Ezekiel 1-3

Let’s look at this section using our four basic hermeneutical questions:

1. What’s going on?  (Historical background)

“Where is God?”   This is almost certainly the question of many Judah’s captives as they find themselves slaves in a strange land.  Ezekiel like the other prophets can be understood as supplement material for the biblical narratives. They provide us with further explanations of the historical happenings of God’s chosen people.  While the introduction of Ezekiel does not expressly say, “God where are you? We are distraught and confused.  Are you really with us?”  We deduce this feeling from the text itself, Ezekiel’s contemporary, Jeremiah,  and from the scriptures that helped narrate the story.

From those sources we see that false prophets before and after the exile had been persuading the Judeans God would defeat their enemies and they would only temporary be inconvenienced rather than endure a long lasting exile.  That of course didn’t happen and so one can imagine the bewilderment of those who believed the lying prophets.  Ezekiel beings with the prophet already in exile residing in Babylon no doubt battling with these questions.

God reveals Himself to Ezekiel at such a time and delivers to him a message of further judgement. God informs Ezekiel his duty is to warn them, even thought hey will not listen.

2. What did God teach about Himself? (Theological Question)

God reigns.  That is what the vision communicates. A dark storm like cloud emitting fire, lighting, and brilliant light; angelic escorts, a portable all-seeing entourage, this is the vision of God’s majestic and terrifying throne. There isn’t a more appropriate message for the Judeans in captivity.  God is on the throne still, omniscient, omnipotent.

God is Holy. The content and purpose of Ezekiel message is an indictment for sin and impending judgment (3:16-19).  God does not let sin go without punishment, and He does not let the people go without a warning.

God prefers mercy, but not at the expense of justice. Up until the time of Ezekiel, the reader should know by know that when God pronounces judgement on a people prior to its execution, that people have an opportunity of repentance. The narratives of the Bible have produced several examples of this.  The ark of Noah was a vessel of the repentant. The cancellation of Sodom’s judgment was on the condition of only a few righteous. Pharaoh first had warning and an opportunity to evade the wrath of God. Moses’ entreaty reversed God’s declared judgement on Israel at the mountain of the two gold calves. Rahab saved her family by an act of belief in God’s judgement. Ahab humbled himself before the Lord and thus was spared judgement. These theological truths are repeated in our passage (3:21). But in the end if the people refuse to repent, the justice God will not be mocked (3:19).

3. How does Jesus fulfill this passage?

The holiness of God, God’s reign, and His preference of mercy is contrasted against the sin of His people.  It is the great conflict of the Bible story.  How shall God be with His people?  How shall they find rest?  How shall they be restored with any guarantee of further corruption?  The question that these theme’s instill into the reader are all answered in Jesus.  The holiness of God is revealed in Christ’s body, His reign was from the cross, and His preference of mercy is realized without violating His sense of justice.  The Gospel message is the result of Jesus’ work and substitution sacrifice. Through Christ, not only is there forgiveness of sin, but sinners ought to be declared righteous in the light of Jesus final atonement.

Ezekiel’s message will rely a message of hope, but if weren’t for the coming revelation of Jesus Christ, hope would not be possible to them.

4.  How do modern people’s apply this message today?

We are not Judeans sitting beside the river in Babylon aimlessly contemplating the woes of captivity. Nor are we ignorant of God’s calling to believe His Son (something they were still in ignorance of). But we do take comfort in the truth of God’s reign, knowing He sees all that we have brought ourselves to.  Whether our plight be for reason of our own sin, or because we have been faithful, God reigns and sees all. We apply this passage when we believe that God is working and are comforted that God’s final word for His people is hope and life.

In light of the cross, we have a better understanding than Ezekiel did of how God’s preference for mercy is realized already in Christ.  The faith required of us is accompanied by the proofs of the cross and the assurance of God’s love for sinners.  Serious doubts would have invaded the minds of the Judeans, but anyone who stands at the foot of the cross has to logical reason to doubt God’s love and faithfulness to His own word.  He will forgive.  He will restore. He will perform HIs word.

It is unlikely whatever darkness you are currently going through can compare the anguish of the Judeans, but yet you have a more sure confidence in the cross of Christ to keep an invincible optimism in the goodness of God. Now matter how dark things get, the hope and light of the cross will never be defeated.