EZEKIEL was in captivity in Babylon. He tells us that he was by the river Chebar, when the “heavens were opened,” and he “saw visions of God.” Most likely he went out with Jehoiachin, when he and others were carried to Babylon. (2 Kings 24:12, 25:4, and Ezekiel 1:22In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, (Ezekiel 1:2).) It was not till eleven years after that Zedekiah was carried into captivity. During the interval Ezekiel prophesied, and particularly concerning the city of Jerusalem. Judgment characterized his ministry. He was instructed concerning the siege, famine, and ruin of Jerusalem. He calls it “the bloody city;” declares that she maketh idols against herself to defile herself; and foretells Zedekiah’s captivity. His prophecies include Israel as well as Judah. As usual with all God’s servants, he is remarkably made to feel the real state of His people, and has blessed thoughts given him of their future blessing in their own land. The first section of the book may be said to include the first seven chapters. First of all, the prophet had a vision of the likeness of the glory of God, not in the city, but out of the north, which caused him to fall upon his face, when he heard the voice of one that spake. (chapter 1) He is then sent to a rebellious and stiff-hearted people. (chapter 2) He is commanded to eat the roll which he saw; and the Spirit takes him up, and lifts him up, for he must thoroughly enter into the true character of things before he utters his prophetic testimony. He is to hear the word at God’s mouth. (chapter 3) He is then told to portray on a tile the siege of the city of Jerusalem; to lie on his left side 390 days (a day for a year), to bear the iniquity of Israel; and on his right side forty days for Judah’s iniquity lie is to make bread and bake it; for God will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment. (chapter 4). The prophet is then commanded to out off hair from his head and beard, and divide it into three parts; and is told that “a fire shall come forth into all the house of Israel.” “This is Jerusalem.” A third part shall die with pestilence and famine; a third part fall by the sword; and a third part be scattered to the winds. (chapter 5). Judgment, however, is to extend beyond Jerusalem, to all the high places on all the mountains of Israel, and against all their altars, images, and works; and their bones shall be scattered round about your altars. He that is far off shall die of pestilence, and he that is near shall die with the sword. Nevertheless, God will have a remnant. (chapter 6). The desolations of the whole land are then described. (chapter 7).
The next four chapters may be read together. Ezekiel is sitting in his house with the elders of Judah before him. He sees in the vision of the chambers of imagery the wicked abominations of the people, what they “do in the dark,” for they say, the Lord seeth us not; and at “the door of the temple of the Lord” (not then destroyed) he saw “about five and twenty men, with their backs turned toward the temple of the Lord, worshipping the sun.” (chapter 8). Therefore unsparing judgment follows, and all are slain except those who “sigh and cry for all the abominations” in the midst of Jerusalem. (chapter 9). The glory of the Lord now filled the temple with a cloud, and then departed from off the threshold of the house. (chapter 10:4,18.) The mischief of the princes of Israel in giving wicked counsel to the people is now exposed, and they must be judged by the sword in the border of Israel. But to the prophet’s inquiry, “Ah, Lord God! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?” God says “He will be as a little sanctuary” to those already scattered among the heathen, and that they shall be gathered back to the land of Israel; that they shall have one heart; that He will put a new spirit within them, and then they shall walk in His statutes, keep His ordinances, &c. The glory of the Lord then went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east of the city, which, on comparing with Zechariah 14:3,3Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:3) will be found to be the mount of Olives, whence the Lord ascended, and on which His feet shall stand again, when He comes to establish Jerusalem, and make it a praise in the whole earth. (chapter 11:23.)
