Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of yahweh and proclaims yahwehs sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. The term son of man is also found in the old testament. In response to the rebellion of jehoiakim of judah in 601 b. This devotionalstyle commentary series provides pastors with a practical application of gods written word, exalting jesus as the hero of every book. We saw in the first part of ezekiel 36 how god built a case against the nations. A commentary on the book of ezekiel southside christian. The prophet ezekiel is called son of man over 90 times. The old testament book of ezekiel is truly an amazing book. He is often called son of man in his book, a name that implies human weakness and. John tells us that he jesus is the word from the beginning and that he was with god and he was god john 1. Ezekiels statement about the closed gate as a prophecy of the incarnation. Again, there already is a partial fulfillment of this in a believers life. The book as a whole serves as a source of symbols and imagery for the book of revelation, such as the eating of the scroll ezekiel 2.
Right after the first introductory verse, the book of isaiah begins with gods lament about his people not knowing him. Ezekiels gospel message is so comprehensive that its beyond the scope of this blog. He prepares the way for the diaspora of the jews and helps them redefine who they are as gods chosen people in the world. Ezekiel exerted important influence upon the development of judaism.
Ezekiels vision is seen again by john revelation 4. Ezekiel was a biblical prophet and priest of ancient israel who was the subject and in part the author of an old testament book that bears his name. Block, new international commentary on the old testament nicot, eerdmans, 19971998, 1,757 pp. Peter writes that when the prophets spoke of the christ to come, the spirit of christ within them was indicating as he predicted the sufferings of christ and the glories to follow. In judaism and christianity, he is also viewed as the 6thcentury bce author. Introduction to the book of ezekiel the church of jesus christ of.
Jesus is the fulfiller of the promises laid out in the book. Exalting jesus in ezekiel christcentered exposition. The book of ezekiel introduction to the book of ezekiel in the bible. The book of ezekiel he will be strengthened of god. He belonged to the family of zadok, who was a famous priest. Ezekiel went into exile at the same time as king jehoiachin in the year 597 bc. Ezekiel s gospel message is so comprehensive that its beyond the scope of this blog. Chapter 37 page 839 the book of the prophet ezekiel. It is a compelling old testament witness to the gospel of jesus christ. Many christians approach the book of ezekiel and see little more than. The book of ezekiel niv audio holy bible high quality. Dry bones and the resurrection of the dead ezekiel 37.
According to dates given in the text, ezekiel received his prophetic call in the fifth year of the first deportation to babylonia 592 bc and was active until about 570 bc. As a prophet of god during the exile, ezekiel had a ministry among the captives of. Isaiahs experience focused upon the holiness of god. For another brief look at this book of the bible, see the related chapter in ot reflections of christ, by paul van gorder.
The prophet jeremiah is in judah, fearlessly proclaiming the impending destruction of jerusalem and the desolation of the land of judah. He used the title son of man in the same sense that it is used repeatedly by the prophet. The book of ezekiel contains the visions and prophecies of ezekiel, whom the lord called to minister to the jewish captives in babylon. The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book ezekiel 1. Then you shall take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one third you shall scatter to the wind. Actually, the first few verses of the book of isaiah provide a concise overview of the book of ezekiel. Ezekiel speaks of the four faces of god and reveals this fascinating progression that jesus brings to all of our lives. Exalting jesus in ezekiel christcentered exposition commentary.
Ezekiel with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Thus, both jesus and ezekiel can rightly be called. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. The book of ezekiel, one of the major prophetical books of the old testament. Ezekiel prophesied to the exiles in babylon at the same time that of jeremiah was prophesying to the jews who remained in jerusalem. Jesus is the great physician who heals our spiritual wounds isaiah 53. Hope is found not in our circumstances, our feelings, or our efforts, but in the confidence that god is with his people, for what ezekiel prophesied, jesus christ fulfilledand behold, i am with you always, to the end of the age matt. An extensive introduction helps to orient readers of ezekiels prophecies to the times, methods, and message of the prophet and to the special literary features of the book. Most popular bible verses in ezekiel knowing jesus. Ezekiel promises that a new king will come to reunify one people under a new covenant by the transforming power of the spirit.
