SUMMER TEACHING SERIES The Prophets Ezekiel Joe Dennison

SUMMER TEACHING SERIES The Prophets Ezekiel Joe Dennison

Historical Context

Historical Context § Ezekiel carried to Babylon with King Jehoachin (597 BC) § Ezekiel’s ministry is to the exiles in Babylon § One of three captivity prophets § Jeremiah – ministers to Jews remaining in Jerusalem § Daniel – serves in royal administration courts of Babylon & Persia § Ezekiel - prophet to the Jewish exiles in Babylon § Ezekiel prophesies for 22 years (593 BC to 571 BC) § Begins 5 years into captivity & 6 years before fall of Jerusalem.

General Comments on Book

General Comments § Ezekiel uses both literal forms (“street theatre”) and literary forms (oracle, allegory, poetry) to convey his message. § Theme of the book – The Glory of God. § God’s purpose – “you shall know that I am the Lord” – 60 x § Ezekiel’s title - “Son of man” • Ezekiel is not mentioned or quoted directly in the N. T.

Outline of Ezekiel

Outline of Ezekiel § Call of Ezekiel (Ch 1 -3) § Prophecies of God’s Judgment on Jerusalem & Judah (Ch 4 -24) § Prophecies of God’s Judgment on the Nations (Ch 25 -32) § Restoration of Israel and the Millennial Temple (Ch 33 -48)

Outline of Ezekiel Justification of God’s Sovereign Actions § Is God righteous in judging His people Israel? (Ch 4 -24) § Will God overlook the sins of the Gentile nations? (Ch 25 -32) § Is God abandoning His covenants with Israel? (Ch 33 -48)

Ezekiel’s Call

Ezekiel’s Circumstances § His Family Background – A priest § His Age – 30 years old at beginning of his ministry § His Circumstances – taken into captivity at 25 § His Unique Personality – “I have made your face as hard as their face” (3: 8)

Ezekiel’s Vision of God’s Glory (1: 4 -28) • Description of a throne chariot carried by cherubim • Vision of “the likeness of God’s glory” (1: 28) • Revelation of God’s majesty and holiness

Ezekiel’s Revelation of God’s Names § Ezekiel understanding of God’s Character: § Visions of God (Elohim) – 1: 1 § Word of the LORD (Jehovah) - 1: 3 § Sound of the Almighty (El Shaddai) – 1: 24 § Says the Lord God (Adonai) – 2: 4

Ezekiel’s Mission § Hear God’s word (2: 1) § Obey God’s word (2: 8) § Communicate God’s word (2: 7) § 63 x in book Ezekiel says “the word of the Lord”. § Rely upon God’s power – “Spirit of God entered into me” (2: 2) § Be a Watchman to the Nation (3: 7)

Lesson’s From Ezekiel’s Call § Don’t waste your youth. § Don’t be discouraged by your circumstances. § Understand God has made you unique for His purposes. § In order to serve God we must first know God. § Effective servants must first hear and obey God’s word. § God provides the resources to accomplish His purposes.

The Message – Part I God’s Judgment on Jerusalem (Chapters 4 -24)

Part I – Detailed List of Prophecies Reference Prophecy Primary Message 4: 1 -3 Sign of Clay Model Pending Siege of Jerusalem 14: 23 -23 Inability of Noah, Job & Daniel to prevent Judah beyond the help of godly men 4: 4 -8 Sign of Prophet's Position Pending Extended Exile 15: 1 -8 Parable of Useless Vine Israel is fit only for judgment 4: 9 -17 Sign of Defiled Bread Pending Famine in Jerusalem 16: 1 -58 Parable of Unfaithful Wife Israel is the unfaithful wife of Jehovah 5: 1 -7 Sign of the Sword Means of Israel's Destruction 16: 59 -63 Promise of the Everlasting Covenant Reference to the New Covenant 6: 1 -14 Prophecy against the Mountain of Israel Judgment will affect whole nation 17: 1 -21 Parable of the Two Eagles Futility of Zedekiah's rebellion 7: 1 -27 Lamentation over Certainty of Judgment Indiscriminate nature of judgment against all 18: 1 -32 Parable of the Sour Grapes Response to Israel's charge that God was unjust 8: 1 -14 Description of Israel's idolatrous practices Reasons for the Pending Judgment 19: 1 -14 Lamentation for the Last Kings of Judah Futility of Zedekiah & princes escaping judgment 9: 1 -11 Vision of the Executioners Certainty of the Pending Judgment 20: 1 -32 Recitation of God's Dealings w/ Nation Recounting of Israel's rebellion against God 10: 1 -22 Vision of the Departure of Glory of Lord God's wrath about to be poured out 20: 33 -44 Promises of Eventual Restoration Israel will be restored in the future 11: 1 -13 Prophecy of Judgment of Leaders Those who mislead Israel will be judged first 21: 1 -17 Sign of the Drawn Sword Certainty of Nebuchadnezzar's Invasion 11: 14 -25 Promise of a new heart and spirit God will restore Israel in the future 21: 18 -32 Sign of the Fork in the Road Decree that Nebuchadnezzar w/ invade Judah 12: 1 -16 Sign of Exile Judah's captivity symbolized 22: 1 -31 Condemnation of Sins of the Nation Condemnation of all ranks of society 12: 17 -20 Sign of Ezekiel Trembling Foreshadowing of terror in Jerusalem 23: 1 -49 Allegory of Oholah & Oholibah Israel & Judah described as two prostitutes 12: 21 -28 Two Prophecies against popular sayings Warning against misinterpreting Ezekiel 24: 1 -2 Start of Jerusalem Siege Ezekiel's messages begin to come true 13: 1 -23 Prophecy against False Prophets Pending Judgment on the False Prophets 24: 3 -14 Parable of the Boiling Pot Certainty of Coming Judgment 14: 1 -11 Prophecy against the Elders Pending Judgments on Israel's Elders 24: 15 -24 Death of Ezekiel's Wife Symbolizing the Nation's separation from God

