why Ezekiel sometimes acted out his message in bizarre fashion, read "Living Parables.") Don't skip ahead too fast as you read - take time to think about the message in each section. Remember that the book of Ezekiel compresses messages God gave over 22 years. Try to imagine the impact of each message on the people who first heard or saw it.
Most of what Ezekiel said in Babylonia concerned a dramatic military situation hundreds of miles away in Jerusalem. His message changed from doom to hope in chapter 33; the turning point came with news of Jerusalem's fall. You can get to know the historical situation by reading 2 Kings 23:36-25:12.
A fascinating though difficult study is the design of the renewed temple, which Ezekiel described in chapters 40-43. A commentary on Ezekiel or a Bible dictionary (under Ezekiel" or "temple") can help immensely in understanding these visions. |