Ezekiel 36 part 2 the reason for israels redemption. The term son of man is used variously in scripture. Exalting jesus in ezekiel christcentered exposition commentary paperback november 1, 2015 by dr. The christological purpose of ezekiel the book of ezekiel anticipates and points to jesus christ throughout. King nebuchadnezzar of babylon has already taken many jews into captivity. When jehoiakims successor, jehoiachin, surrendered in 597, nebuchadnezzar appointed zedekiah king and deported to babylon jehoiachin and the royal family, along with members of the upper class, including ezekiel the priest. For a verse by verse study of ezekiel, see the book notes on ezekiel. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah. Likewise, ezekiels message is not much different from his predecessor the prophet isaiah.
The holy bible book 26 ezekiel kjv dramatized audio. And their appearance and their workmanship was like a wheel inside of a wheel. In these chapters you will find one of the most dominant prophecies. Here in ezekiel 36 we see one of the old testaments most beautiful and clearest anticipations of this insideout change. Meaning of ezekiels wheel within wheel bible study. Daniel 2, 7, 9, 12 the coming of messiah the prince. Jesus is indeed referred to as the son of man in the new testament88 times, to be exact. The book of daniel contains the crucial foundational passages concerning israel and the coming of the messiah, jesus christ. Ezekiel foresees the paradise regained as described in the book of revelation. The hand of the lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, ezekiel 37. He is the one who seeks and saves that which is lost luke 19. Ezekiel uses the word three times in this passage and for idols 39 times in the book of ezekiel of the 48 times it occurs in the old testament block, page 226.
Ezekiel cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. We will now consider several of the key passages of ezekiel, centering our attention upon the reflections of christ that occur throughout the book. And, in fact, it helps demonstrate that the claim ezekiel saw jesus is a longstanding view among wellregarded theologians, not some 21stcentury whackjobs pop theology interpretation. Return to the table of contents for christ in all the scriptures. Ezekiels centered not only upon holiness, but also upon gods glory. There are only two old testament scriptures that directly reference this strange heavenly vision of a wheel within a wheel observed by the prophet ezekiel.
Throughout the book, this phrase appears repeatedly. Ezekiels vision of the lord prepared him for his ministry. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy. This is what jesus received at his resurrection matthew 28. In contrast to various other prophets ezekiel has not been criticised as much. Ezekiel s commission in vision, the prophet saw the cherubim, who had the likeness of a man v. A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel. What prophecy did ezekiel relate, and how did jehovah introduce that prophecy. The book of daniel is an excellent prediction of the coming of the messiah and the triumph of his messianic kingdom 2. The four gospels seem to have the same attributes of these four faces which line up as follows. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the color of beryl, and the four of them had the same likeness.
Summary of the book of ezekiel the story of the bible. Ezekiel is the central protagonist of the book of ezekiel in the hebrew bible. The book opens with an account of the vision that summoned ezekiel to his prophetic calling. Book of ezekiel encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. Best commentaries and books on ezekiel logos bible software. The preceding comparisons indicate that jesus frequently referred to the book of ezekiel. In babylon, ezekiel settled in his own house, in a village near nippur on the river chebar eze 3. The priest ezekiel was the first prophet to be called by the lord outside of israel during the babylonian captivity. This is the holy book of ezekiel, known as the book of the prophet ezekiel. The book of ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 b. Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox. Ezekiel was called to be a sort of ministering priest to his people in this spiritual sanctuary.
The book of ezekiel calls us to join in a fresh and living encounter with the god of abraham, moses and the prophets. So, lets zoom in on one aspect of his message and see how jesus fulfills it perfectly in his coming. This series of posts pairs a brief passage of scripture with associated study notes drawn from the gospel transformation bible. Ezekiels ministry helps lay the foundation for the jews faith for the centuries to come leading up to the birth of jesus. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very. Jehovah introduced the prophecy by directing ezekiel to tell his fellow exiles a prophetic riddle that illustrated the faithlessness of judahs. Ezekiels commission in vision, the prophet saw the cherubim, who had the likeness of a man v.
Why is ezekiel called son of man if it is a title for jesus. The lord, through his prophet ezekiel, gave a series of causes and consequences for israels enemies which laid the case for their judgement. The spirit who gives gods people new hearts ezekiel 36. The pulpit commentary says, the patristic interpretation which finds in the four living creatures the symbols of the four evangelists must be considered as the play of a devout imagination, but not as unfolding the.