Part I – Judgment on the Nation of Israel A. Certainty of God’s Judgment on Israel (4: 1 -7: 27) B. Causes of God’s Judgment on Jerusalem & Judah (8: 1– 14: 11) C. Futility of Escaping God’s Judgment (14: 23 – 19: 14) D. Justification of God’s Wrath Upon the Nation (20: 1 – 24: 27)

Part I – Glimmers of Hope § Promise of Restoration & New Heart and that God would be a sanctuary to the exiles (11: 14 -20) § Promise of an everlasting covenant (16: 60) § Promise of the restoration of David’s line in the Parable of the Branch (17: 22 -24) § Promise of regathering to the Land & repentance (20: 33 -44) § Promise of a future King established by God (21: 27)

Part I - Key Themes/Messages § Removal of God’s Glory from the Temple (Ch 9 -11) § Removal of the King § Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. § Judgment on the People and the Land

Part I – Conclusion • Commencement of the Siege of Jerusalem(Ch 24: 1 -2) • Death of Ezekiel’s Wife (Ch 24: 15 -24) • Ezekiel Goes Silent (Ch 24: 27)

The Message – Part II God’s Judgment on the Gentile Nations (Chapters 25 -32)

Part II – Judgment of the Gentiles (Ch 25 -32) § Prophecy against Ammonites, Moab, Edom and Philistines (Ch 25) § Prophecy against Tyre (Ch 26 -28) § Prophecy against Sidonians (Ch 28: 20 -24) § Prophecies against Egypt (Ch 29 -32)

The Message – Part III Restoration of Israel and the Temple (Chapters 33 -48)

Part III – Restoration of Israel (Ch 33 -39) § Ezekiel is Recommissioned (Ch 33) § The Shepherd of Israel (Ch 34) § Judgment of Edom (Ch 35) § Restoration of the Land (Ch 36: 1 -15)

Part III – Restoration of Israel (Ch 33 -39) § Restoration of the People (Ch 36: 16 -38) § Resurrection of the Nation (Ch 37: 1 -14) – Valley of Dry Bones § Reunification of the Two Kingdoms (Ch 37: 15 -28) § Judgment of Israel’s Enemies (Ch 38 -39) – Gog & Magog

Part III – Restoration of Israel’s Temple • Description of the Millennial Temple (Ch 40: 1 - 43: 12)

Part III – Restoration of Israel’s Worship § Regulations for the Worship of God (Ch 43: 13 - 46: 24) § Re-establishment of Sacrificial Worship § Revival of the Zadok Priesthood § Restoration of the Royal Line – Prince of Israel (David)

Part III – Restoration of Israel’s Land (Ch 47 -48) • Millennial Conditions • Healing of the Land the River from the Temple • Reallocation of the Land among the 12 Tribes

Part III – Key Themes/Messages § Return of God’s Glory to the Temple (Ch 43: 1 -12) § Fulfilment of God’s Covenants to the Nation § Possession of the Land § Resurrection and Salvation of the Nation § David’s Son on the throne § Zadok Priesthood Established

Part III – Conclusion of Book • Climax of Israel’s History – God dwelling among the people “The name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There. ” (Ezekiel 48: 35)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3: 16 (ESV)