Introduction to Ezekiel
Outline
Section titled “Outline”- Chapter 1: The Throne-Chariot Vision “by the Chebar Canal”
- Chapters 2–3: Ezekiel’s call to be a prophet
- Chapters 4–24: Oracles of judgment against Israel
- Chapters 25–32: Oracles of judgment against the nations
- Chapters 33–48: Oracles of consolation for Israel
- Chapter 33: Ezekiel’s call as a watchman
- Chapter 34: “I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David”
- Chapters 36–37: Israel’s restoration—“I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh”—and the Valley of Dry Bones
- Chapters 38–39: Prophecy against Gog and Magog
- Chapters 40–48: The eschatological temple
Intertwined Themes of “Profaning,” “Holiness,” and “Glory”
Section titled “Intertwined Themes of “Profaning,” “Holiness,” and “Glory””Ezekiel 36:16–29a
- Israel has “profaned” God’s “holy” name through idolatry and sin (20:39), even committing idolatry in God’s “holy” temple (8:7–10, 14–16; 43:8).
- As a result, God’s “glory” must depart (8:6; 9:3; 10:4, 18).
- God will “profane” Israel (22:15–16), manifesting his “holiness” in Israel through judgment (28:22), so that his name may no longer be “profaned” in the sight of the nations (20:9, 14, 22).
- But God will restore Israel (39:25–29) and again manifest his “holiness” through his people (20:40–41; 28:25).
- There will be an eschatological temple to make a separation between the “holy” and the common (42:20), and the whole territory on top of the mountain shall be “most holy” (43:12).
- God’s “glory” will return (43:1–5), Israel will no longer defile God’s “holy” name (43:7), and the nations will know that God “sanctifies” Israel when his “sanctuary” is in their midst forever (37:28).
New Testament Use of Ezekiel
Section titled “New Testament Use of Ezekiel”| Ezekiel | New Testament / Fulfillment |
|---|---|
| 34:23–24; 37:24–26 — “One shepherd, my servant David” | John 10:11–16 |
| 44:3; 45:7ff.; 46:2ff.; 48:21–22 — “The prince” | Messianic prophecy |
| 36:25 — “I will sprinkle clean water on you” | Heb. 10:22 |
| 36:26–27 (= 11:19–20) — New heart and Spirit → keeping the law | Rom. 2:28–29; 5:5; 8:1–9; 2 Cor. 3:3 |
| 37:27 — “I will dwell among them” | 2 Cor. 6:16–17 |
| 37 — Valley of Dry Bones | The resurrection of the dead |
| 38–39 — Gog and Magog | Rev. 20:7–9; cf. 16:14 |
| 40–48 — The New Jerusalem | Rev. 3:21; 21–22 |
| 47:1–4 — Living water flowing from the temple | John 7:38; Rev. 22:1–2 |