Ezekiel Introduction

[Adapted from Albert Barnes Commentary on Ezekiel and TableTalk entries for September 2012]

The chief scene of his ministry was Tel-Abib in northern Mesopotamia (Chaldea/Babylon), on the river Chebar, along the banks of which were the settlements of the exiles. He began his ministry at the age of 30. He lived in a house of his own, was married, and lost his wife in the ninth year of his exile. He was a priest and the son of Buzi and was part of the group that Nebuchadnezzar took from Judah to Babylon in 598/597 BC.

What went on in the period during which Ezekiel prophesied?

• Ezekiel was called in the same year King Zedekiah (made king of Judah by Babylon in 587 BC) came to visit Babylon
• the destruction of the temple, the sack of Jerusalem, and the final deportation of its inhabitants; this happened when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem completely in 586 BC; all the Judahites went into exile except members of the lower class
• Gedaliah‘s short regency over the poor remnant left behind in the country, his treacherous murder, and the flight of the conspirators, conveying Jeremiah with them into Egypt
• Nebuchadnezzars conquests in the neighboring countries, and especially his prolonged siege of Tyre.

What was going on in the minds of the people when Ezekiel prophesied? First of all, the prophecies were against Egypt. The king of Egypt was new and his reign affected Judah. Judah's control was first seized by Nebuchadnezzar when several of the leading men of Judah were captured in 605 BC. The Judahites felt their only hope was the help of Egypt. But Egypt had been inactive. Judah wanted to break from Babylon and ally themselves with Egypt. But, Ezekiel's message to the Jews (Judah/Israel), was to show them their future was not found in freeing themselves from the Chaldeans, but in repenting of their sins and turning to the God of their fathers. 

Again, the Jews felt that deliverance came, not from God, but through Egypt. And yet they were able to see Egypt (Hophra) attempt a diversion as Jerusalem's final siege was occurring by Babylon. But, Egypt retreated. This is when Ezekiel's prophecies began. The thinking of the Jews at the time was that they would always be blessed by God. The problem was they were recognizing their sin first. They wanted blessing with out repentance.  

Ezekiel's message was focused on:

1. God abhorred idolatry. He hates sin. Sin, without repentance, has consequences. 
2. While feeling like the Chaldeans were unwelcome, Ezekiel needed to show Judah that the Chaldeans were instruments of God. Don't resist.
3. He had to shake their confidence in promises. There is a nature to these promises. Not a condition, but a repentance. 
4. There is a divine government and God is in control.

Ezekiel's message is similar to Jeremiah's. The difference being that eventually with Ezekiel, the people listened. 

His message can be viewed in 3 parts:

1. There is public condemnation of judgment on rebellious people.
2. Unfaithful shepherds and rebellious people need to beware.
3. There is renovation and blessing