The Prophecy of Ezekiel

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1 NCA CHURCH Bible Studies 2010 The Prophecy of Ezekiel 6 Thematic Studies

2 Ezekiel Ezekiel: an introduction Judgment in the book of Ezekiel God and the nations in the book of Ezekiel Ezekiel and the new exodus, covenant and promised land Ezekiel and the prince-king Ezekiel and the new temple

3 Ezekiel PT 1: An introduction Events on the World Stage Ezekiel was born into the turbulent world of the 7 th Century BC. The major players on the ancient Near Eastern stage were switching roles at this time. For centuries the Assyrians (a nation to the north east of Israel) had dominated the region. And, as we read in 2 Kings 17:5-6, Assyria was used as the rod of God s anger (Isa 10:5) to punish and exile the idolatrous Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722BC. And yet, having overextended themselves, eventually the Assyrian empire was also to decline. And it was the Babylonian empire (to the East of Israel) that was poised to rise and become dominant, under the leadership of the great Nebuchadnezzar. It was at the battle of Carchemish in 605BC, that Babylon stamped its authority on the world stage, driving the Assyrians off the map, and forcing a resurgent Egyptian nation back to their homeland with their tail between their legs. Battles and skirmishes ensued, as Babylon consolidated and expanded its empire, annexing and occupying surrounding countries. And as you can see from the map, Judah (the Southern Kingdom of Israel) was piggy in the middle during this time. Figure 1. The grey straight line shows the Assyrian Empire. The dark dotted line shows the later Babylonian Empire. Israel are the coastal strip east of the Mediterranean sea.

4 Judah s eventual demise and exile This historical context sets the scene for the book of Ezekiel. As we know, because of their growing sin and unfaithfulness, eventually the Southern Kingdom of Judah (like the Northern Kingdom before them) was exiled and deported off to Babylon. This happened in waves. In around 597BC, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took some of the nobility (like Daniel & his friends cf. Dan 1:1-5) to Babylon in a first wave. However King Jehoiakim (the king of Judah at the time) was not inclined to comply with Nebuchadnezzar, and rebelled against him. Nebuchadnezzar responded swiftly, mounting a 3 month siege of Jerusalem, which brought it to its knees. At this time, king Jehoiakim was captured and executed (Jer 22:18-23; 36:30), and his son Jehoiachin was installed (by Nebuchadnezzar) in his place. However, like his Father, Jehoiachin was not inclined to comply also, and he called to Egypt for aid, to try and keep Babylon at bay. Again, Nebuchadnezzar was not pleased, and responded by exiling the King and Queen of Judah (Ezek 1:2), and many royal officers & leading citizens, and taking vast amounts of Judean wealth off to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel was exiled to Babylon during this second wave of deportations. And he conducted his prophetic ministry to the people of God, who were already in exile, having been resettled by the Kebar River in Babylon (Ezekiel 1:1). During this time, Ezekiel prophesied the complete destruction of Jerusalem (Ezek 4:1-5:17), & after a year long siege, Jerusalem finally fell in 586BC. Zedekiah (Judah s new vassal King) was captured, and his sons were executed in front of him, before his own eyes were removed, and he was taken in chains to Babylon (2 Kings 25:1-21; Jer. 52:9-11). Jerusalem was levelled to the ground. The nation of Judah had seemingly vanished. And it is these themes of judgement and God s promised restoration of his people that consume the ministry of Ezekiel, and flavour the book that bears his name. Ezekiel & his prophetic style So who then was Ezekiel? All that we know of Ezekiel, we learn from this collection of prophecies that bears his name. In chapter 1:3 Ezekiel is identified as a priest, the son of Buzi. This explains why he was included in the deportation of 597BC, for he belonged to the nobility of Judah - the Priesthood. Ezekiel s style of prophecy was unique, sometimes even bizarre. And yet, it was a form of prophecy, required of him ultimately by God. Ezekiel s agenda is clear: he was to call God s people to repentance, and a changed life. And yet, the modes by which he does this are many. He combines legal addresses; disputations; figurative addresses, laments, oracles of woe. But perhaps the most unusual mode of prophetic activity he is remembered for, are his many sign-acts he performed. Israel s prophets elsewhere used props and presented their message with symbolic sign-actions. For examples, see: o Jeremiah (Jer. 16:2, 27:2, 28:10, 32:8-15) o Isaiah (Isa. 20:2) o Hosea s marriage to a prostitute (Hos. 1:2, 3:1) But let s take a look at Ezekiel s symbolic ministry. We will concentrate on just 5 signacts. For each sign-act, note down what Ezekiel does, and what it symbolizes?

