Overview of the Bible: Ezekiel

 

Ezekiel  

video lesson

Title: Ezekiel – God strengthens (makes harder), cp. 3:8-9. The name is used only twice in the book (1:3 and 24:24).  

Date of writing: see the Date of Narrative (looks like he wrote down each vision right after the experience)

Date of Narrative: 592 BC

Structure: Dorsey, p. 257

I. First collection of messages, 1 - 7

II. Second collection of messages, 8 – 13

III. Third collection of messages, 14 – 19

IV. Fourth collection of messages, 20 – 24

V. Oracles against the nations (7 nations), 25 – 32

VI. Messages about Israel’s punishment and restoration, 33 – 39

VII. New Temple and new land, 40 – 48

Main themes:

Sacred presence of God. Apart from mysterious vision of the chariot of fire (cp. 2 Kings 2:1-14) it is important to notice that God moves using only straight lines. When He changes the direction, it takes a 90 degree turn, no curving. It is worthy to compare it with the structure and furniture set up of the Tabernacle and the Temple. Everything is “cubic” except the bronze ocean in the Temple. Ocean, being round and supported by the 12 bulls, symbolizes the gentiles. When Israel is unfaithful (bulls collapse) and the water of judgement is poured over the face of the earth.     

Son of Man. The term is used 94 times in the Old Testament. 93 out of them are in the Book of Ezekiel. Observing what he is charged to do and how he acts toward his deceased wife, it becomes obvious that he is ordained by God (ch. 1-3) to be the High Priest for the Israel in exile. Therefore, when we read that Jesus is called the Son of Man in the Gospels, we need to see him as the one who carries out the [High] priestly ministry.  

Justice (second and 6^th blocks) in the Book of Ezekiel depends on God’s definition of righteousness. It is closely connected with a sense of LORD’S presence. That’s why the theme is brought up in the block that shows God’s glory moving out of the Temple and then in the block of the promises of the future restoration. 

Main Characters: Ezekiel, elders of Judah/Israel, Ezekiel’s wife, Gog and Magog

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

Chapters 8 – 11 talk about the glory of the LORD leaving the Temple because of the abomination done by the leaders of Israel. This is what creates desolation (cp. 1 Sam. 2 – 4; Dan. 9:22; 11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15).   

The relations of YHWH and Israel are presented in a context of marriage symbolism – ch. 16. This continues the train of thought beginning from the Song of Songs (Solomon) through Lamentations to the Revelation 22.

Lutheran teaching:

Ez. 33:11 (see the memory verse) tells that God does not have a pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wants his repentance. This passage is an important part of the discussion of Repentance [Ap. XXIa (V)], but also the eternal foreknowledge of God about those who going to be saved [FC, Epitome XI].

The article in the Formula of Concord on Foreknowledge of God picks up on the heretical idea that Jesus, knowing who is not going to be saved, did not die for the infidels. Along with 33:11, 18:23 is an important reference point from the Book of Ezekiel to reject this idea [FC, Epitome XI:10]. 

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 583 – God has spoken by His Prophets (stanza 1 – righteous Lord).

Relevancy of the Book:

Reading the Book of Ezekiel helps to see the value of godly worship in connection with the issues of “social justice”. Social justice without orthodoxy will retain the presence of God, but orthodoxy without care for the less fortunate is an hypocrisy that will result in God’s abandonment of the House of the LORD.   

Memory verses:  

33:11 –  As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

Overview of the Bible: Lamentations

Lamentations

 

video lesson  

Title: The cry of the destroyed Jerusalem by Jeremiah.

Hebrew: Eyha(h) – “How” is taken from the first word of the book.  

Date of writing: 586 BC

Structure:

Five chapters – the best identified structurally book of the Bible. To understand the structure of the book we need to know that the Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters. 

Chapters 1&2 – 22 verses, acrostic based the Hebrew alphabet – from Aleph to Tov.

Chapter 3 – 66 verses = 22*3, acrostic where verses are grouped into the blocks of three 1-2-3 (Aleph), 4-5-6 (Beit), etc. each of the verses begins with the related letter of the Hebrew alphabet.   

Chapter 4 – 22 verses, acrostic based the Hebrew alphabet – from Aleph to Tov.

Chapter 5 – 22 verses, no acrostic…

There are few theories why the book is structured this way.  

Main themes:

Destruction of the City and Temple.

Faithfulness of God in the midst of the total world collapse.

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

The Book is written as a result of what Jeremiah prophesied about. Therefore, it is important to remember how Jeremiah prophesied about the Temple turned into an idol (Jer. 7:1-20; Ez. 8 – 11).

The destruction of the Temple means the “destruction” of the regular festive times, priestly office, and the connection with the Temple mount (cp. 2:6, 9-10; Ps. 137).

The city (Jerusalem) is presented as a woman who was left/betrayed by her (foreign) lovers. The image is picked up/developed by the Prophet Ezekiel (ch. 16) when he writes about the unfaithful bride of the LORD. Also, theme of uncleanness which begins in Leviticus 12 – 15.  

When Jesus weeps over Jerusalem predicting the fall of great and glorious buildings (Mt. 23:37-39; Lk. 13:31-35), He is presented as a greater Jeremiah.    

Lutheran teaching:

Even though the Lutheran Confessions do not refer to the Book of Lamentations explicitly, two themes of the book are very important for the teaching of the Lutheran Church. First, God’s love is the foundation and the reason for our salvation. The Jews in the days of Jeremiah could not do anything to recover from the disaster of Temple destruction. It was God who carried them through the tunnel of national death and resurrection. Ap. V(III):26; 58-61.

Second, this love is not only should in the act of God’s deliverance but is an aspect of continual mercy for us on daily basis. God is the one who provides for us in our daily needs. Cp. SC II:1. 

Lutheran hymnody:

760 - What God ordained is always good

809 – Great is Thy faithfulness

Relevancy of the Book:

The Book of Lamentations is an important part of the canon. We remember about God’s love and mercy, but along with that we need to understand the reasons for His mercy – the infidelity of His people. As the people of old were punished, we can expect the punishment of the same grandiose magnitude if a nation is not going to submit to Christ’s rule.

At the same time, we can expect that loving Father will carry us through the present-day storms and attacks of Zeit Geist. The world/creation is sustained by His love and great faithfulness. We are but the agents who bring this love and faithfulness into a reality.       

Memory verses:  

3:22-23, The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.