Prophetic object lessons

Children benefit from instruction that uses illustrative objects and activities. So do adults.

Ezekiel 4

• Playing war; laying siege using a tile and a pan (v. 1-3)
• Lying down on the job, on one side and then on the other (v. 4-8)
• Cheap bread and beans and alternative energy (v. 9-17)

Ezekiel 5

• Shave and a haircut (v. 1-4)
• All metaphors aside, God will destroy the land because they had abandoned Him (v. 5-17)

[print_link]

Ezekiel’s Commission

Ezekiel was drafted to preach to a congregation that would not listen to his preaching. (Chapter 2)

• Stand up, and I will speak to you (v. 1)
• The spirit entered into him while God spoke (v. 2).
• His new title: Son of Man
• Knowing his audience: they are rebellious, impudent and stiffhearted (v. 3-4)
• Yet God graciously sends His prophet to them. This they cannot deny (v. 5).
• Fear not what man can do to you (v. 6).
• Preach the Word of God (v. 7).
• In the world, but not of it (v. 8).
• A handout from God (v. 9).
• Written lamentations (v. 10).

Eating God’s words (Chapter 3)

• Sweeter than the honey (v. 1-3; Psalm 19:7-11).
• No need to learn a foreign language (v. 4-6).
• Although there will be no language barrier, yet they will not hear (v. 7-11).
• One week to observe the people before he began to preach to them (v. 12-15)
• The watchman’s responsibility and accountability (v. 16-21).
• Another place; another vision of the glory of God (v. 22-23).
• The Spirit comes upon the prophet so that he may understand the word of God (v. 24-27).

[print_link]

No Fooling

Ezekiel’s vision of God (Ezekiel 1:1)

• When did Ezekiel receive this revelation? (v. 1-3)
• Four creatures and four wheels (v. 4-25)
• Your attention please: look at the throne (v. 26-28)

Meditation point:

Do not spend more time on the details than you do on the big idea of the vision. Too much emphasis has been placed upon the winged creatures and “Ezekiel’s wheels.” Not enough attention has been paid to that which Ezekiel says quite plainly (Ezekiel 1:28)—this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

[print_link]

The End of Babylon

Continuing the predictions concerning the destruction of Babylon.

• Although Israel had prayed for the conversion of its captors, Babylon was not to be saved (v. 1-14).
• God is powerful and wise; men without God are not (v. 15-19)
• Thus Babylon will be destroyed by an enemy equally violent. Though the enemy flood in like the sea, Babylon shall remain a desert (v. 20-44)
• Again the now freed captives are enjoined to flee the land and avoid the destruction of the idolatrous Babylon (v. 45-58).
• Babylon is sunk (v. 59-64).

[print_link]