5 4:1-3 Sign-act Significance 4:4-8 4:9-17 5:1-4 24:17-24 The picture we get from this survey, is that Ezekiel was called to both vicariously bear the suffering of Israel on himself (he s a priest) & also bear the shame that accompanies the preaching of God s word (cf. John 21:18-19; Acts 9:15, 16). He became a prophetic symbol of Israel, anticipating the power of the divine wrath that he proclaimed. Structure and message of the book It is generally agreed that, the book s structure naturally falls out like this: Chs. 1-24: visions, symbolic actions and oracles, chiefly of judgment directed against the temple and land Chs : oracles of judgment against the nations Chs : oracles, symbolic actions and visions, chiefly of restoration afforded to the temple and land Within each major section, there are further subsections. And it appears that the book has been carefully compiled, with clear structuring. The opening vision of the glory of Yahweh that dominates chapters 1-3, is matched and surpassed by the closing vision of the glory of Yahweh returning to his temple, people and land in chapters The commissioning of the prophet to be a watchman occurs at the beginning of his ministry in chapter 3, and is then repeated at the fresh start heralded by the news of the fall of Jerusalem in chapter 33. In chapter 6 Ezekiel addresses the mountains of Israel with words of coming judgement, desolation and desertion. In chapter 36 he addresses the same mountains, but with words of coming restoration, repopulation and renewed fertility and abundance. Chapter 7 proclaims that the end has come, bringing death to the whole community. Chapter 37 proclaims that even dead bones can live when the powerful breath of God breathes on them, and promises Israel resurrection from the grave itself.

6 It is this clear structure, that not only charts and follows the career of Ezekiel himself, with its two major phases; but it also helps illuminate the core theological truth of the book itself, and indeed of the entire bible: judgement precedes grace. As it was for Israel in exile, so it is for us and all people: we have to hear and accept bad news about the reality of our sin and the terribleness of God s reaction to it, before we can respond with joy and gratitude to the good news of God s incredible mercy, grace and purposes for ourselves and for his world. This is the message of Ezekiel. Now to these studies... As is our custom, we will be following the book of Ezekiel in our weekly sermon series at church sequentially, taking a few chapters at a time. But in these studies, we will be taking the book thematically, and trying to get a picture for some of the larger and pervasive themes in the book. We hope that this will enrich our appreciation of the book, during our weekly church services.

7 Ezekiel Pt 1: quiz (to be done at the beginning of study 2) 1. Where did Israel go into exile in the 6 th century? Babylon 2. When was the first deportation of exiles to Babylon, and who went? 597, the leadership and educated were exiled first 3. When was the rest of Judah exiled to Babylon? Did Ezekiel begin his ministry: before the first deportation before the second deportation between the second deportation and the fall of Jerusalem. 5. What was Ezekiel s profession? Priest 6. How old was Ezekiel when God changed his career path from priest to prophet? 30 years old 7. Why do some scholars think Ezekiel was psychologically unstable? Because he performs some strange (at-least to us) sign acts 8. What were some of the sign acts we looked at last week and what did they symbolise? He makes a model of Jerusalem and then besieges it; symbolizing that Jerusalem will be besieged at the hand of God He lies on his left side for 390 days, then his right side for 40 days, bearing sin; symbolizing that the coming punishment is due to their sin dating back to the building of the temple He makes a small meal from average ingredients; symbolizing that food during the siege will be scarce He cooks his food over excrement; symbolizing that food in exile will be defiled He shaves his head and divides the hair into three groups; symbolizing that some people will be killed by fire in the siege, some by the sword and others scattered, even the surviving remnant will be refined by fire When his wife is killed suddenly he does not mourn; symbolizing not only the sudden destruction of the temple at the fall of Jerusalem, but also the people s inability to mourn because they are wasting away in their sin. 9. Why would Ezekiel act out these things among the people already in exile, when the events largely focus on Jerusalem? To destroy false hopes that the exile would be over quickly, and so that they would know that it was God at work (24:24, 27) 10. What is one thing you take home from Ezekiel s sign actions? Seriousness of God s wrath, life in exile uncomfortable, bearing the message painful

