Title: Ezekiel
Contents
[Old Testament Prophets] - Ezekiel
Ezekiel - Prophet of Vision and Hope
1. Personal information
① Ezekiel means ‘God strengthens’ or ‘God is strong’.
② Son of Bush, the priest of Zadok (Ezekiel 1:3).
③ A prophet from priesthood who was active in Babylon during the exile (Ezekiel 1:1-3).
④ He saw many visions, prophesied the restoration of Israel, and was called “the prophet of vision and hope.”
⑤ During the second invasion of Babylon, prophetic activity was carried out for 22 years centered on Del Abib by the river Gebal (Ezekiel 1:12; 29:17).
⑥ His wife died early (Ezekiel 24:18).
2. Historical background
In 612 BC, Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, the largest power in the Middle and Near East, was destroyed by Nabopolassar of Babylon (625-606 BC), and Egypt was also on the road to collapse. 605-562 BC) was rapidly rising. At this time, King Jehoiakim (609-598 BC), king of Judah, ascended to the throne with the help of Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar, who defeated Pharaoh Necho (610-595 BC), king of Egypt, in the Euphrates in 605 BC. it became He became the vassal king of Babylon for the next three years. He served the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar for three years and then betrayed him (2 Kings 23:34-37; 24:1). After that, his son Jehoiachin stayed there for three months, and then in 597 B.C., he was taken to Babylon when Jerusalem was captured by Nebuchadnezzar's army, who went out the second time because of the betrayal of Judah (2 Kings 24:14-16). It is presumed that Ezekiel was also taken to Babylon at this time. After that, the last king of Judah, Zedekiah (597-586 B.C.), revolted against Babylon. In 586 Judah was completely overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:8-21).
The era in which Ezekiel was active was a tragic period in which Israel lost its national form in history. In this situation, Ezekiel conveyed to the people the hope that Israel would soon be restored and restored to its former glory.
3. Major Life
Before the Second Invasion of Babylon
birth
B.C. 623 years?
Babylon's 1st Invasion
B.C. 605
After the Second Invasion of Babylon
Taken captive to Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem
B.C. 597
Living with the captives by the river Chebar
"
Ezekiel 1:1;3:15-17
Called as a prophet in the 5th year of the Babylonian captivity
B.C. 593
Eze 1:1-3
See the group's fantasies
B.C. 593
Eze 1:4-28
Judgment Prophecy on Judah
593-588 B.C.
Ezekiel 4:1-24:27
Eat rice cakes baked with cow dung
B.C. 593
Ezekiel 4:4-17
Israel's Restoration Prophecy
593-571 B.C.
Ezekiel 33:1-48:35
persecuted by the people
B.C. 593
Ezekiel 3:25
Seeing a Vision of the Defiled Temple
B.C. 592
Ezekiel 8:11
I see a burnt vine fantasy
"
Ezekiel 15
wife's death
B.C. 588
Ezekiel 24:16-19
Proclamation of Judgment on the Nations
588-585 B.C.
Ezekiel 25:1-32:32
seeing the illusion of dry bones
B.C. 585
Ezekiel 37
There was a period of cessation of prophecy for 13 years
Ezekiel 32:17;40:1
seeing the water of life fantasy
B.C. 573
Ezekiel 47
death
4. character
① Judging from the fact that he carried out prophecy with a strangely symbolic act, he has a very passionate personality (Ezekiel 4:4-8; 5:1-4; 6:11; 12:2-7).
② His prophecies were full of allegorical symbols, so he was a man of rich sensibility (Ezekiel 4:4-17; 5:1-4:37).
③ He was a faithful person of obedience to the extent that he carried out unusual commands such as eating bread baked with cow dung and not mourning the death of his wife (Ezekiel 4:4-17) ; 12:3-5; 24:16-27).
④ Judging from the legend that he was killed while engaged in prophecy, he was a faithful person who was faithful to the end of his mission.
5. Redemption Historical Status
① Acts as a mediator between the captive Israel and God, preaching God's message and urging the people to repent. ② Having the office of a priest and a prophet at the same time implies the office of Christ who will come as the Redeemer (Ezekiel 1:3). ③ The fact that he was persecuted and killed while rebuking his people for their sins foreshadowed the path of the passion of Jesus, who came to save his people and was crucified by them (Ezekiel 3:25). ④ His life, in which he did not lose hope of restoration even in the state of his country's ruin, shows the life of a saint who must keep his faith in God without losing hope even in a situation where evil dominates good. ⑤ It shows rich prophecies not only of the restoration of Israel, but also of the New Testament church to be fulfilled by Christ and the Messianic kingdom after Christ's Second Coming (chapters 40-48).
6. Assessment and lessons learned
① When everything is prosperous and life is prosperous, everyone has hope for the future. However, when the dark days continue and there is no hope for tomorrow, it seems ignorant to have hope for the future. However, Ezekiel, who saw that history is moving under the sovereignty of God, did not lose hope of restoration even in the midst of the collapse of the nation (Ezekiel 33:1-48:35). When it is really difficult to have hope because there are factors that threaten our faith like this, it is more important for us believers to have strong hope.
② Ezekiel pointed out that the fall of Israel was clearly the result of their sins. This was really dangerous. The Israelites have already begun to worship their idols, and Ezekiel who rebukes the idols they worship for their idols cannot be reflected in their eyes (Ezekiel 3:25). Nevertheless, it is said that Ezekiel sharply pointed out their sins, and as a result he was even killed by his people. Likewise, we must remember that it is the mission of today's saints to courageously point out that 'sin is a sin', even in situations where their lives are threatened.
③ Ezekiel’s passion for preaching the word, who proclaimed the message with strange actions beyond the imaginable level of human common sense, sets a new alarm for today’s churches, which are increasingly neglecting the practice of evangelism (Ezekiel 4: 1-3; 5:1-4; 12:3-5; 21:3,6).
④ Ezekiel is a messenger who gives hope to the people of Judah in Babylon, and as their watchman (33:1-39:29), he brought hope to those who were mentally depressed. In this way, the good news of comfort and hope, the gospel, can be shared with those who are anxious amidst the worries and worries of today's world.
It is the duty of the saints that must be conveyed.
7. Key scriptures
“The word of the LORD will come especially to Ezekiel, the son of Bushi, the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Gebar, and the power of the LORD will be over me” (Ezekiel 1:3).