August 27

Ezekiel 1-4 (biblegateway.com)

God’s Glory Among the Exiles

With the fall of Jerusalem and the closing chapters of Jeremiah, we have witnessed God’s judgment poured out on Judah and His warnings against the surrounding nations, including mighty Babylon. Jeremiah’s prophecies highlighted God’s sovereignty, justice, and covenant faithfulness, even in the midst of devastation. Now, as we turn to the book of Ezekiel, we shift both location and perspective, moving from Jeremiah, who ministered in Jerusalem and later in Egypt, to Ezekiel, a prophet among the exiles."

Ezekiel 1: The Vision of God’s Glory

The book of Ezekiel opens by situating the prophet in exile, far from the temple in Jerusalem (v. 1). Taken captive in 597 B.C. with King Jehoiachin and about 10,000 others during the second deportation (2 Kings 24:10–17), Ezekiel lived among the exiles at Tel-abib by the Chebar Canal (Ezek. 3:15), a branch of the Euphrates near Nippur, located between modern-day Baghdad and Basra. Shortly after the deportation, Nebuchadnezzar installed Zedekiah as his puppet king in Jerusalem.

Although some question Ezekiel’s exact location after the exile and how he could describe Jerusalem and the temple in such detail while living in Babylon, most scholars agree that he prophesied from exile and received these vivid visions through divine revelation. His detailed knowledge of temple practices and the city underscores the supernatural nature of his prophetic insight, and his symbolic actions communicated God’s message to the exiles, emphasizing that his authority and perspective came from God rather than from physical presence in Jerusalem. Therefore, the most accurate understanding is that he ministered in Babylon, with God granting him supernatural visions.

Ezekiel was a priest by background, thoroughly acquainted with the temple and its rituals, though he likely never served in it. Prevented from fulfilling his priestly duties, which included teaching the law, distinguishing between clean and unclean, and interceding for the people, he was called instead to a new role as prophet. His ministry combined both priestly and prophetic functions: proclaiming God’s word of judgment and blessing, interpreting the covenant, and mediating between the holy God and His exiled people.

The reference to the “thirtieth year” (v. 1) most likely refers to Ezekiel’s age at the time of his prophetic call. According to the law, priests were set apart for full service at the age of thirty (Num. 4:3). The date of his call is specified more precisely as “the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile” v. 2). It was at that time that Ezekiel received his inaugural vision from the Lord. His prophetic ministry continued until about 570 B.C., the 27th year of Jehoiachin’s exile (Ezek. 29:17).

Ezekiel’s story reminds us that even when circumstances cut off one calling, God can open another. Though Ezekiel could not serve as a priest in the temple, the Lord raised him up as a prophet to deliver His word in exile. God’s presence and power are not confined to buildings, places, or positions; they meet His people wherever they are. For us today, Ezekiel’s call is a challenge to remain faithful and open to God’s leading, even when our plans change. God can turn seasons of loss or displacement into opportunities for new ministry, equipping us to serve Him in ways we never expected.

God communicated to Ezekiel in visions. A vision is a miraculous revelation of God’s truth. These visions seem strange to us because they are apocalyptic. This means that Ezekiel saw symbolic pictures that vividly conveyed an idea. The first vision described in verse 4 begins with a stormy wind from the north, a great cloud flashing with fire and brilliance. Out of the fire appear four living creatures (v. 5). These beings are identified in chapter 10 as cherubim, a special order of angelic beings. The general appearance of the living beings was somewhat like a man; however, each had four faces and four wings (v. 6). The prophet explains these features in detail in verses 10-11: “As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle (v. 10).”

The four living creatures moved in perfect unity. Two of their wings stretched outward and touched one another, forming a connected square. With four faces looking in every direction, they were able to move straight ahead without turning (v. 8-9). Two other wings of each creature were raised upward, touching the wings of those beside them, creating a box-like formation, while their remaining wings covered their bodies in reverence before God’s holy presence (v. 11). Wherever the Spirit directed them, they moved straight ahead without turning (v. 12).

Also, the cherubim’s legs were straight, which implies that they were standing upright, but their feet were calf-like instead of human, and Ezekiel said the four cherubim also had human-like hands (v. 7-8). Their appearance was radiant, like glowing metal (v. 4), burnished bronze (v. 7), and burning coals or torches (v. 13), and they darted back and forth like flashes of lightning (v. 14).