8 Ezekiel Pt 1: quiz (to be done at the beginning of study 2) Where did Israel go into exile in the 6 th century? When was the first deportation of exiles to Babylon, and who went? When was the rest of Judah exiled to Babylon? Did Ezekiel begin his ministry: before the first deportation before the second deportation between the second deportation and the fall of Jerusalem. What was Ezekiel s profession? How old was Ezekiel when God changed his career path from priest to prophet? Why do some scholars think Ezekiel was psychologically unstable? What were some of the sign acts we looked at last week and what did they symbolise? Why would Ezekiel act out these things among the people already in exile, when the events largely focus on Jerusalem? What is one thing you take home from Ezekiel s sign actions?

9 Introduction Ezekiel Pt II: An autopsy of judgment against Israel Q: Why do you think we find judgment so difficult to talk about, and what is lost about God and his gospel if we leave it out? Exercise: read through ch 20 overleaf and mark in different colours: The reasons why God judges Israel The purpose of his judgment (Summarise the reasons for, and the purpose of God s judgement below) Reasons for judgment God is faithful, but Israel is not (see chs. 15, 16, 23) Idolatry and the cult (see also chs. 6, 8, 9) Leadership (see chs. 8, 11, 13, 14, 19, 34) Justice (see ch. 22) Purpose of judgment For the sake of his name / they will know I am the LORD (see 20:1-38) But judgment is only a partial answer (see 20:39-44) Taking it home God will judge justly against: o Unfaithfulness o Idolatry o Wicked leadership o Injustice in the world and against his people God will be known through his judgment (Romans 14:11) Again, his judgment is only a partial answer

10 EZEKIEL 20: 1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3 "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Have you come to inquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign LORD.' 4 "Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their fathers 5 and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of the house of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, "I am the LORD your God." 6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. 7 And I said to them, "Each of you, get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." 8 " 'But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt. 9 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations they lived among and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites by bringing them out of Egypt. 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert. 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. 12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy. 13 " 'Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws although the man who obeys them will live by them and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the desert. 14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would not bring them into the land I had given them a land flowing with milk and honey, most beautiful of all lands - 16 because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols. 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the desert. 18 I said to their children in the desert, "Do not follow the statutes of your fathers or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 20 Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God." 21 " 'But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws although the man who obeys them will live by them and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the desert. 22 But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their fathers' idols. 25 I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and laws they could not liv e by; 26 I let them become defiled through their gifts the sacrifice of every firstborn that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.' 27 "Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In this also your fathers blasphemed me by forsaking me: 28 When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that provoked me to anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them: What is this high place you go to?' " (It is called Bamah [high place] to this day.) 30 "Therefore say to the house of Israel: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did and lust after their vile images? 31 When you offer your gifts the sacrifice of your sons in [c] the fire you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me. 32 " 'You say, "We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone." But what you have in mind will never happen. 33 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will rule over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. 34 I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. 35 I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. 36 As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD. 38 Then you will know that I am the LORD.

