This is actually the first time I have read the whole book of Ezekiel. I’m a little nervous, to be honest. Thanks for taking the plunge with me. Here we go!
Ezekiel was in exile with the others from Jerusalem. He writes in 1:1 that he was standing by the river and he “saw visions of God.” He sees four human-like figures, each with four faces (human, lion, bull, eagle) four wings (two for flying, two for covering) and straight legs with calves’ hooves. Their wings are touching, and inside the figures are wheels within wheels, the rims of the wheels being full of eyes.
Whenever I try to read the book of Ezekiel, I get about this far (the end of chapter 1) get a headache, and quit. But this time I will go on. Ezekiel sees a throne and a glorious figure made of glowing metal and fire. He has seen the glory of the LORD.
God gives him a scroll to eat, sweet as honey, and also a job: “Take my message to my people.” It won’t be a happy message, for they are a stubborn and stiff-necked people, but they need it.
Ezekiel has to survive several object lessons as well. He goes into his house, where he is tied up and not allowed to leave. He goes mute temporarily. He builds a model of the city of Jerusalem and shows how it will be attacked. He also has to lay on his left side for so many days and then on his right side (the days representing the number of years of Israel’s wickedness). Next Ezekiel was allowed to eat only a minimal amount of bread, cooked by burning human dung. Yes, he had to burn poop to cook his food. This, of course, made the bread unclean and Ezekiel unclean by extension. For the first time, Ezekiel complains. God lets him burn cow chips instead. Still gross, but not unclean. Ezekiel then has to cut off his own hair and beard (which brings shame) and dispose of it in the same ways Israel’s people will be disposed of: some by fire, some by the sword, and some blown away by the wind.
God is so angry at the abomination of Israel’s idolatry (abomination is God’s favorite word for a while). In 6:9 God says: “How I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from me...” Not only were they flagrantly disobedient, their idolatry actually caused God pain.
Once again the glory of the LORD appears and Ezekiel is shown visions of Jerusalem. He sees “the idol of jealousy” (the idol of which God is jealous) which has been placed in the Temple. Ezekiel is shown greater and greater abominations, some in secret and some in the open, all involving the worship of false gods.
In chapter 9, the glory of the God of Israel which rested in the Holy of Holies gets up and leaves. It (the Bible uses the word “it”) goes to the door of the Temple and calls for the slaughter of those who worship idols. Even in this horror, a remnant is preserved. This same glory rises up from the Temple and move to the East gate of Jerusalem. The people were probably so busy with their idolatry they didn’t even notice. Finally, the glory of the LORD leaves the city and goes to the mountain to the east, abandoning them to their destruction.
Time is running out. Destruction will not be held back any more. Some of the people are already in exile, but Jerusalem will soon fall. Not even the righteousness of Noah, Daniel, and Job will save these people (they would have known Daniel, because he was alive at the time).
In our last chapter this week, chapter 16, God revisits the history of Israel. He compares the nation to a girl left abandoned and alone, yet adopted by a loving God who clothed her with beauty and righteousness. The nation has perverted that beauty with their idolatry. They have prostituted themselves, playing the harlot with false gods, and now the payment is due for their actions. As is the pattern, God says at the end that He will renew and restore them. The remnant is remembered.
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