Ezekial Chapter One
Ezekiel is a major prophet that God chose to foretell His warnings toward Jerusalem. What we are about to do is explain to you all what Ezekiel 1:4-21 means and how it can refer to other books in the Bible.
In Ezekiel 1 verse four, Ezekiel talks about a whirlwind from the north; a great cloud surrounded with fire and let off a brightness like the color of amber. In the Bible, the north refers to God's judgement on Israel. In verse four it says, "a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire." When it refers to the "great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself", it is referring back to Exodus, where God lead the Israelites through the wilderness and when Moses saw the burning bush. When God lead the Israelites through the wilderness, he lead them with a cloud in the day. It also explains in verse four that there was a brightness that "radiat[ed] out of its midst".
The radiating brightness that is being explained is symbolizing God's glory. In verses 5-9, out of the whirling cloud, came four creatures; Each had 3 faces of other animals and 1 face of a man. Their legs were straight and their feet resembled a calves foot. The creatures had 4 wings; 2 wings that would touch the tips of the other creatures wings and two that would wrap themselves. They flew in an unusual way. They wouldn’t fly normally like birds that swoop. They flew in straight paths only; to turn, they would stop turn to the designated direction and continue in a straight path. In verses 15-21, each creature would have a wheel underneath them. The wheels looked as if there is a wheel inside a wheel. - Sarah and P.R.
Ezekiel is a major prophet that God chose to foretell His warnings toward Jerusalem. What we are about to do is explain to you all what Ezekiel 1:4-21 means and how it can refer to other books in the Bible.
In Ezekiel 1 verse four, Ezekiel talks about a whirlwind from the north; a great cloud surrounded with fire and let off a brightness like the color of amber. In the Bible, the north refers to God's judgement on Israel. In verse four it says, "a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire." When it refers to the "great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself", it is referring back to Exodus, where God lead the Israelites through the wilderness and when Moses saw the burning bush. When God lead the Israelites through the wilderness, he lead them with a cloud in the day. It also explains in verse four that there was a brightness that "radiat[ed] out of its midst".
The radiating brightness that is being explained is symbolizing God's glory. In verses 5-9, out of the whirling cloud, came four creatures; Each had 3 faces of other animals and 1 face of a man. Their legs were straight and their feet resembled a calves foot. The creatures had 4 wings; 2 wings that would touch the tips of the other creatures wings and two that would wrap themselves. They flew in an unusual way. They wouldn’t fly normally like birds that swoop. They flew in straight paths only; to turn, they would stop turn to the designated direction and continue in a straight path. In verses 15-21, each creature would have a wheel underneath them. The wheels looked as if there is a wheel inside a wheel. - Sarah and P.R.
EZEKIEL 2: God sent Ezekiel a rebellious nation, He told him to speak the truth. And not conform to their rebellious actions.
Eze 2:7
"You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious."
God is warning Ezekiel that this rebellious nation will not listen to him and are blind to the Glory of God. Ezekiel's job was to receive and give God's messages to the people and then leave it up to God to decide how to let it impact them. Here, Ezekiel acted as a prophet the Lord.
Ezekiel 2:6-8
"Do not fear, but speak boldly"
God told Ezekiel that he would be rejected many times and they will sting like briars, thorns, and like scorpions. Even though he will face these problems he should not back down but instead stand tall and speak louder. This was not hard for Ezekiel because he had been exposed to the glory of God and was fully convinced of His power. - Shelby and Dylan
Eze 2:7
"You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious."
God is warning Ezekiel that this rebellious nation will not listen to him and are blind to the Glory of God. Ezekiel's job was to receive and give God's messages to the people and then leave it up to God to decide how to let it impact them. Here, Ezekiel acted as a prophet the Lord.
Ezekiel 2:6-8
"Do not fear, but speak boldly"
God told Ezekiel that he would be rejected many times and they will sting like briars, thorns, and like scorpions. Even though he will face these problems he should not back down but instead stand tall and speak louder. This was not hard for Ezekiel because he had been exposed to the glory of God and was fully convinced of His power. - Shelby and Dylan
Ezekiel 3:1 Starts off with talking about eating a scroll. Now this does not mean that he had to physically eat a scroll. It means that he had to digest the word and know what it meant. But it did appear to him in a vision which he thought was real. He could never be full of what the word could give you. And he said after the vison it was very sweet. And if you don’t think so there is something wrong with your spirit.
He was then instructed to go to the house of Israel and recant what he had learned. He was sent to the house of Israel instead of just to minister to normal people because he would go so in depth and might use language common people would not understand. And because they were not paying attention to God himself. And because they would not listen to God they were not going to listen to him. But God prepared him for what he was going to do and he sent them in there with persistence and a will to do it against the rebellious house.
God also said to him that he would speak words to him that would go to his heart. And that he needs to speak them. - Garrett and Trent
He was then instructed to go to the house of Israel and recant what he had learned. He was sent to the house of Israel instead of just to minister to normal people because he would go so in depth and might use language common people would not understand. And because they were not paying attention to God himself. And because they would not listen to God they were not going to listen to him. But God prepared him for what he was going to do and he sent them in there with persistence and a will to do it against the rebellious house.
God also said to him that he would speak words to him that would go to his heart. And that he needs to speak them. - Garrett and Trent
Ezekiel 28 talks about the Prince of Babylon named Tyre. He regarded himself as a God and the wealth, wisdom and excessive pride above all other cities made her arrogant. God did not punish her for his riches He punished him for the corruption. God brings the forces of multitudes against him to end his corruption. This chapter is the downfall of his leadership. This chapter is a representation of the fall of Satan. Just like Tyre and Satan they were both created beings and both failed God though there excessive greed and pride. Tyre was described as a perfect being in perfection, wisdom and beauty, just as Satan is. God sends Ezekiel to warn Tyre of the outcomes of his wrong doings.
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Ezekiel 37
We are here to explain chapter 37 of Ezekiel. This is one of the most important and visual chapters in Ezekiel. It is also one of the most confusing chapters. This follows Ezekiel’s prophecy of the rebirth of Israel.
The very first verse tells of Ezekiel being brought to the valley of dry bones through the Spirit of the Lord. This alone might be enough to make most people curious, but it gets better. The valley, as David Guzik describes it, was “a large expanse… truly Death Valley.” The ground of the valley was full of human bones all around him. These bones depict Israel and its sin by the common thought of that day that it was disgrace of the highest order to be left unburied. The reason that it’s such a disgrace is because they believed that the unburied would be lost to history, never to be remembered.
One main focus of this is that they are continually called “dry bones”, suggesting that they have been dead for a long time. It also depicts to common belief that they would never live again. Of course, God defies this. Ezekiel had no hope that the bones would live again, but he had hope in God.
God told Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones. Ezekiel knew the power of God, so he obeyed. The bones began to grow sinews and muscle and skin over them. They reformed in a reverse of the decomposition process, which is a very specific way to regain their form.
However, they did not move. They were not yet alive, so God told Ezekiel again to prophesy to the bones (which now were bodies) that God would breathe His life into them. Ezekiel did so, and in Ezekiel 37:9-10, the bones received their breath and their new life through the Spirit of God. The spirit came upon them like a wind. This miracle of creation shows God’s full power and authority over the living and the dead. It was also one of the most visual representations of God rebuilding the nation of Israel.
The bones represent Israel, and the breath of life represents Holy Spirit coming into them and making them a new nation. The Spirit of God brought a spiritual revival upon the people. This is only Ezekiel 37:1-14, and much more happens in the rest of the chapter involving sticks and symbolism.
- Sarah and Keegan