God sends Ezekiel to the Israelites to deliver His messages. He tells Ezekiel to not be afraid of the people and to speak His words. Ezekiel then sees a scroll in God’s hands. Words of lament, mourning, and woe are written on it.
12) To the Israelites
13a) He tells Ezekiel that many will not listen. They may say terrible things. They are rebellious.
b) God tells Ezekiel not to be afraid of their reactions and to eat what he gives him (aka words to say). By telling Ezekiel that they may not listen, this helps Ezekiel not worry about how the message is received, but instead to just deliver the message. Also, by God appearing to Ezekiel personally, this strengthens Ezekiel’s faith by knowing that it is God calling him.
14) We all should remember that we are not responsible for whether people receive the word of God and turn to Him. God is the one who will turn their hearts. All we have to do is deliver the Good News. We are guided by the Holy Spirit and will know what to say. I am encouraged to pray to the Lord to put people in my life whom I am supposed to share Him with. And, I know God will give me the strength to do so.
Great lesson on the real challenges believers face in bringing the Good News to the world.
Note: Ezekiel is speaking to both the nations of Judah and Israel here. Apart from God, the Israelites are just another heathen nation.
The people are repeatedly called “rebellious.” Not exactly good in God’s eyes.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says,” is repeated in the book of Ezekiel. This is to say that Ezekiel is bringing God’s message, not his own, to the people.
Rejection can hurt, but God tells Ezekiel to ignore it.
We are to receive God’s word as if we are eating it: take it completely in.
Note: this may or may not be God’s hands. It could be the cherubims’. The text just says “a hand.”
The message was complete since both sides of the scroll were written on (traditionally, at this time, only one side would be written on).
Note that we have a much more cheerful message to bring to people (the news of Jesus Christ). Ezekiel just had to tell the people to turn to God or face His wrath.
Ezekiel 2:3-10 details the core of the prophet’s difficult commission, defining his audience, his required attitude, and the content of his message.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
In essence, this passage establishes Ezekiel’s ministry as one of courageous faithfulness. He is called to internalize and deliver a painful message of judgment to a hard-hearted people, regardless of their response.
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Ezekiel continues his vision, seeing a vault spread out over the living creatures. He describes their wings, which sounded like the voice of the Almighty. He describes God on his throne above the living creatures. He was radiant and appeared like glowing metal and fire. He fell facedown upon seeing the glory of God.
God told him to stand so that He could speak to him.
9) Ezekiel continues his vision, seeing a vault spread out over the living creatures. He describes their wings, which sounded like the voice of the Almighty. He describes God on his throne above the living creatures. He was radiant and appeared like glowing metal and fire.
10) He fell facedown upon seeing the glory of God. He was overwhelmed by God’s holiness and glory and felt unworthy to be in God’s presence. He is completely surrendering to God.
11a) He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”
b) The Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
c) Psalm 24:4 says that the one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god can stand before God. Philippians 3:9 says that those who have faith in Christ’s cleansing blood (who have been made righteous) can stand before God. Jesus cleanses us and allows us to be with God!
d) Truthfully, how have I not? God is responsible for everything in my life. He is always working to bring me to His path.
It just reminds me of Mercy Me’s classic song, I Can Only Imagine. I can’t wait for this moment!
Ezekiel first describes God’s voice and then God’s likeness. It was held by the Jewish people that God could not ever be fully expressed, or it was blasphemy. God defies human description.
We see God’s power and radiance (red and yellow), His promise to all of humanity (rainbow), and God everywhere
God exists outside of the temple, seen clearly here, and super important in that time period to be made known.
Ezekiel humbly surrenders when he falls on his face.
Fun Fact: God calls Ezekiel “son of man” 93 times. This is the first time.
Jesus refers to himself as “Son of Man” 80 times in the Gospels. This refers to Jesus being the Messiah. Here, when Ezekiel is addressed as “son of man,” it’s literal.
It is good to stand to receive the Word of the Lord.
The Spirit entering Ezekiel was the Holy Spirit here. Since this was before the gift of the Holy Spirit to all of humanity, this was a unique situation and entrance for Ezekiel when the Spirit entered with God’s words.
We see the Spirit lifting Ezekiel a lot in his book (Ezekiel 2:2, 3:14; 8:3; 11:1, 24; 37:1; 43:5).
