Charles Feinberg’s commentary on Ezekiel says:

“Ezekiel is probably the most neglected of all the prophetic books. The difficulty which chapter 1 introduces seems to deter many from a study of the book. This is indeed unfortunate, for the message of Ezekiel is vital to the canon of Scripture and is not duplicated anywhere in the Bible.”

Wow – you are getting something from your study of Ezekiel that you won’t get from any other book of the Bible! So kudos to you – who have not neglected the study of Ezekiel!

• (There is no video for this lesson which follows Unit 6, Lessons 1 through 4 – but there is a chart! See below….)

I want to give you a very brief review of what we’ve studied… here we go:

The book of Ezekiel is easily outlined… with 3 major sections:

1^st – Ch 1 thru 24 are about JUDGMENT AGAINST ISRAEL

2^nd – chapters 25-32 are about JUDGMENT AGAINST NATIONS (because of how they treat Israel)

3^rd – chapters 33 – 48 are about PROPHECIES OF HOPE. There are beautiful promises here, and amazing descriptions of what Israelites – ethnic Jews – will experience one day.

The chart (click link below) I have given you reviews and previews some key concepts.

Ch 1 thru 3 gets us started with the vision of the glory of the Lord and Ezekiel’s calling.

Ch 4-7 gave us action sermons predicting judgement: Ezekiel laid on his side, made bread, shaved his hair – because, as ch 6 described: the sin of idolatry was everywhere, and ch 7 made it clear that time was up – God’s judgment was very near.

But beginning in this section – and continuing thru the whole book – God makes His purpose absolutely clear: Israel will know that He is the LORD.

Ch 8-11 showed Ezekiel taken by vision to the temple in Jerusalem, where gross idolatry was described. And God took extreme measures – showing that His glory would leave the temple.

Ch 12-17 expose the sins of the leaders with more action sermons, proverbs and parables. The people believed false proverbs, prophets spoke foolishly, women practiced sorcery, elders were hypocrites.

Israel was described as a worthless vine and an unfaithful wife. Breaking their covenant with the Lord was shown as heartbreaking behavior.

In spite of this, God remained faithful and promised that He would do an amazing thing – He would, according to Ezekiel 16:62-63: “And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the LORD,  “that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,” says the Lord GOD.’ ”  

And when King Zedekiah was removed from the throne… God promised to plant the Tender One who would become a majestic cedar and reign with justice and righteousness from Mount Zion.

We’ve studied ch 18-21 where God’s justice was defended. The reasons for judgment on Israel were – in ch 18 – because individuals were held accountable for sin / in ch 19 – because kings were wicked / in ch 20 – because Israel had a history of rebellion / and in ch 21 – the consequences of the sins of individuals would be experienced.

It’s in ch 21 that we see that Israel will experience the devastating loss of their king… and their kingdom… and they will go into exile.

Ezekiel 21:26-27    this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Take off the turban, remove the crown. It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.  A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! It will not be restored until he comes to whom it rightfully belongs; to him I will give it.’

The people of Israel – the Jews – are a people in waiting… until…. He comes … the One to whom the crown belongs.

We have 2 more chapters in this section of judgment against Israel… then we move to the judgment against the nations who are neighbors – but not good neighbors.

And then – ch 33 thru 48 – such a glorious future for Israel is described. Restoration. Renewal. Reunion. And the temple and priesthood reestablished. I expect Ezekiel was overwhelmed with emotion when he heard about that.

The prophecies given by the LORD – through Ezekiel – were given to reveal the truth of God and His sovereignty , His glory and His promises.

The Lord is sovereign over Israel and over the affairs of the nations of the world.

By studying this book of prophecy, we see that God keeps His word. He did what He said He would do.

God is sovereign over your life as well. He will keep His word in your life and do what He says He will do.

He’s not finished with Israel, or with us.

He has an amazing future planned for all of us. Let’s keep our eyes on Him – in faith and obedience – as we see what He will do in this new year!