11 Introduction Ezekiel Pt II: An autopsy of judgment against Israel Q: Why do you think we find judgment so difficult to talk about, and what is lost about God and his gospel if we leave it out? Exercise: read through ch 20 overleaf and mark in different colours: The reasons why God judges Israel The purpose of his judgment (Summarise the reasons for, and the purpose of God s judgement below) Reasons for judgment Purpose of judgment Taking it home God will judge justly against: o Unfaithfulness o Idolatry o Wicked leadership o Injustice in the world and against his people God will be known through his judgment (Romans 14:11) Again, his judgment is only a partial answer

12 EZEKIEL 20: 1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3 "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Have you come to inquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign LORD.' 4 "Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their fathers 5 and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of the house of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, "I am the LORD your God." 6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. 7 And I said to them, "Each of you, get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." 8 " 'But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt. 9 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations they lived among and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites by bringing them out of Egypt. 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert. 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. 12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy. 13 " 'Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws although the man who obeys them will live by them and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the desert. 14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would not bring them into the land I had given them a land flowing with milk and honey, most beautiful of all lands - 16 because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols. 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the desert. 18 I said to their children in the desert, "Do not follow the statutes of your fathers or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 20 Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God." 21 " 'But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws although the man who obeys them will live by them and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the desert. 22 But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their fathers' idols. 25 I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and laws they could not liv e by; 26 I let them become defiled through their gifts the sacrifice of every firstborn that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.' 27 "Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In this also your fathers blasphemed me by forsaking me: 28 When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that provoked me to anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them: What is this high place you go to?' " (It is called Bamah [high place] to this day.) 30 "Therefore say to the house of Israel: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did and lust after their vile images? 31 When you offer your gifts the sacrifice of your sons in [c] the fire you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me. 32 " 'You say, "We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone." But what you have in mind will never happen. 33 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will rule over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. 34 I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. 35 I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. 36 As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD. 38 Then you will know that I am the LORD.

13 Ezekiel Pt III: God and the nations L: How would you describe Jesus general attitude to the nations (those outside Israel)? (See Matthew 15:21-28; 28:18-20) The nations will experience God s judgment Why? Read about it in Ezekiel: 25: : :17-30 What do we learn about God through this judgment? his judgment is fierce his judgment is just 29:17-20; 32:31-32 The nations will also see... Israel s salvation 20: :20-26 they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbours Do you think this prophecy was fulfilled? If yes, how do you explain the Jews living under Roman occupation in Jesus day? If no, how do you explain its non-fulfilment (note your answer has implications for your view of the trustworthiness of both God and his word)? The New Testament and the nations How does the New Testament view God s plan for the nations? Look up these passages: Jesus and the nations (Luke 2:25-32) Paul and the nations (Romans 1:16-17; chs. 9-11) Revelation and the nations (Rev 7:4-9; 20:7-10)

14 Ezekiel Pt III: God and the nations L: How would you describe Jesus general attitude to the nations (those outside Israel)? The nations will experience God s judgment Why? Read about it in Ezekiel: 25: : :17-30 What do we learn about God through this judgment? 29:17-20; 32:31-32 The nations will also see... Israel s salvation 20: :20-26 they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbours Do you think this prophecy was fulfilled? If yes, how do you explain the Jews living under Roman occupation in Jesus day? If no, how do you explain its non-fulfilment (note your answer has implications for your view of the trustworthiness of both God and his word)? The New Testament and the nations How does the New Testament view God s plan for the nations? Look up these passages: Jesus and the nations (Luke 2:25-32) Paul and the nations (Romans 1:16-17; chs. 9-11) Revelation and the nations (Rev 7:4-9; 20:7-10)

15 Ezekiel Pt IV: A new exodus to a new land, And a new covenant Launch: how would you describe the relationship between judgment and hope? Observation exercise: read Ezekiel 36:1-38 and note anything that refers (even vaguely) to the exodus, covenant and Promised Land Exodus Covenant Land A new exodus to a new land Who is Ezekiel prophesying to throughout ch 36? What will he do to the land? Ezekiel is given another word in v16; what s different about this word? Does God explain his reasons for acting in this new way, and does Ezekiel indicate the effect it will have on the people? (see 36:22ff). Upon their return from exile, will the people find the land as good as it was before?

