Ezekiel— the Watchman Prophet
08.24.22
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me. (Ezekiel 3:17)
Ezekiel was a priest who was called to be a prophet to Judah before and during the Babylonian captivity. His name in the Hebrew means ‘God strengthens,’ or ‘Strengthened by God.’ He was among those taken to Babylon in 597 by Nebuchadnezzar, ten years before the fall of Jerusalem. He began preaching in the sixth year of his captivity. He was twenty-five years old when taken captive, and he began his ministry at the age of thirty, the normal age for a priest to begin his ministry.
He demonstrated a priestly focus with his concern for the temple, the priesthood, the sacrifices and the glory (Shekinah) of God. He was married, though his wife died the day that Jerusalem was attacked. He lived in a house of his own, and along with his fellow exiles, had a relatively free existence.
He and Daniel are called the exilic prophets because they prophesied during the exile, the time that Judah was in captivity in Babylon (586-516 BC). They may have known each other in Judah, but there is no evidence that they saw each other in Babylon.
While Jeremiah remained at Jerusalem after the exile, Ezekiel ministered to the Jewish nobility exiled in Babylon. He sought to help his people understand the reasons for the exile. They had deluded themselves into thinking, and the false prophets were telling them, that this captivity would be very short. Following the fall of Jerusalem, he had to keep those reasons before those born in captivity. These children would be the ones who would return to Jerusalem in 70 years. The illustrations that he used in his ministry appear to be geared to children.
That they may know that I am God is a constant refrain.
From the key verse noted above, we learn that he was to be a ‘watchman,’ warning Judah of its sins [chapters 1-24] and giving promise of a bright future [33-48]. Instructions are given as to the exactly how God wants the next temple to be built.
Ezekiel saw three visions of the glory of God. In the first vision [chapter 1] He saw God’s glory as transcendent over the nation. In the second [8-11] he saw it’s tragic departure as God forsook Jerusalem. And in the third [40-48] He saw it’s return—it will one day do so in the glorious Millennial Kingdom.
There are some very interesting prophetic sections. One deals with the King of Tyre, a picture of Satan [28]. Another [37] deals with the valley of dry bones, a picture of Israel’s resurrection as a nation which was partially fulfilled May 14, 1948. The two sticks joined together picture the Northern and Southern Kingdoms being reunited on day. A third concerns the battle of Gog and Magog [38, 39] when a great coalition of nations attacks Israel only to be destroyed by the Lord. This could happen any day!
Our wonderful Lord Jesus is revealed as a tender sprig on a high and lofty mountain, the Branch, the King who has the right to rule, and as the True Shepherd.
Do you know this Jesus as your own personal Savior? He died for your sins and rose again for your justification. If you trust in Him, you will be forgiven. Oh how wonderful He is!