In chapter 12 Zedekiah’s captivity is foretold. In chapter 13 Ezekiel pronounces judgments upon the lying prophets who had made the hearts of the righteous sad. (verse 22.) In chapter 14 the elders of Israel again sit before him, whom be calls on to “Rent,” and pronounces the most terrible judgments upon Jerusalem and the people of Israel for their sins; yet he regards every righteous person, and declares there shall be left a remnant. (verse 22.) Is not “the vine” only fit for burning unless it bear fruit? (chapter 15) Then the prophet is called to “cause Jerusalem to know her abominations.” God’s compassionate ways and dealings are rehearsed in detail, and Jerusalem’s sad ways; nevertheless, God says, “I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant, that they may remember and be confounded, and never open their mouth anymore, because of thy shame when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord.” (chapter 16)
But judgment must fall on Zedekiah for his deep sin against God, in breaking the covenant, and despising the solemn oath he had made with Nebuchadnezzar. God will spread His net, and bring him to Babylon; all his fugitives shall fall by the sword, and they that remain be scattered toward all winds. (chapter 17) The next chapter shows that the people are judged according to their own conduct, and not according to the iniquity of their fathers. (chapter 18) The fall of the kings of Judah, and ruin of the royal family of David, are there parabolically set forth. (chapter 19)
The next four chapters give us another section of this prophetic book. The prophet is reminded that God had redeemed Israel out of Egypt. But they rebelled against Him in the wilderness, so that He thought to have consumed them; but He wrought for His name sake, His eye spared them, and He also warned them. And when He brought them into the land, they polluted themselves with idols, and so continued to rebel, that He must deal in fury with them. (verse 33.) But the outcasts of Israel, the ten tribes, shall yet be gathered out of the countries wherein they are scattered, and be brought into the wilderness, caused to pass “under the rod,” that “the rebels” among them may be purged out, and not enter the land of Israel; for all Israel shall yet serve God in His holy mountain, and He will accept them with their savor of rest, when they shall loathe themselves in their own sight for all the evils that they have committed. (chapter 20)
But now against Jerusalem the sword of vengeance is drawn out of its sheath, and God will pour out His indignation. The king of Babylon shall come and cast a mount, and build a fort against the city, and carry off profane, wicked Zedekiah. God “will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more until Ha come whose right it is.” (chapter 21) The sins of the idolatrous and bloody city are then rehearsed (chapter 22); also the sins of Samaria and Jerusalem in committing whoredom with Egypt, and the children of Babel (verse 17, margin); so that terrible punishment and abasing from God must follow. (Chap. 23.) The great wickedness of Jerusalem is described in the parable of the boiling pot, and the summary judgment of God upon it will be like the death of the prophet’s wife. (chapter 24)
Various nations who have either despised or oppressed God’s people are now threatened; viz., the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, Philistines, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt, and those in league with them, which occupy the next eight chapters 25-32) It is blessed to observe how the prophet’s heart is sustained by knowing that when God shall have executed judgment upon all those who despised Israel, He will bring Israel again in blessing into their own land. (chapter 28:25, 26.)
After stating that God will deal with His people according to their individual state, and again declaring that He will lay the land desolate, because of their abominations (chapter 33), he exposes the evil conduct of the shepherds, at whose hands God will require His flock; for He will yet save His flock, and “will’ judge between cattle and cattle,” and “set up ONE:SHEPHERD over them,” and make the place round about His hill a blessing. (chapter 34) The fall of Mom for their perpetual hatred to Israel occupies the next chapter. (chapter 35)
God’s love and compassion for Israel, gathering them out of all the countries whither He had scattered them, and bringing them into their own land, cleansing them from all their filthiness, giving them a new heart, putting His Spirit in them, and making them a holy flock, are then touchingly set forth (chapter 36), and followed by their national restoration, or resurrection, the two sticks, Judah and Israel, being made one in God’s hand, and one king over them all. (chapter 37) Then we have the judgment of Gog for coming against the land of Israel, when God’s people were thus dwelling safely. (chapters 38, 39)
The last nine chapter give us “the visions of God” which Ezekiel saw concerning Israel’s land and temple in millennial times. The whole plan of the house was given him, and he saw it filled with the glory of the Lord. Holiness was the law of it. He speaks, too, of “the Prince” which God will raise up in Israel, as also of the sacrifices which will then be offered, the feasts to be observed, the division of the land among the twelve tribes by straight lines drawn from east to west, and the priest’s portion; also the waters issuing from under the threshold of the house, and the trees, with unfading leaf, on either side of the river, showing the overflowing character of living blessing God will then give. The name of the city will be Jehovah-Shammah, “The Lord is there.”
It is interesting to notice, as to the sacrifices then offered, there will be the burnt-offering, meat-offering, peace-offering, trespass-offering, and sin-offering; for, as the psalmist tells us, “Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.” (Psalms 51:1919Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. (Psalm 51:19).) With regard to the feasts, the Passover will be observed, because redemption is the basis of all their blessing; the Sabbath, for it will be emphatically a time of rest; and the new moon, because it is a renewed and reflected glory that they will enjoy. (See Colossians 2:1717Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:17).) We learn from Zechariah, that the feast of tabernacles will also be kept, for it will be a time of peculiar joy. We have not Pentecost here, type of the gift of the Holy Ghost on the fiftieth day to form the Church, the body of Christ, for obvious reasons. All here is Jewish. With all their wondrous blessings, they will not know, as we do, what it is in spirit to go inside the wail. “The miry places and the marishes” seem the exceptions to blessing; for they are “not healed,” but “given to salt.”