Ezekiel was the prophet to the people during their 70-year exile in Babylon, an exile predicted by the former “major prophet,” Jeremiah. Like Jeremiah, in addition to being a prophet of God, Ezekiel was also a priest, and therefore, his prophetic ministry shows a priestly emphasis in his concern with the temple, the priesthood, the sacrifices, and the glory of God. Ezekiel received a number of visions of the power and plan of God, and he provided clear descriptions of his visions as he documented them using parables, signs, and symbols to dramatize God’s message to His exiled people.
The Babylonian invasion and destruction came in three stages. First, in 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar carried off key hostages including Daniel (our next prophet) and his friends. Then in 597 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar once again removed people from Jerusalem and this time he carried off Ezekiel along with thousands of other Jews. Finally, in 586 B.C, Nebuchadnezzar came and destroyed the city, killing tens of thousands and destroying the city walls and the temple. Ezekiel was 25 years old when he was carried away to Babylon and 30 years old when God called him to prophesy. Daniel had been deported 8 years prior to Ezekiel, and by the time Ezekiel arrived, Daniel was already well known in the courts of the king.
The broad purpose of Ezekiel’s ministry was to remind the generation born during the exile of the root causes of Israel’s destruction and of the coming judgment on the gentile nations as they gloated over Israel’s demise. He also encouraged the people with prophecies of the future restoration of the nation and eventual return to their homeland. Regarding that future restoration, one of Ezekiel’s visions has been called “The Vision of Dry Bones” (Ezek. 37:1-14). It is quite possible that as Ezekiel was led away from Jerusalem to Babylon with the other exiles, he saw, or envisioned seeing, thousands of “dry bones” of his countrymen laying scorched in the sun littering the road to Babylon. Ezekiel used this picture to proclaim that God will gather them once again, breathe life into them, and that the nation will return to Israel after the period of captivity ended. He wanted the people to know that present judgment will eventually bring future restoration. Here is the final line of his vision,
“And I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it…” (Ezek. 37:14).
In the previous chapter, Ezekiel included the following promise to the nation, a promise that would have both immediate implications as they prepared for their return, but also implications of its true and complete fulfillment once Messiah arrived on the scene. Here is Ezekiel’s vision,
“I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God” (Ezek. 36:24-28).
Notice that the LORD’s promise given through Ezekiel included cleansing from sin and receiving a new heart and a new spirit. This new heart and spirit would give them the power to faithfully observe the Lord’s ordinances. Once again, although this prophecy had implications for their return, the fulfillment would have to wait six hundred years until the time Messiah would bring forgiveness of sins along with receiving the gift of “LIFE” that comes only from Him.
Ezekiel also condemned the corrupt leadership of the nation, by calling them “false shepherds” who led the people astray and eventually into captivity. Here is what Ezekiel had to say about them,
“Woe shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and severity you have dominated them; and they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered. My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill, and My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them” (Ezek. 34:1-6).
But now look at what Ezekiel says about the future,
“Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his flock in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered….I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. …I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest…I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick;…” (Ezek. 34:11-16).
Of course, the long-range fulfillment of Ezekiel’s vision was when Jesus, the Good Shepherd, appeared in Israel. Remember what Jesus said about Himself,
“I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep….My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (Jn. 10:11, 27-28).
Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” of whom Ezekiel spoke. This Good Shepherd died for our sins, was buried, rose again, ascended into heaven, and is alive today to hear and respond to our prayers. And because He is alive, He is ready and willing to respond to all of our needs. Although He knows what they are before we ask, He wants us to take the time to ask Him anyway. So, if you need to know the Good Shepherd as your Lord and Savior, just confess your sins to Him and He will cleanse you and give you His life as a gift. Or, if you simply need to be cared for by the Good Shepherd, He is ready to provide for you all of the comfort and care that you need. Just ask Him.
Peggy and I want to wish you a wonderful Independence Day. Blessings to all of you.