Notice that God gives Ezekiel the power to stand to do His work. So God gives us the strength to do His calling upon our lives.
Ezekiel 1:22-2:2 describes the climax of the prophet’s inaugural vision, revealing God’s glorious presence and commissioning Ezekiel for his mission.
The interpretation of the key elements is as follows:
In essence, this passage portrays a God of absolute and transcendent authority whose power is nevertheless bound by covenant mercy. It establishes that the prophetic word Ezekiel is about to speak originates from this awe-inspiring divine presence.
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Ezekiel describes his visions from God. He saw a windstorm from the north. He saw four living creatures in a fire. Each creature was human but had four faces and four wings. They had feet like a calf. They had human hands. Their wings touched each other and they traveled straight.
Each face has a face of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. They each had a pair of wings. They went where their spirit went. They sped, and fire moved among them.
He saw wheels on the ground beside the creatures. They had eyes all around them, and they went where the creatures went. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
6) The source and description of what he saw and heard (1:4): The windstorm was coming from the north (where Israel’s enemies come from). It was a cloud (God is often seen in a cloud) with lightning and brilliant light.
The four creatures (1:5-14): Each creature was human but had four faces and four wings. They had feet like a calf. They had human hands. Their wings touched each other, and they traveled straight. Each face has a face of a lion, an ox, and an eagle. They each had a pair of wings. They went where their spirit went. They sped, and fire moved among them.
The wheels (1:15-21): He saw wheels on the ground beside the creatures. They had eyes all around them, and they went where the creatures went. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
7) Ezekiel was probably scared by what he saw. Unsure about it. Full of doubt and questions. Wanting to know what it meant.
8a) God is good to speak to man and give us directions, whether personally today or via prophets. God is majestic and sovereign. He guides us and protects us. He is always present with us.
b) It’s comforting to know I am never alone and I can always go to God with anything. He has the answers, and all I have to do is pray and listen.
I love how even though God is mysterious, he is kind enough to give us His word when we need it.
Bible scholars describe Ezekiel’s vision as one of the most detailed and unusual descriptions of God in the Bible.
Fun Fact: Enemies came from the North towards Israel and are often associated with God’s judgment.
The exile was from God as punishment for His people turning from Him.
Fun Fact: Ezekiel’s calling is the longest and most detailed of any prophet recorded in the Bible.
The brightness is God’s glory. The cloud and fire show God’s presence amongst His people.
These creatures will be identified later as cherubim (Ezekiel 10:8-15).
This could be where wings are associated with angels, as this is one of the few places in the Bible where angelic beings have wings.
John could have seen these same creatures in his vision of heaven (Revelation 4:6-8).
Bible scholars say these faces represent all of creation, with the mightiest of animals (lion), the strongest (ox), flight (eagle), and man (highest).
The creatures move straight like God’s plan.
The point of the wheels is to show constant motion by God, and he is always present. Many Bible scholars think of this as a chariot.
The eyes represent knowledge and intelligence. He is omniscient, seeing everything.
In sum, this vision introduces God not as a local deity, but as the majestic, all-powerful, all-seeing, and omnipresent King of the entire universe, who is in absolute control and is present with His people even in their darkest hour of exile.
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Ezekiel has a vision from God.
3a) Ezekiel was an exile in Babylon (a lof of Judah had been exiled at this time). It was during the reign of King Jehoiachin. The Lord was with him. 2 Kings adds that Jehoiachin did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
b) I’m sure it was not pleasant being an exile in a foreign land. I’m sure he was doing his best to be faithful to the Lord while being surrounded and captured by pagans. He may have been depressed, anxious, losing faith in God, questioning God, etc.
4a) “The heavens were opened and I saw visions of God” and “the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest” and “There the hand of the Lord was on him.”
b) It shows that God has not abandoned Ezekiel. He is still with him, guiding him, as God does for us, no matter our circumstances. God offers compassion, His word, and His power to us.
5) God directs me and I follow the best I can. He gives me great peace in unsettling circumstances. He is and always has been faithful, even in my darkest days.
I love the emphasis on God’s presence in our lives always, no matter the circumstances and God’s hand on us as we journey through life. Great news!
Most likely, Ezekiel was 30 years of age at this time. He was a priest, and priests began their service in the temple at the age of 30. However, Ezekiel was now called to be a prophet.