Beside each living creature was a wheel that intersected another at right angles, allowing the entire structure to move in any direction without turning (v. 15–17). These wheels, immense and awe-inspiring in height, had rims covered with eyes all around, symbolizing God’s perfect knowledge and omniscience, the truth that nothing in creation is hidden from His sight (v. 18). As the living creatures moved, the wheels moved with them, directed by the Spirit. Wherever the Spirit went, the creatures and wheels followed in perfect harmony (v. 19-21). This vision assured the exiles that God was not confined to Jerusalem or its temple but was sovereign everywhere, present with His people even in Babylon, ruling over all life and history.

Above the living creatures was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, stretched out over their heads (v. 22). Beneath this expanse, their wings were extended straight, while two of their wings covered their bodies. When they moved, the sound of their wings was like rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, or like the roar of an army; but when they stood still, they lowered their wings (v. 23–24). And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads (v. 25).

Above the expanse was the likeness of a sapphire throne. Seated high above the throne was a figure with the appearance of a man (v. 26). From the waist up, he looked like glowing metal, full of fire, and from the waist down, he appeared as fire surrounded by brilliant radiance (v. 27). The light around him was like a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day (v. 28), with brightness all around.

The expanse separated the living creatures from the throne of God Himself. The imagery builds upward, layer upon layer, leading finally to the climax of the vision, where Ezekiel concluded that this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Overwhelmed by the vision, he falls facedown and hears the voice of one speaking (v. 28).

Ezekiel’s vision of God’s glory presents a God who is both awe-inspiring in holiness and steadfast in mercy. The overwhelming brilliance of His presence caused Ezekiel to fall facedown, reminding us of the natural human response to God’s majesty: humility, reverence, and a recognition of our own limitations. The four living creatures and the wheels demonstrate God’s perfect order, power, and oversight, moving in unison under the Spirit’s direction, a vivid picture of His control over all creation and history. Yet amid this display of judgment, the rainbow above the throne symbolizes God’s enduring faithfulness; even when He allows correction and discipline, He preserves a remnant and promises restoration.

This vision calls believers to respond with reverent obedience and awe, to trust that God’s judgment is purposeful, and to cling to the hope that His mercy extends even in the face of overwhelming trials. Just as Ezekiel was commissioned to bring hope to the exiles, we too are challenged to align our lives with God’s holiness, submit to His guidance, and live in faithful dependence on His unchanging presence.

Ezekiel 1 sets the foundation for the rest of the book. It confronts us with the reality that God’s glory is not bound by geography or circumstance. His throne is above all nations, His Spirit directs all creation, and His purposes are unstoppable. Like Ezekiel, our response should be awe, surrender, and readiness to hear and obey His word.

Ezekiel 2: The Prophet’s Commission

The vision of glory culminates in a call that is both sweet and severe. After being overwhelmed by the vision of God’s glory, Ezekiel hears the voice of the Lord calling him to his task.

Ezekiel is told to stand on his feet to receive his message, then God addresses him as “Son of man” (Heb. ben-’adam), a title used over ninety times in this book (v. 1). This phrase highlights Ezekiel’s humanity and frailty in the presence of God’s overwhelming majesty and the heavenly beings surrounding Him. It reminds us of the vast gulf between the immortal Creator and finite man, yet it is remarkable that God chooses to accomplish His divine purposes through imperfect human beings. Though Ezekiel is just one among the exiled Israelites, he is called to stand as a representative of a new community of faith, empowered by the Spirit for obedience and service (v. 2).

The title “Son of man” also foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true Son of Man, who combines the glory of the heavenly Son of Man with authentic humanity. In His earthly ministry, Jesus shared our weaknesses and sorrows yet remained without sin, fully empowered by the Spirit to obey the Father. Through His resurrection, He inaugurates the new community of Spirit-filled believers who find hope and life in Him.

God then sends Ezekiel to “the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels” who have turned against Him (v. 3). Unlike Isaiah, who encountered a vision of God’s holiness before a people with “unclean lips,” Ezekiel is sent to a people marked by hardened hearts and stiff necks (v. 4). The task before him is daunting: he is not sent to foreigners with strange speech, but to his own people, who ought to know God’s covenant yet they persist in rebellion. Whether they listen or refuse, they will know that a prophet has been among them (v. 5). This shows that the success of Ezekiel’s mission does not rest on the people’s response but on his faithfulness to speak God’s word.

God warns him not to fear the people, even though they are like briers and thorns, and like scorpions against him (v. 6). The imagery conveys hostility and resistance; Ezekiel’s calling will not be easy. Yet he is to speak God’s words regardless of their reception (v. 7). This reminds us that obedience to God is measured not by results but by faithfulness. The prophet is called to proclaim truth, even when it is rejected. To symbolize this commission, God presents Ezekiel with a scroll written on both sides, covered not with hopeful promises but with “words of lamentation, mourning, and woe” (v. 8-10).

