6) God’s Kingdom will come.
Ezekiel was not just a prophet, he was also a priest, unlike Jeremiah who prophesied while remaining in Jerusalem, Ezekiel prophesied in Babylon where he, together with King Jehoiachin and many others, was resettled after being taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar. God appointed Ezekiel to be the “watchman for the house of Israel”. He was to speak God’s words to them “whether they listen or fail to listen”. Ezekiel's imagery provided much of the basis for the Secon structure found in a number of the prophetic books: oracles of woe against the prophet's own people, followed by oracles against Israel's neighbours, ending in prophecies of hope and salvation. Ezekiel has the broad three-fold:
Prophecies against Judah and Jerusalem (Chapters 1–24);
Prophecies against the foreign nations (Chapters 25–32) and
Prophecies of hope and salvation (Chapters 33–48).
Ezekiel was not afraid to speak boldly about the sins of Israel and Jerusalem, and that God makes it very clear through Ezekiel that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Ezekiel’s later chapters give both us and the exiles a vision of the future. There is a promise of a new covenant where individuals are given a new heart and new spirit to live after God’s commandments. This came to pass when Jesus established the New Covenant in his blood when He died on the Cross. The promise of a New Jerusalem with the River of Life flowing from its sanctuary has yet to be fulfilled.
The book describes God's promise that the people of Israel will maintain their covenant with God when they are purified and receive a "new heart" (another of the book's images) which will enable them to observe God's commandments and live in the land in a proper relationship with Yahweh, the Lord God. The theology of Ezekiel is notable for its contribution to the emerging notion of individual responsibility to God – each man would be held responsible only for his own sins. This is in marked contrast to the Deuteronomistic writers, who held that the sins of the nation would be held against all, without regard for an individual's personal guilt. Ezekiel's imagery provided much of the basis for the Second Temple mystical tradition in which the visionary ascended through the Seven Heavens in order to experience the presence of God and understand His actions and intentions.
In conclusion, Ezekiel is referenced more in the Book of Revelation than in any other New Testament writing. There is a promise of a new covenant where individuals are given a new heart and new spirit to live after God's commandments. Ezekiel’s encounter with God in all His majesty riding upon His chariot throne left him overwhelmed and speechless. This encounter carried him throughout his ministry to be steadfast and faithful. Ezekiel was not afraid to speak boldly about the sins of Israel and Jerusalem, it came the terrible news that Jerusalem had fallen. Ignoring the advice of the prophet Jeremiah, King Zedekiah had rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. As a consequence his army had completely destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. God is serious about sin and God will use whomever He chooses to bring about judgement. This is a lesson well worth learning.
The closing visions of Ezekiel, the prophet is transported to a high mountain where a heavenly messenger measures the symmetrical new Jerusalem, complete with high walls and twelve gates, the dwelling-place of God where His people will enjoy a state of perfect well-being. Apart from Revelation, however, where Ezekiel is a major source, there is very little allusion to the prophet in the New Testament. God makes it very clear through, there is a promise of a new covenant where individuals are given a new heart and new spirit to live after God’s commandments. This came to pass when Jesus established the New Covenant in his blood when He died on the Cross. The promise of a New Jerusalem with the River of Life flowing from its sanctuary has yet to be fulfilled.
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