| Spending time in the Scriptures Ezekiel | by A. Kimber | |||||
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As we start to read Ezekiel it’s interesting to notice that Ezekiel was not sent to a people with a different language, but to those around him. Here we have another prophet who is sent to condemn the nation amongst which he lived. As we read through this book we also see that he was given a number of unique visions and signs to give to the people. We start with a vision that Ezekiel had. In his vision he sees four angels which were similar to men but who had four wings and four faces each. These faces are described as being the face of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. Over their heads was what appeared to be a throne with a man upon it; Ezekiel described it as the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So Ezekiel is sent to the children of Israel, he is told to not be afraid of them but to clearly bring the word of the Lord to them. He sees a scroll descend from God filled with lamentations, mourning and woe. Upon instruction Ezekiel eats this book a sign that these words were within him and would come from him. There is a lot of bloodshed throughout this book; at one point six men come, one with a writers ink-horn by his side, the others armed with weapons; these men are sent out by God in Ezekiel’s sight and they go through the city. As they passed through the first man marked everyone who was lusting after the abominations that were on every hand, as they follow the other five men slaughtered all those who have been marked. So it is that even outside the temple people are found kneeling, not facing the temple of the Lord, but with their backs to the temple facing east worshiping Gods of their own devices. The valley of dry bones is perhaps one of the best known parts of this book, here we see Ezekiel taken to a valley which is full of dry bones which have been bleached and dried by the sun. God’s question was whether or not these bones could live? Upon Gods instruction Ezekiel prophesies to the bones and they all start joining back together again, sinews and then flesh re-appears but there is no life. Once again on God’s instruction Ezekiel prophesies and the bodies come to life forming a large army. At the end of this book we see the temple measured out and proper order resumed by the Levites in the Lord’s service. However although Ezekiel is faithful throughout he did not always have it easy; on one notable occasion God warned him that his wife would be taken, shortly after this she died. Ezekiel was told not to mourn or shed a tear as a sign to the people that God would take everything from them. So Ezekiel teaches us some valuable lessons; we have not had opportunity to look at all the statements God brought through him against the various people who were around but you will have noticed even from this brief glimpse that he was faithful amongst his own people. How we should be careful to stand up for the Lord not thinking that we have to go to some far-off land to serve Him but realising that there is a work right where we are for us to do. Key Verses
And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.
Ezekiel 2:2
When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Ezekiel 3:18
Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
Ezekiel 8:15-16
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Ezekiel 33:31 As always we welcome comments and suggestions, would you have selected different verses? Let me know what you think, it’s always good to get some feedback. You can e-mail me at a.kimber@assemblyyouth.net
All quotes are from the King James version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. | ||||||
Lord's return
Dare to be a Daniel