Ezekiel 2 highlights both the seriousness of God’s message and the cost of faithful ministry. The prophet is empowered by the Spirit, sent to a resistant people, and given a message that is heavy with judgment. For us today, the challenge is similar: to embrace God’s word fully, even when it confronts and unsettles us, and to remain faithful in speaking truth with courage and humility. The chapter reminds us that God’s servants are called not to popularity or ease, but to obedience.

Ezekiel 3: The Watchman’s Burden

The chapter begins with God commanding Ezekiel to eat the scroll and then go speak to the house of Israel (v. 1). This eating represents not only accepting but fully internalizing God’s word. It must shape his inner being before he can proclaim it. Remarkably, though the scroll was filled with lamentation and woe, it tasted as sweet as honey to Ezekiel (v. 2-3). This paradox reminds us that God’s word, even when it carries judgment, is ultimately good and life-giving for those who receive it. To the faithful, obedience to His word is sweet, no matter how weighty the message.

Ezekiel is then told that he will not be sent to foreigners with an unfamiliar tongue, but to his own people (v. 4-6). Ironically, God declares that foreign nations would have listened, but Israel, with hardened hearts, will not (v. 7). Still, Ezekiel is made as hard as they are, his forehead like the hardest stone, so that he will not be crushed by their resistance (v. 8-9). The prophet’s resilience is God-given; the Spirit equips him with the strength needed to withstand rejection. For us, this speaks to the need for spiritual toughness in a world often resistant to truth.

God emphasizes that Ezekiel must listen carefully and take to heart His words, then proclaim them whether or not the people respond (v. 10-11). The Spirit then lifts him up, accompanied by the sound of mighty wings and wheels, and the glory of God fills the air with a thunderous voice of praise (v. 12-13). This awe-inspiring display reinforces that Ezekiel’s mission rests not on his own authority but on the weight of God’s glory.

Carried by the Spirit, Ezekiel is taken to the exiles by the Chebar canal, where he sits among them, overwhelmed and silent for seven days (v. 14-15). His silence shows the gravity of his commission; before speaking to others, he must first sit with the burden of God’s message. Sometimes, faithful ministry begins with deep reflection and grief before it moves to proclamation.

The Lord then appoints Ezekiel as a watchman for Israel (v. 16-17). This role carries immense responsibility: if he warns the wicked and they ignore him, their blood is on their own heads, but if he fails to warn them, God will hold him accountable (v. 18-19). Similarly, if he neglects to warn the righteous who turn from God, their fall is on him (v. 20-21). This underscores the seriousness of speaking God’s word faithfully. Silence in the face of sin is itself a form of guilt.

Finally, God instructs Ezekiel to go into the valley, where again he beholds the glory of the Lord and falls on his face (v. 22-23). The Spirit enters him once more and commands him to shut himself inside his house, where he will be bound and unable to speak freely except when God opens his mouth (v. 24-27). Ezekiel is to speak only what God commands, no more and no less. This shows that a prophet’s power lies not in eloquence but in absolute obedience to the divine word.

Ezekiel 3 presents a sobering picture of prophetic ministry. The prophet must absorb God’s word deeply, carry it as both sweetness and burden, and faithfully deliver it regardless of response. His role as watchman highlights the responsibility of spiritual leaders, and of all believers, to warn, exhort, and encourage with God’s truth. For us, the challenge is twofold: to internalize God’s word until it shapes our lives, and to have the courage to speak it faithfully, remembering that silence in the face of sin is complicity.

Additionally, God’s work in the world depends not on human ability but on His Spirit. When God commands Ezekiel to act, it is only through divine empowerment that the prophet can obey. This moment challenges all believers to recognize that service to God, whether in ministry, daily obedience, or acts of mercy, cannot rely on our own strength but requires the Spirit’s presence and guidance. God calls, equips, and sustains those He chooses, transforming frailty into faithful service and human limitation into the vessel of His glory.

Ezekiel 4: Signs of the Coming Siege

Next, Ezekiel is instructed to perform a sign-act. A sign-act is a prophetic action that visually symbolizes God’s message. Instead of speaking only words, the prophet performs a dramatic action, such as lying on one side, shaving their head, or cooking in a specific way, to illustrate God’s warning or promise. In Ezekiel, these actions helped the exiles understand the coming judgment and consequences for Jerusalem in a tangible, memorable way.

