Background of Ezekiel
Ezekiel lived during the Babylonian Exile. He was a priest and the son of Buzi. He lived on the banks of the Chebar river. It was ont he banks of the Chebar river that he had his first vison of God, wtih which the Book of Ezekiel opens. He lived Babylon and probably was brought there around the same time as the skilled labourers.
This is how the Bible outlines the Book of Ezekiel
I. Call of the Prophet
II. Before the Siege of Jerusalem
III. Prophecies Against Foreign Nations
IV. Salvation for Israel
V. The New Israel
The Message of Ezekiel
Ezekiel was very invloved in the temple and liturgy of Judaism. He influenced the religious practices a very large amount, and continues to do so today. For this reason, he is sometimes called the father of Judaism. His first task was to prepare the Israelits for the destruction of Jerusalem. The destruction of Jerusalem would be a hard blow for them, becasue it was their center of worship. After the destruction of Jerusalem, his message changed to be one of a promise of salvation and a new covenant with God.Why the Message of Ezekiel is important in Salvation History
Ezekiel was important to salvation history in that he gave the Israelits hope in the dark times of the Babylonian Exile. He preached that God had not abandoned them, dispite the signs against this idea. Even after the destruction of Jerusalem, he still preached that God was with them. He gave the Israelites hope that things would not always be so bad and that things would get better. This helped many of the Israelites remain faithful to God during the Exile.A Very Deep Quote from the Book of Ezekiel
"Above the firmament over their heads something like a throne could be seen, looking like sapphire. Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man. Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum; downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire; he was surronded with splendor. Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day was the slpendor that surronded him. Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord."Ezekiel 1:26-28\
Chapter 1 of the Book of Ezekiel
Ted's Quiz on Ezekiel
1. Where did Ezekiel experience his first vision?
2. Why is Ezekiel sometimes called the Father of Judaism?
3. What was Ezekiel's occupation?
4. How did Ezekiel help to keep the Israelites faithful to God?