Daily Bread for Aug 30, Eze 1-4

Todays' readings are Eze 1-4.

Eze 1:1-3 places the Book of Ezekiel in history. Ezekiel is called to be a prophet in 593 BC, 7 years prior to the fall of Jerusalem. He was one of the early exiles taken to Babylon in 597. He writes to his fellow exiles but also warns of the coming fall of the Great City, Jerusalem. 

The book is divided into three sections. Eze 1-24 warns of the judgment coming upon Jerusalem and Judah. Eze 25-32 prophesy judgment on the nations surrounding Judah. The supernatural restoration of God's people and their resumption of godly worship are foretold in Eze 33-48.

Periodically, Ezekiel is called to behave unusually as a prophetic symbol to God's people. Sometimes, the results are tragic, teaching solemn lessons and demonstrating God's uncompromising holiness. 

Eze 1 situates Ezekiel near the Chebar Canal, probably about 20 miles Northwest of Babylon.

Many trees have been sacrificed trying to interpret the visions in Eze 1. Most attempts fail to recognize that Ezekiel and his primary readers are living in Babylon, a pagan nation worshiping pagan gods. Even the Jews living among them would be aware of the gods the Babylonians worshiped. The visions concern those pagan gods.

Ezekiel sees a storm coming out of the North, toward Judah. The vision of the looming storm is prophetic of the coming invasion by the Babylonians and their siege upon Jerusalem. The strange images of wheels within wheels and bizarre creatures resemble the characteristics of several Babylonian gods while pointing cryptically toward the one, true God at the same time. The key verses in understanding these visions are Eze 1:26-28. God sits on His throne above all the creatures and devices described in the vision. Ezekiel wants his readers to understand that the glory of God rises above all other gods and sits enthroned over all creation. Ezekiel's vision is a message conveying the truth that the God of the Hebrews has sovereign authority over all nations and all other gods.

In Eze 2-3, Ezekiel is sent to another city and told to sit in silence for a week. Ezekiel is going to be a watchman and a prophet. His first duty is to see what's going on around him. Then he will be called to speak the truth about it. If he is faithful to the call, proclaiming the word of God to the righteous and the wicked, they will be judged according to their behavior. If Ezekiel fails to deliver the message, he will be responsible for the lives of those he watches over. This is a sobering message to those who are called to preach God’s word.

In Eze 4, a symbolic behavior is prescribed. He is to lie on his left side for 390 days, one day for each of the years Israel would be in captivity. Then he will lie on his right side for 40 days, one for each of the years Judah will be in captivity. He will eat 8 oz of bread each day and drink about 10 oz of water, symbolizing the food rationing that will be necessary during the siege of Jerusalem. He must bake the bread over dung, foreshadowing the trials of the exiles who will have to eat the food of an unclean people in an unclean land.

What we see established in the first four chapters is a man of God, sent to His people with a specific message. If they listen to him and repent, they will be spared judgment. If they reject him and his message, the wrath of God will fall upon them.