16 THE DIVISION OF THE LAND ACCORDING TO EZEKIEL S VISION Do you notice anything different between the allocation of Israel s tribes in the days of Joshua, to the allocation according to Ezekiel s division? A new covenant What is actually new about the new covenant (16:24-32)? Who is Ezekiel prophesying to in ch 37? What does v5, 9 remind you of? What is ch 37 really saying to the house of Israel? Taking it home Transformation comes by grace, not by works The superiority of the new covenant For the sake of his name

17 Ezekiel Pt V: A new prince-king L: Are people judged only for their own sins, or are there some occasions in which people are judged for the sins of others? Ezekiel s doctrine of individual retribution 18: :1-20 O house of Israel, you say, The way of the Lord is not just. But I will judge each of you according to his own ways. Ezekiel 18:29,30; 33:20 Ezekiel s prophecy to the shepherds of Israel Who does Ezekiel prophesy against in Ezekiel 34? The metaphor: the shepherds The meaning of the metaphor: the historical kings up to the period of exile What s the evidence that we are talking about kings and not others? Babylonian proverb: a people without a king is like a sheep without a shepherd Numbers 27:17 David, the great shepherd-king 1 Kings 22:16-18 Jeremiah 23:1-6 (note similarities with Ezekiel 34) Who are the sheep and to whom do they belong? My sheep/flock (v6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 22); my people (v30, 31), they belong to God Even the shepherds are part of the flock (v17-22) rather than being seen as separate to them. Worth remembering in our ministry And what are they condemned for? The metaphor: only taking care of themselves and not the flock (v2); eating the curds, clothing with the wool, slaughtering the animals (v3) The meaning of the metaphor: pursuing their own self-interest at the expense of providing justice (see v16) and leadership for the people, such that they wander and are scattered and become prey to the nations (v13) From the passage, what will the good shepherd do? The metaphors: o Gathering in (v11-13, see also Luke 15:1-7) o Tending & feeding (v13-16) o Justice v16b-22 The meaning of the metaphor for the exilic community o Restoration to the land of Israel and to God s own heart (v24) o Leadership that puts the people first (22) o Justice within exilic community

18 Who is the good shepherd? Who is the prince? God himself (what does this say about Jesus claim to be the good shepherd) The prince is David, meaning of the Davidic line (perhaps king is avoided due to the ultimately these two converge What also will happen when the good shepherd or prince comes? From this passage: land will be restored (v25ff) From 37:15-28: Israel will be united Jesus the good shepherd How does Jesus say he fulfils the promise here in E34/37 in John 10:11-18 He works for the interest of the sheep, not himself, to the extent of dying for them (striking image) He will know his sheep and care for them (v13-15) He will gather them in (v3, 16) He will unite them under his leadership (v16) Why do the Jews think Jesus is demon-possessed after he has said he is the good shepherd (v19-20)? Jesus is having a crack at the Pharisees & Herods, basically asserting that they are like the bad shepherds in Ezekiel 34. In saying he is the good shepherd, Jesus is claiming divinity, as God himself is the good shepherd in Ezekiel 34. Taking it home Seeing ourselves as sheep (in need of a shepherd) Seeing ourselves as under-shepherds (1 Peter 5:1-4)

19 Ezekiel Pt V: A new prince-king L: Are people judged only for their own sins, or are there some occasions in which people are judged for the sins of others? Ezekiel s doctrine of individual retribution 18: :1-20 O house of Israel, you say, The way of the Lord is not just. But I will judge each of you according to his own ways. E 18:29,30; 33:20 Ezekiel s prophecy to the shepherds of Israel Who does Ezekiel prophesy against in E34? The metaphor: The meaning of the metaphor: Who are the sheep and to whom do they belong? And what are they condemned for? The metaphor: The meaning of the metaphor: From the passage, what will the good shepherd do? The metaphors: The meaning of the metaphors for the exilic community Who is the good shepherd? Who is the prince? The good shepherd The prince

20 What also will happen when the good shepherd or prince comes? From this passage: From 37:15-28: Jesus the good shepherd How does Jesus say he fulfils the promise here in Ezek 34/37 in John 10:11-18 Why do the Jews think Jesus is demon-possessed after he has said he is the good shepherd (v19-20)? Taking it home Seeing ourselves as sheep (in need of a shepherd) Seeing ourselves as under-shepherds (1 Peter 5:1-4)