The Lord commanded Ezekiel to take a clay tablet and sketch the city of Jerusalem on it, then simulate a siege with ramps, camps, and battering rams (v. 1-2). This miniature representation vividly illustrated Jerusalem’s impending fall, showing the exiles in Babylon that they were not far off from the fate of their homeland. The “clay tablet” likely refers to a sun-baked brick, familiar in Babylonian construction, which Ezekiel could clearly mark with the city’s outline. Interestingly, bricks or clay tablets, about ten inches (25 cm) by twenty inches (51 cm) in size, have been found throughout Mesopotamia with maps or architectural drawings inscribed on them.

God then instructed Ezekiel to place an iron plate between himself and the city (v. 3). The “plate” probably referred to an iron plate or griddle used by the Israelites for baking their bread or cakes. Some scholars believe the iron pan was positioned to represent the severity or irresistible nature of the siege. More likely, the pan symbolized the unyielding barrier of God’s judgment, indicating that Jerusalem’s cries for deliverance would go unanswered because of her persistent sin. The time for intercession had passed, and God Himself was standing against Jerusalem. This emphasizes the sobering truth that persistent rebellion can lead to God’s judgment becoming fixed and unavoidable.

Next, Ezekiel is commanded to lie on his left side for 390 days, bearing the punishment of Israel, then on his right side for 40 days, bearing Judah’s punishment (v. 4-6). Each day represented a year of judgment. The image is striking: the prophet’s very body becomes a sign of the people’s sin, lying immobilized under the weight of their guilt. God even restrains him so that he cannot turn over until the days are completed (v. 8). The meaning of these actions is somewhat unclear. The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, adds to the confusion by recording 190 days instead of 390. As a result, this remains one of the most challenging prophetic signs in the book, due both to the ambiguity of the text itself and to the textual discrepancies.

As the instructions continue, to portray the severity of famine during the siege, Ezekiel is told to eat a meager portion of bread made from a mixture of grains and beans, baked over cow dung as fuel (v. 9-15). The combination of ingredients and the small rations reflects scarcity and desperation. The unclean cooking method symbolized the defilement Israel would face in exile, eating “unclean food among the nations.” Though Ezekiel protests using human dung (v. 12), God allows cow dung (v. 15) instead, showing both the prophet’s sensitivity to holiness and God’s concession without diminishing the severity of the sign. This paints a vivid picture of how rebellion against God leads to not only hunger but also shame and defilement.

The chapter closes with God explaining that the people will eat bread by weight and drink water by measure, in anxiety and dismay, until bread and water fail completely (v. 16-17). The coming judgment would strip them of security, dignity, and hope, leaving them to waste away because of their iniquity. Hunger and thirst are not merely physical realities here but spiritual metaphors: without God, people starve of life itself.

Ezekiel 4 teaches that God’s judgment is not arbitrary but proportionate, exact, and inescapable for those who persist in rebellion. The prophet’s enacted parables demonstrate how sin enslaves, starves, and shames, while also pointing forward to the hope of One who would bear that burden on behalf of His people. For today’s reader, this passage challenges us to consider the seriousness of sin, the weight it carries, and the call to repentance before judgment falls. Just as Ezekiel embodied the word of the Lord, so too we are called to let God’s truth shape not only our speech but our very lives.

Additionally, Ezekiel’s dramatic enactment of Jerusalem’s siege reminds us that God values not only our obedience but the faithfulness with which we carry it out. Every instruction He gives, even the smallest, carries significance and purpose. Like Ezekiel, we are called to approach God’s Word with attentiveness and reverence, trusting that His commands, though sometimes challenging or perplexing, are for our instruction and the fulfillment of His will. True obedience is measured not only by the act itself but by the wholeheartedness and care with which we follow God, demonstrating faith, humility, and trust in His sovereign plan.

Conclusion

Ezekiel 1-4 sets the tone for the entire book by revealing God’s glory and authority in the midst of exile. The breathtaking vision of His throne reminds us that no nation, no empire, and no circumstance can diminish His sovereignty. Ezekiel’s call to be a watchman highlights the seriousness of God’s word and the prophet’s responsibility to proclaim truth, even to a rebellious people. And his dramatic signs of judgment underscore that God takes sin seriously and that discipline is certain when His people turn away. Yet beneath the heaviness lies a message of hope: God has not abandoned His people. He is present, He is speaking, and He is preparing the way for restoration. For us today, Ezekiel 1-4 calls us to lift our eyes to God’s glory, to heed His word, and to trust that His presence remains with us, even in seasons of trial.