Study From the Book of Ezekeil:Introduction. 

Study From the Book of Ezekiel, Introduction

Today is the first part of this new series where we study the introduction of this important book of the Old Testament: the book of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel a priest and a prophet ministered during the darkest days of Judah’s history: the seventy years of captivity. Carried to Babylon before the final assault of Jerusalem, Ezekiel uses prophecies, parables, object lessons and symbols to dramatize God’s message to His exile people. Though they are like dry bones baking in the sun, God will reassemble them and breathe life into the nation once again. Present judgement will be followed by future glory, so that “you shall know that I am the Lord”(6:7).

Ezekiel’s prophecies for God’s people can be seen as the companion piece to those of Jeremiah.  While Jeremiah delivered a frightening message primarily of judgement and destruction, Ezekiel’s message focuses more on restoration and reconstruction.

A large portion of Ezekiel’s book (40-48) focuses on a temple in Jerusalem that has yet to be built. This temple in the eyes of many scholars has a yet future role to play in Israel’s history at the time of the millennium when the Lord Jesus will reign for 1000 years at the end of the age. Even the city where the temple sits will have a new name: “And the name of the city shall be (Yahuwah Shama): The LORD IS THERE.”

Themes: God promises to restore His people when they repent of their sin and return to Him with their whole hearts.

Author: Ezekiel the prophet in Hebrew the name means God strengthens.

Time: during Babylon’s captivity around 592-570 B.C.

Structure:

Chapters 1-24: God’s judgment against wayward people

Chapters 25-32: God’s judgment against the nations.

Chapters 33-48: God’s renewed blessing on His repentant people.   24/7/2022