21 Ezekiel Pt VI: A new temple L: Take off your shoes; you re standing on holy ground. What would say if your minister said this to you at church on Sunday? Background information Three major themes are interwoven in chapters 40-48: The temple: Yahweh should dwell again among his people in a cleansed sanctuary, so Ezekiel is granted a visionary tour of a temple of perfectly symmetrical dimensions (40:1-43:12) Sacrificial system: the people s relationship with Yahweh should be sustained by proper implementation of sacrificial rituals and priestly duties, so Ezekiel is given instructions about the restoration of the priestly and sacrificial system (43:13-46:24) Division of the Land: the unruliness of Israel which made exile so deserved is replaced by a nation living in well-ordered peace and harmony, so the land is divided evenly, with God in the middle of it and a river of life flowing from his presence to bless, heal, fertilize, feed and give life (47:1-48:35) Departure and return of the glory of god What is spoken of in Ezek 10:15-22 (& throughout chs. 8-11), and why is it so devastating to Ezekiel? The Glory of the LORD leaves the temple and the implication is that God is no longer with his people This is especially devastating for Ezekiel, with his background as a priest Furthermore, the temple is destroyed during the fall of Jerusalem (24:21) What must happen before the glory of the LORD can return? Before the glory of the LORD can return to the temple, there needs to be a new temple. Hope is therefore seen in Ezekiel s visionary tour of a new temple. Read 40:1-5 the return of the LORD (43:1-9) The temple after the return from exile Read Ezra 3:10-13 about the events that took place after the return from exile. How did the Israelites react when the New Temple foundation was erected, and why? Ezra 3:10-13 (the people cried because it seemed small by comparison) It s unlikely that they followed the instructions in Ezekiel, not only because the rebuilt temple appeared smaller, but because there were no vertical measurements given in Ezekiel s vision

22 What does Jesus do with the temple idea? John 2:12-22: not only cleansed the temple, but talked of destroying it and replacing it with himself John 4:19-26: geography is not important, but worshipping in spirit and truth, somehow connected to Jesus identity as Messiah What do the NT writers do with the temple idea? 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20: God s people are collectively the temple of God, in which he resides; Paul even breaks it down further by saying that the bodies of individual believers are temples and should be honoured by morality rather than immorality Hebrews 10:19-22; the death of Jesus is the means by which we enter the Most Holy Place, drawing near to God; And finally, how does the Revelation end (Rev 21:22-22:5) The temple is redundant because we will have unmediated access to God The river of life still flowing out from God s presence bringing blessing, healing and life Taking it home Confidence to enter the Most Holy Place Unmediated access to God Separation from that which is unclean

23 Ezekiel Pt VI: A new temple L: Take off your shoes; you re standing on holy ground. What would say if your minister said this to you at church one Sunday? Background information Three major themes are interwoven in chapters 40-48: The temple: Yahweh should dwell again among his people in a cleansed sanctuary, so Ezekiel is granted a visionary tour of a temple of perfectly symmetrical dimensions (40:1-43:12) Sacrificial system: the people s relationship with Yahweh should be sustained by proper implementation of sacrificial rituals and priestly duties, so Ezekiel is given instructions about the restoration of the priestly and sacrificial system (43:13-46:24) Division of the Land: the unruliness of Israel which made exile so deserved is replaced by a nation living in well-ordered peace and harmony, so the land is divided evenly, with God in the middle of it and a river of life flowing from his presence to bless, heal, fertilize, feed and give life (47:1-48:35) Departure and return of the glory of god What is spoken of in 10:15-22 (& throughout chs. 8-11), and why is it so devastating to Ezekiel? What must happen before the glory of the LORD can return? The temple after the return from exile Read Ezra 3:10-13 about the events that took place after the return from exile. How did the Israelites react when the New Temple foundation was erected, and why? Ezra 3:10-13 Did they follow the instructions given in Ezekiel s prophecy? And why?

24 What does Jesus do with the temple idea? John 2:12-22 John 4:19-26 What do the NT writers do with the temple idea? Hebrews 10: Corinthians 3: Corinthians 6:19-20: And finally, how does the Revelation end (Rev 21:22-22:5) Taking it home Confidence to enter the Most Holy Place Unmediated access to God Separation from that which is unclean

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