DEVOTIONS 101 | EZEKIEL

DEVOTIONS 101 | EZEKIEL

The Book of Ezekiel is a prophetic book of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the Christian Old Testament. It is named after its author, the prophet Ezekiel, who lived in Babylon during the 6th century BCE. The book contains a series of visions and prophesies that Ezekiel received from God while in exile.

The book is divided into three main sections: chapters 1-24, which contain warnings and prophesies of judgment against Jerusalem; chapters 25-32, which contain prophesies against the neighboring nations of Israel; and chapters 33-48, which contain messages of hope and restoration for Israel.

Some of the most well-known passages from the Book of Ezekiel include the vision of the "valley of dry bones" (chapter 37), the vision of the "chariot of God" (chapter 1), and the prophecy of the new temple and the restoration of Israel (chapters 40-48).

The Book of Ezekiel has had a profound influence on Jewish and Christian theology and has been interpreted in a variety of ways throughout history. Some have seen it as a prediction of the coming of Jesus Christ, while others have viewed it as a warning against the dangers of idolatry and disobedience to God.

Here are some key passages from the Book of Ezekiel, along with brief explanations:

Ezekiel 1:1-3 - "In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon him there."

This passage sets the stage for the entire book, describing when and where Ezekiel received his visions from God. It also introduces the theme of the book, which is God's judgment against the disobedient people of Israel.

Ezekiel 18:20 - "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself."

This verse emphasizes personal responsibility for one's actions and the consequences that come with them. It suggests that each person is accountable for their own sins and that God judges each person individually.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 - "The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord God, you know.' Then he said to me, 'Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.'"

This passage is one of the most famous in the Book of Ezekiel, describing a vision in which Ezekiel sees a valley of dry bones come to life as God breathes the Spirit into them. It is often interpreted as a metaphor for the restoration of Israel after the Babylonian exile.

Ezekiel 47:1-12 - "Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. And he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side."

This passage describes a vision of a river of living water that flows out from the temple and brings life to the desert. It is often seen as a symbol of the abundant life that God offers to his people.

Overall, the Book of Ezekiel contains many visions and prophesies of judgment, restoration, and hope. Its themes of personal responsibility, obedience to God, and the promise of redemption are still relevant to believers today.