Bible Study for Pr-Servants The Major Prophetic Books

Bible Study for Pr-Servants The Major Prophetic Books Mj. P 3: The Book of Ezekiel The Prophet and Priest Dec 10, 2011

Content I. III. IV. V. VI. Introduction. Features of the Book Outline Interesting topics & Applications. What I learned Questions & Comments

I. Introduction • Meaning: God is strong, God strengthens, God hardens • Key verse : Ezekiel 37: 13, 14… Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD , when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD. ' "

• Author: Ezekiel ( Priest & Prophet) • Date : Approx. 593 BC – 570 (? ) BC • Background - International Upheaval : Fall of the northern kingdom of Israel (722 BC) : Fall of Assyrians kingdom (612 BC) : Exiles by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (597 BC) : Fall of Jerusalem (586 BC) - kings of Judah : King Josiah (640 – 609 BC) : King Jehoiachin (609 -598 BC) • Theme – God’s sovereignty over all creation – God’s unfailing love & Judgment – Glory of God

II. Features in the Book • Oracles of God : Direct God’s words concerning judgment upon the people of Israel and the nations. • Son of Man > I, the Lord • Visions • • • four living creatures the glorious appearance of God sins of Israel dry bones the temple & the city of God • Symbolism and allegories • Israel conditions (unfaithfulness, sins, exile etc) • God’s judgment and love

III. Outline I. God’s coming judgment upon Israel (1 – 24) 2. God’s coming judgment upon the nations (25 – 32) 3. Restoration & Glory of God (33 -39, 40 -48)

I. God’s coming judgment upon Israel (1 – 24) • • • Ezekiel’s vision of the four creatures & the glory of God (1) Ezekiel’s call and response ( 2 – 3) God’s warning against Israel’s sins and the coming judgment upon her (15 -23) God’s warnings and coming judgment upon leaders of Israel (11, 13, 19) Jerusalem seized and the death of Ezekiel’s wife (24) II. God’s coming judgment upon the nations (25 – 32) • • • Prophecy against Ammon (Amman, Jordan) (25) Prophecy against Moab (along the Dead Sea) (25) Prophecy against Edom (south of the Dead Sea) (25) Prophecy against Philistia (Palestine) (25) Prophecy against Tyre (Lebanon) (26 – 28) Prophecy against Egypt (29 – 32) III. Restoration & Glory of God (33 -39, 40 -48) • • • Ezekiel – Watchman of Israel per God’s request (33) Shepherds’ responsibilities in shepherding the Sheep (34) Vision of Dry bones (prophecy of resurrection of the people of Israel) (37) Vision of Gog (prophecy of war between Satan and God’s people) (38, 39 => Revelation 20: 8) Vision of New Temple (prophecy of the birth of the New Testament’s church) (43) The “Shut Gate” (Incarnation of the Lord and St. Mary’s ever-virginity) (44) River of the Temple (prophecy on the sacrament of Baptism) (47) Division of the land among the tribes but each is connected to the other (unity) (48 a) The city of God for all, Jews and Gentiles (48 b)

IV. Interesting Topics and Applications • Ezekiel’s obedient life • Israel’s sins listed (God’s warning of Judgment against sins ) • Sins of the Nations • Warning against shepherds and leaders • God’s True Love, Hope & Glory

1. Ezekiel’s obedient life - received God’s call - called to be a watchman - commanded to shut himself not to rebuke the sins of Israel - asked to go in exile in a daytime - asked to lie down on his sides for 390+40 days - asked to eat dry food made using human excrement - asked to shave his head and beard with a sharp sword - commanded not to weep or wail for the death of his wife

2. Israel’s sins listed : God’s warning of Judgment against sins - Not listen to God - a rebellious house (repeated over many times) - Idolatry in the temple by the elders of Israel ( 8, 9, 14) - Defiling the temple - Breaking the Sabbath - Not obeying God’s laws and decrees - Wickedness (saying that God is unjust, while doing wicked things) - Blood-shedding (Jerusalem – full of violence)

