WEEK 1 – BOOK OF EZEKIEL - Chapters 1-14

EZEKIEL’S PROPHECIES PRIOR TO SOLOMON’S TEMPLE BEING DESTROYED

PREPARATION
PROPHECIES OF JUDGMENT ON JERUSALEM
OF EZEKIEL

GLORY JUDGMENT CAPTIVITY

ON THE SYMBOLIZED
DEPARTS WICKED JUDGMENT
IDOLATRY
THE FOUR LIVING
TO BE A PROPHET

LEADERS
EZEKIEL CALLED

REVEALED
EZEKIEL’S
THE SCROLL

NOT
CREATURES

DESTRUCTION THE ISRAEL

IDOLATRY
AGAINST THE COMING RESTORED
SHARP POSTPONED WILL BE
MOUNTAINS DAY OF TO THEIR
PUNISHED
OF ISRAEL JUDGMENT IDOLATORS LAND
SWORD
TO BE
KILLED

GOOD FIGS
SECOND CONDEMNATION
AND BAD
VISION OF

CHAPTERS 1-3 CHAPTERS 4-7 CHAPTERS 8-10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTERS 12-14

 NATION OF ISRAEL SPLITS INTO TWO KINGDOMS WHEN SOLOMON DIES IN 931 B.C.

 NORTHERN TRIBE (KNOWN AS ISRAEL) TAKEN INTO ASSYRIAN CAPTIVITY IN 721 B.C.

 SOUTHERN TRIBE (KNOWN AS JUDAH) TAKEN INTO BABYLON CAPTIVITY IN 605 B.C.

 TEMPLE DESTROYED AND JERUSALEM SEIZED IN 587 B.C. (SOLOMON’S TEMPLE)

 EZEKIEL’S PROPHETIC YEARS WERE 593 B.C. TO 573 B.C.

 EZEKIEL DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE “CHURCH AGE”

WEEK 1 PAGE 4
  EZEKIEL’S PROPHECIES STARTED 7 YEARS PRIOR TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE

What is the purpose of the book of Ezekiel? I am glad you asked.

The whole book covers a 22 year period, 6 years before Jerusalem’s destructions and 16 years after.

A. “They shall know that I am God” appears 62 times in the book

B. To dispel any hope among the Israelites that the captivity might be short

C. To prove God’s case against Israel, showing the Israelites why they were in captivity.

D. To cause the people to repent of their sins

E. To give hope

Main Outline:

Ezekiel prepared as a prophet: he was a priest that was called to be a prophet (Ch. 1-3).

Ezekiel predicts Judgment on Kingdom of Judah (Ch. 4-24)

Ezekiel predicts Judgment on Gentile Nations. (Ch. 25-32)

Ezekiel prophecies blessings on the nation of Israel (Ch. 33-48).

Background

After Solomon died then Israel split into two kingdoms (which made them weak and open to attacks-as to why they split that
involves more than I can cover here, but think politics):

1. Northern Kingdom (10 tribes) known as Israel (even today they are called the 10 lost tribes of Israel, because they
never came back together)

2. Southern Kingdom (2 tribes-Judah & Benjamin) known as Judah

WEEK 1 PAGE 5
First the Northern Kingdom is taken into Assyrian captivity (721 BC). Then Southern tribe (Judah) was the group taken into
Babylonian captivity (605 BC). We will get into the “good figs” and “bad figs in Chapter 11, but know the “good figs” are the
ones in Babylonian captivity, the “bad figs” are the ones that remained in Israel. The ones in Babylonian captivity are promised
a return from exile (Ezekiel 14:22-23). Zedekiah stayed behind to rule over the remnant as the leader of the “bad figs.”
(Jeremiah 24:8-10)

Both Kingdoms were not doing right in the site of God and both will be punished, but God in his grace told the people if they go
into Babylonian captivity as their punishment then they are promised a return from exile. The ones who remained will be
severely punished.

God uses Ezekiel as a prophet to the exiles and the remaining Jews in Jerusalem, although he never actually went there.

*****************************************************************

Ezekiel Chapters 1-3

It is a blessing when God speaks to us, but we are responsible to share the good word he does share. We are not to learn and
then tuck it away; we need to speak God’s truth.

We begin this study with the Israelites in their 5th year of Babylonian captivity (Ezekiel 1:2). God uses prophet Ezekiel to strike
terror into the sinners, and bless the ones who fear God.

FYI: The exiles in Babylonia captivity were not in inhuman conditions. They were able to build houses and live in them. Plant
gardens, marry, and have children. While in Babylonia they were relatively free and were not considered slaves. (Jeremiah 29:
5-7)

While in captivity Ezekiel was given a series of visions and was commanded to speak to his fellow captives. Ezekiel was told to
speak whether they listened or not (Ezekiel 2:7).

Ezekiel 1:4–3:15 Vision of four living creatures (Ezekiel 1:10).

1. The first had the face of a man. (possibly representing intelligence)

2. The second had the face of a lion. (possibly representing man as a ruler-strength & boldness)

WEEK 1 PAGE 6
 3. Third the face of an ox. (possibly representing man in his power-diligence & patience)

4. The fourth the face of an eagle. (possibly representing man in his nobility-quickness & piercing sight.)

All four were to represent the Glory of God.

In Ezekiel 2 we see God reached out and handed Ezekiel a scroll (Ezekiel 2:9-10). Here is where he is officially commissioned to
deliver God’s message to the House of Israel (currently in Babylonian captivity). In Matthew Henry’s commentary it says,
“Gracious souls can receive those truths of God with delight, which speak terror to the wicked.” The same words can have the
opposite effect, depending on the state of your heart.

What the scroll contained:

1. “Written words of lament and mourning and woe.”

2. God warned Ezekiel the people would be unyielding and hardened (Ezekiel 3:8).

3. God also said Ezekiel would be held responsible if he did not warn the people of Israel.

God lifted Ezekiel up and took him to the captives near Chebar River, where he sat silent for the next 7 days (Ezekiel 3:15).
After God revealed the words of the scroll Ezekiel was so overcome with grief, but also very overwhelmed after seeing the
Glory of God.

Has there ever been a time in your life when God spoke a word over you, or blessed you unexpectedly that all you could do
was sit there and try to take it all in?

Ezekiel was floored, but he also was deeply grieved because he saw the wrath that was going to come upon the nation he
loved.

After the 7 days God told Ezekiel to go out to the valley, where he will speak with him again. God then told Ezekiel that he was
going to make him mute until God was ready for him to speak.

What I like about this text was that it was not Ezekiel’s job to make people listen; each individual is responsible for their own
response. God only made Ezekiel responsible to say what God told him to say and when he told him to say it.

WEEK 1 PAGE 7
Have a great Friday and remember you are not responsible for other’s reactions, only responsible to share what God has done
in your life.

1. How many years does the book of Ezekiel cover?

2. What theme appears throughout the book of Ezekiel? (remember it and apply it to all you learn throughout this book. )

3. What does the vision of the four creatures represent?

4. Describe in your own words how you think Ezekiel felt after witnessing God’s glory, but at the same time seeing the
wrath of God that is coming towards the nation he loves?

5. Many times we don’t witness to others because we “KNOW” how they are going to respond. We know they will shut us
down. What is our responsibility towards non believers?

WEEK 1 PAGE 8
WEEK 1 PAGE 9