“And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the mid thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.” — Ezekiel 1:4 (KJV)
The Priest-Prophet of the Exile
Ezekiel, whose name means “God Strengthens,” was a priest of the line of Zadok who was carried away into Babylonian captivity in the second deportation (597 BC), along with King Jehoiachin. While he had been trained for service in the Temple in Jerusalem, he found himself instead among the captives by the River Chebar.
At the age of thirty—the age he would have normally commenced his priestly duties—God opened the heavens and commissioned him as a prophet. He was the “watchman” for the house of Israel, tasked with speaking to a “stiffhearted” people who had lost their land and their identity.
A Ministry of Signs and Wonders
Ezekiel’s ministry is unique for its use of dramatic symbolic acts and complex visions. Because the people would not listen to words alone, God commanded Ezekiel to “act out” his prophecies:
- The Siege of Jerusalem: He lay on his side for 430 days to bear the iniquity of Israel and Judah.
- The Shaving of His Head: He used his hair to demonstrate the three fates of the people (pestilence, sword, and scattering).
- The Death of His Wife: God forbade him from mourning the “desire of his eyes” as a sign of the coming unspeakable grief of the fall of Jerusalem.
His visions are among the most magnificent in Scripture, including the Vision of the Chariot (the Merkabah), the Valley of Dry Bones, and the detailed plans for a New Temple yet to come.
The Departure and Return of Glory
The central theme of Ezekiel’s work is the Glory of the Lord (Kavod YHWH).
- The Departure: In a heartbreaking vision, Ezekiel saw the Glory of God lift from the Mercy Seat, move to the threshold, and eventually depart from the city of Jerusalem because of the people’s abominations.
- The Return: The book concludes with a vision of the Glory returning to a new, sanctified Temple, ending with the promise of the city’s new name: Jehovah-shammah, or “The Lord is there.”
The Theological Significance
Ezekiel serves as the great theologian of Individual Responsibility and Spiritual Resurrection:
- Individual Accountability: He corrected the proverb that children were punished for their fathers’ sins, declaring, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20), emphasizing a personal relationship with God.
- The New Heart: He prophesied the New Covenant promise that God would take away the “stony heart” and give His people a “heart of flesh,” putting His Spirit within them.
- God’s Holiness: More than any other prophet, Ezekiel emphasizes that God acts “for His holy name’s sake,” ensuring that His character is vindicated among the nations.
Summary
Ezekiel was a man of iron will who stood as a bridge between the old world of the Temple and the new reality of the Exile. He proved that God’s presence is not confined to a building or a border, but follows His people into the “rivers of Babylon.” He remains the prophet of hope, looking past the dry bones of national ruin toward a future of spiritual life and divine indwelling.