Ezekiel, a priest whose name means God will strengthen, was among the Jewish exiles carried away to Babylon between the first and final deportation of Judah. His book shows him as a man of stern integrity and strong purpose, completely devoted to the practice of priestly intercession. Like Daniel and the Apostle John, he prophesied outside of the land of Judah and his prophecy, like theirs, follows the message of symbol and vision. Unlike the pre-exilic prophet, whose ministry was primarily either to Judah or Israel or both, Ezekiel was the voice of the LORD to “the whole house of Israel”. In marked contrast to Jeremiah, which we just read, all material in Ezekiel’s prophecy is arranged in chronological order as revealed by God to him.
In general, the purpose of Ezekiel’s ministry is to keep before the generation living and born into exile the national sins which brought them into exile. Ezekiel also challenges and calls for a sustained faith in God and predicts a national restoration by the just holy righteous LORD of the covenant, which will all take place under the Davidic monarchy. Key themes in the book are the glory and reputation of God. The holiness of God. And the relationship between an unholy people and their holy just God.
In general, the purpose of Ezekiel’s ministry is to keep before the generation living and born into exile the national sins which brought them into exile. Ezekiel also challenges and calls for a sustained faith in God and predicts a national restoration by the just holy righteous LORD of the covenant, which will all take place under the Davidic monarchy. Key themes in the book are the glory and reputation of God. The holiness of God. And the relationship between an unholy people and their holy just God.
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