The time is most likely 597 BC, before the complete fall of Jerusalem and the nation of Judah.
Ezekiel means “strengthened by God,” and he had the hand of the Lord on him.
The visions of the prophet Ezekiel are some of the most complex, symbolic, and vivid in the entire Bible. Given to him during the crisis of the Babylonian exile, their details reveal profound truths about the nature and character of God, intended to both challenge and comfort the displaced people of Judah.
Here are some of the key things the details of Ezekiel’s visions reveal about God:
Ezekiel’s first and most famous vision (Ezekiel 1) is of God’s throne-chariot. The details are meant to overwhelm the senses and convey a being of unimaginable power:
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Hey all!
BSF’s bible study BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build is almost here! I can’t wait.
I’m super excited to be adding my “End Notes Summarized” section, which will explain the meaning of the passage in a succinct, easy-to-understand format!
I’d love to hear what you think about this when you begin, so leave me a comment!
See you soon for our online Bible study!
Have a blessed day!
Hey all!
Because some of our friends in Asia have already started, I will begin my posts on Monday, Aug 25th, in hopes of helping some of them.
You can save my emails or posts, or visit my website and scroll down. They show up on my blog in reverse order as I post them.
You can also use the sidebar to filter that is labeled “BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026”
You can also use the search feature to search for a particular lesson.
AND, new this year, I have posted a link at the top of my page called “BSF Exile & Return” for quick access!
I hope you are as excited as I am. I’ll post what to expect with these posts soon! Can’t wait to begin!
Have a blessed day!
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
15) I learned that I have to strive to be more Christ-like by being humble, loving, and compassionate; by putting others first and me last; by having a servant attitude; by being obedient to God. I must not grumble, argue, or complain. I must be joyful. It starts by just being present with others and present in making my daily decisions to be more like Christ and acting more how he would.
16) I think I would be more joyful and fun to be around. I wouldn’t be as down in the dumps sometimes. I would put others first and have more fruitful relationships. This would be heavenly! My family would benefit the most.
Great week on having the mind of Jesus! It seems simple to do as we read it, but we all know this is incredibly hard.
Still, nothing in life that is easy is worth doing, so I will do my best to have the mind of Christ! Amen!
Paul cites three examples of devotion to follow.
12) Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus. Paul uses his life as an example of his devotion to Jesus, which has led to his imprisonment and to his eventual death. Timothy is the second example of self-sacrifice. He is selfless, trained, empathetic, and devoted to God. Epaphroditus comforted Paul while he was in prison. He did this when he saw Paul’s needs. He put Paul above himself.
13) Devotion to others. I have a hard time putting others and their needs before myself. I really need to work on this. The challenge I face is my sinful human nature.
14) I have very few in my life at the moment. The ones who come to my mind are those who were my mentors many years ago. They have helped me grow spiritually.
Paul calls us to joy. I know many of us struggle with this, but we can have it if God is first in our lives!
Following God is a daily struggle, but we can do this! Pray and live each day for Him!
Paul praises God who empowers devoted followers of Christ
9) Believers should live out our salvation that Christ died to give us by working each and every day to be more Christ-like. We should take our spiritual growth seriously, as God gives us the desire and power to do so. We must make our outward life match our inward life.
10) When believers have “fear and trembling,” they have a deep respect for God’s holiness and for the salvation of Christ given to us. We are to depend on God entirely as we are weak. Verse 13 reminds us that God and Jesus work together for our good. We must work out what God is working in us. God gives us the power to do this and we simply must obey.
11) Grumbling and arguing show us our heart problem. When we grumble, we show we are dissatisfied with God’s provision in our lives, and we distrust him. Arguing shows our desire to be above others, meaning our opinions are more important than others’. A pure heart is devoted to God; a grumbling one and an arguing one are not. Grumbling and arguing destroy our unity and are forms of darkness when we are called to be lights in this world. We are to be loving to others, kind, good, faithful, etc.
I need to stop complaining so much and bloom where I’m planted! I need to reflect God’s joy to others.
When we trust God and use His strength, we have his power to accomplish anything. We are to be God-like in everything we do and show others we do have the light of Jesus within.
Everything we do reflects God. We are to act like Jesus.
We are all called to show Jesus to the world through our lives. And, when we submit, others can see our lives.
God’s will is always good because He is always good. Be joyful always!