Ezekiel

The Book of Ezekiel is one of the most structurally and visually rich books in the Bible. The prophet Ezekiel was a priest who was exiled to Babylon in the first wave of deportation (597 BC), several years before the final destruction of Jerusalem. His ministry takes place entirely in Babylon, and he serves as God's "watchman"—a sentinel responsible for warning his people about impending disaster and then guiding them into future hope.

I. Judgment and the Departure of Glory (Chapters 1–24)

The first half of Ezekiel is dominated by pronouncements of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem. Ezekiel uses dramatic, often unsettling sign-acts (like shaving his head and cutting his hair, or cooking food over dung) to illustrate the shocking reality of God’s coming wrath.

• The Throne Vision (Chapter 1): The book opens with Ezekiel's vision of God’s magnificent, mobile chariot throne—a revelation confirming that God’s authority is not confined to Jerusalem; He rules even in Babylon.

• The Departure of Glory (Chapters 8–11): In a terrifying vision, Ezekiel is shown the corruption and idolatry within the Temple itself. He witnesses the manifest glory of God (the Shekinah), which had rested over the Ark of the Covenant, slowly and deliberately departing from the Temple and leaving the city. This confirmed the most devastating reality to the exiles: God Himself had abandoned the sanctuary, validating the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

The message to the exiles in this section is clear: Your hope in the physical Temple was misplaced; judgment is coming because of your unfaithfulness.

II. Judgment on the Nations (Chapters 25–32)

Following the confirmation that Jerusalem would fall, Ezekiel turns his focus to the surrounding nations (Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt). These prophecies serve two purposes: they demonstrate God's absolute sovereignty over all nations, and they provide comfort to the exiles, assuring them that those who mocked and abused Israel will also face divine accountability. God is just, and He will judge the pride and wickedness of every human power.

III. Restoration and the New Covenant (Chapters 33–48)

The second main section of the book (beginning after the fall of Jerusalem is confirmed) is a message of profound restoration and comfort.

• The New Covenant and the New Heart (Chapter 36): This is the theological heart of the book. God promises that the ultimate restoration will not be merely a physical return, but a spiritual transformation: “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you... I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes” (Ezekiel 36:26–27). This prophecy foretells the New Covenant that will be inaugurated by Jesus Christ, solving the fundamental problem of Israel’s sinful nature.

• The Vision of Dry Bones (Chapter 37): In a famous vision, God brings a valley full of dried, lifeless bones back to life, demonstrating His power to resurrect the nation from the spiritual death of exile. This is a profound image of both the physical return to the land and the spiritual resurrection to new life.

• The New Temple (Chapters 40–48): The book culminates in Ezekiel's massive vision of a New Temple and a restored land. This vision is deeply symbolic, demonstrating the future perfection and holiness of the Kingdom of God, ultimately culminating in the final verse: “The name of the city from that day shall be: The Lord Is There” (Yahweh Shammah—Ezekiel 48:35). The glory of God has returned forever.

Applying the Truth Today

Ezekiel confirms the necessity of repentance and the absolute certainty of God's sovereign faithfulness. It teaches us that true holiness is not found in a building or a place, but in a new heart gifted by God. The promise of the New Covenant is a challenge to all Christians to live in the spiritual reality of God's abiding presence, knowing that He has placed His Spirit within us to enable us to walk in His ways.

Reflection Questions for Your Journey:

1. The New Heart. According to Ezekiel 36, what is the source of the power for truly walking in God’s commands, and how does that change your approach to overcoming sin?

2. The Dry Bones. Where in your life—or the lives of those you love—do you see a "valley of dry bones" (deadness, hopelessness, spiritual exhaustion)? How does the vision of Chapter 37 encourage you to trust God’s power to bring life and resurrection?

3. The Watchman's Call. Ezekiel was a watchman. What specific warning or message has God placed on your heart that you need to deliver with courage and conviction to a friend, family member, or community?

Your Reading Guide

To grasp the central hope, read the fundamental promise of spiritual transformation in Ezekiel 36:24–28. Next, read the astonishing vision of God's power to bring life to the desolate in Ezekiel 37:1–14. Finally, read the confirmation of God's returning, permanent presence in the concluding verse, Ezekiel 48:35.