3. Sins of the Nations - Wickedness by clapping and rejoicing for the fall of Israel - Not acknowledging God’s sovereignty (Pharaoh in Egypt : 29: 9… Nile is main and I made it) - Not providing shelters for refugees of Israel

4. Warning against shepherds and leaders (Chapter 34) - Watchman’s responsibilities : to warn the sinful men of God’s judgment - An evil man will be saved if he turns way from evil - A son will not share his father’s sins - Shepherds responsibilities to take care of sheep, not their first interests

5. God’s True Love - God’s genuine love toward Jerusalem was expressed in the Parable of Unfaithful Woman (Ch 16) o I made her grow … and made the most beautiful of jewels…. I bathe her, put bracelets on her arms, put a ring on her nose, … put a beautiful crown on her. …She became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. But she took the fine jewelry God gave and made idols and engaged in prostitution with others” o Rid of yourselves of all the offenses, why will you die, house of Israel? ” o For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live. ” (18: 31, 32)

6. God’s Hope - Hope of Restoration of Israel prophesied in Chapters 10, 20, 34, 37 o I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down. I will search for he lost and bring back the strays…. I will shepherd the flock with justice. (34: 15 -16) o my dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my People (37: 27) - God’s hope and power revealed in ch 37 : The vision of the dry bones in the valley. : Israel’s Condition : Dry bones – No hope : Ezekiel was asked , "Son of man, can these bones live? ” (37: 3)

6. God’s Hope (Continued) : This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones. I will make breath enter you and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord (v 5, 6) : So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet-a vast army. (v 10) : Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off. ' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

7. The Glory of God - New temple and the river of life (43, 47, 48) => Rev 22: 1… River of life flowing from the throne of God o Chapter 43: The glory of God returned. Son of man describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins” (43: 10). o Chapter 47: Water coming from under the threshold of the temple toward the east: : The water was rising up that no one could cross : Swarms of living creatures will live there : There will be large number of fish and were the river flows, every thing will live (47: 3 -9) o Chapter 48: The city of God is equivalent to New Jerusalem (Rev 21). “and the name of the city from that time on will be: “THE LORD IS THERE” (48: 35)

V. Things that I learned - God’s true love – who I was, how God raised me up, who God is. : I must accept and acknowledge God’s sovereignty over my life - Shepherd responsibilities : I must do shepherd jobs to bring God’s word to the children - God’s hope and Glory : There is hope because of the living and almighty God. : I have to seek God’s glory and know God is there.

Ezekiel Revelation Figures resembling four living beings (1: 8 -10, 10: 14) · Face of a man · Face of a lion · Face of a bull · Face of an eagle Four living creatures (4: 6 -7) · Like a lion · Like a calf · Face like a man · Flying eagle

Ezekiel’s Vision John’s Revelation A Temple within the City The New Jerusalem Ezekiel is taken in this vision to a very high mountain (40: 2) A man uses a rod to measure the dimensions of the temple (40: 5 -ff) l l The entire temple area is a perfect square (42: 15 -20) l l The presence of the glory of the Lord enters the temple (43: 3 -4) l l John is carried in the Spirit to a great and high mountain (21: 10) An angel measures the city with a rod (21: 15 -17) The entire city is a perfect cube (21: 16) No need of sun or moon because the Lord illumines His city (22: 5)

Ezekiel’s Vision John’s Revelation A Temple within the City The New Jerusalem No foreigner is admitted into the temple (44: 9) l Nothing unclean and no unbeliever is allowed into the city (21: 8, 27) l A river of water flows out of the temple (47: 1) l A river of the water of life comes from the throne of God (22: 1) l There a total of 12 gates around the city (48: 30 -34) l There are 12 gates to the city (21: 21) The name of the city shall be: “The Lord is there” (48: 35). l The throne of God shall be there (22: 3) l l