Ezekiel
What is the book of Ezekiel about? Anyone want to venture a guess? I read through the first six chapters, and I’m lost as to what the meaning is behind all of it. I realize I probably should continue reading through the end of the 48th chapter, and I plan on it… but it’s somewhat confusing.
The opening chapter begins with the glory of the Lord being shown in a vision to Ezekiel, the priest… the vision was of four living creatures, each with a different head - one was of a human, one was an eagle, one was an ox, and the other a lion. It was interesting to read that and remember back to hearing something about those four heads in my ART 111 history class, and how in ages past those four heads represented the four different gospel writers - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It was a neat observation…
Anyway, it’s a confusing book so far, and if anyone has a good study Bible or a commentary on it, let me know. I want to dig deeper into the books of the Bible that are often times in my own life just left off to the side…
Published on 19 Nov 2007 at 9:47 am.
4 Comments.
Filed under Thoughts.
We just finished reading through Ezekiel in our church. The elder who read the chapter of the week also explains it…but I don’t remember particulars right now.
Here are some hints, though:
1. Remember redemptive history–the Israelites were the OT people of God as we, the Invisible Church, are the NT people of God.
2. God hates sin. He disciplines his people, those he loves, in order to make us more holy. Punishment unto death was made manifest in Christ, and he bore the full wrath of God’s justice so that we might feel his loving discipline, not his just wrath.
3. Read it with a commentary. My elders recommend Matthew Henry as a good starting point.
Are you reading Ezekiel for a class? If so, ask your professor for an explanation. If not, ask a professor for a 30-second or 2-minute or however-long explanation.
Krista Work '02 on 19 Nov 2007 at 11:09 am.
Ooh, Ezekiel is a cool one. Lots of metaphors, but if you get a commentary, that’ll help out a bit. Around chapter 37 there’s the dry bones metaphor… very powerful.
Jess Gauley on 19 Nov 2007 at 5:24 pm.
p.s. Ezekiel 16 talks about God’s grace to unfaithful Jerusalem. It’s a great picture of how faithful God is to us when our hearts constantly turn to other things.
Jess Gauley on 19 Nov 2007 at 5:27 pm.
I haven’t read much but here’s a short syopsis of my take on the first couple of chapters:
Ezk. 1-3:15 - This is Ezekiel’s “introduction”. He details his calling as a prophet by beginning with his personal meeting of the Almighty. He relates that God gives him a scroll to eat, which signifies that Ezekiel is to speak for God, and he susequently does so. The description of God and His glory is quite fantastical (by Jewish standards of fantasy, of course!) but not without meaning.
For example, in 1:4 God’s coming is as a storm cloud and this usually denotes judgment. God has, indeed, come to give Ezekiel such a message to Israel. The four heads of the creature, four being a number denoting totality (like the four corners of the Earth); there is nothing lacking in God, He is complete. The creatures each have three faces all in the form of a man’s face; a lion, a bull and an eagle. I believe this is a picture of the Trinity and a symbolic forshadowing of the roles that Jesus will provide as prophet (eagle), priest (bull) and king (lion).
In chapter’s two and three we find God speaking to Ezekiel about His rebellious people. Ezekiel shows his obedience (in contrast with Israel’s disobedience) by submitting to God’s command to eat the scroll. Ezekiel will be sustained by the word of God and he will also speak the word for he has consumed it in submission. These first three chapters are an impressive literary setup for what is an impressive book. What I have given here is merely the tip of a very large iceberg but I wanted to encourage you in sticking with this book and really digging into it. Ezekiel is daunting and daringly beautiful but certainly not beyond the realm of understanding.
Pax.
jared on 20 Nov 2007 at 5:51 pm.