The Priestly Prophet

The Priestly Prophet

(Ezekiel)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

July 21^st, 2024

Something to think about:

Ezekiel was a priest by birth.  Whether or not he worked within his priestly role before the Babylonian exile is not known.  What we do know, according to Biblical scholar and author, Robert Chisholm is that…

“Ezekiel received a vision from the Lord in September of 592 B.C. as he sat in his house in the presence of ‘the elders of Judah,’ probably a reference to those who had assumed a leadership role among the exiles.  Transported in his vision to Jerusalem, he saw the idolatry being practiced in the temple (chapter 8) and then witnessed the departure of God’s glory from the temple and the city (chapters 9-11).”[1]

Chisholm goes further to describe how…

“The Lord invited Ezekiel to look at the ‘detestable things’ going on there and also gave notice that this idolatrous activity would force him to leave his own sanctuary (8:6).  The Lord then led Ezekiel closer to the entrance where they spotted a hole in the wall (8:7).  In accordance with the Lord’s instructions, Ezekiel dug into the wall, found a doorway, and went into the inner court (8:8-9).  He saw inscribed on the walls the images of ‘all kinds of crawling things and detestable animals and all the idols of the house of Israel’ (8:10).  The seventy elders of Israel offered incense to the false gods represented by the images (8:11).  These leaders were convinced the Lord did not see their actions, because they believed he had already abandoned the land (8:12).”

Needless to say, Ezekiel’s experience, different from Isaiah’s and Jeremiah’s, is that He actually witnessed the LORD’s exit from the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.  GOD’s exit from His sanctuary in Jerusalem was not only a sign of His judgment, but also a sign of His intent to purify the land and the people.  As He exits, GOD gives Ezekiel an image in his vision from the LORD of a man in linen clothes taking burning coals from the throne of GOD and scattering them over the city of Jerusalem:

Ezekiel 10:1-2 (NLT),  In my vision I saw what appeared to be a throne of blue lapis lazuli above the crystal surface over the heads of the cherubim. ² Then the Lord spoke to the man in linen clothing and said, “Go between the whirling wheels beneath the cherubim, and take a handful of burning coals and scatter them over the city.” He did this as I watched.

Key Point:  “The LORD’s judgment is meant to purify.”

How does GOD judge and purify the people and the land in Ezekiel’s text?  Let’s take a look:

• The  exit.

Ezekiel 8:5-6

Ezekiel 10:4-5

Ezekiel 10:18-19

• False  influence.

Ezekiel 13:1-7

Ezekiel 13:17-23

• The  of  .

Ezekiel 11:22-25

Ezekiel 43:1-4

Mark 11:1-3

Luke 19:41-44

Luke 22:39-40

Something to take home:

GOD’s refining fire is meant not only as a means of punishment, for it truly is a painful experience to be under GOD’s judgment, but also of purification, to make ready the people for GOD’s purposes once more.  GOD doesn’t merely bring destruction through judgment because of His anger against idolatry, but because of His love for humanity to find Him once more amidst the ash and rubble.  Sometimes things must be consumed by the fire so that we can see the love of GOD that is left in its wake.

But let’s not get confused about GOD’s judgment.  It’s all too often confused with human suffering.  Judgment is a result of GOD’s wrath and anger being poured out upon wicked people, groups, or nations that manifest evil through their worship of idols and rejection of GOD’s commands.  But, suffering often comes as a result of sincerely living a life of complete faith and trust in GOD in a world that hates GOD and His message of love to the world.  Which one has been your experience?

Key Point:  “The LORD’s judgment is meant to purify.”

[1] Robert B. Chisholm, Jr., Handbook on the Prophets, (Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, Michigan; 2002), 239.