The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is now studying the heroes of faith found in the Bible. In Hebrews 11, we find a remarkable chapter that introduces us to a cloud of witnesses, individuals who exemplified extraordinary faith. However our study will go beyond Hebrews 11 and include the lives of others that are examples of the blessings of having faith in God. We will also talk about other people that exhibited extraordinary faith, some of them are people we may know.
Throughout this Bible study, we will delve into the lives of these individuals, examining the specific trials they endured, the faith principles they embraced, and the lessons we can learn from their examples. Our goal is not merely to admire their accomplishments but to understand the underlying principles that fueled their faith and to apply those principles to our own lives.
This week we are going to continue the study of our hero the Prophet Ezekiel. The name Ezekiel, means “strengthened by God” or strength of God.”
Hebrews 11:6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
The name Ezekiel, means “strengthened by God” or strength of God.” He lived during the time of the fall of Jerusalem and was among those who were exiled to Babylon. He was exiled in 597 BC.
Ezekiel is one of the more colorful—some would say bizarre—characters in the Bible because God intended Ezekiel to give a message to Israel by means of the experiences in his life
Ezekiel, a prophet who stood firm in his faith during one of Israel's darkest periods. Imagine being exiled, and tasked with delivering a message of both judgment and hope. That was Ezekiel's reality. He's often called the prophet of judgment and promise, and his life serves as a powerful example of unwavering commitment to God. God directly commissioned Ezekiel to speak to stubborn and rebellious people. This wasn't an easy assignment!
But Ezekiel responded positively right away. He didn’t make excuses .
He was responsible for delivering God's warnings to the people, whether they listened or not.
Ezekiel 3:24-27 NIV [24] Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. [25] And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. [26] I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people. [27] But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.
This restriction served several purposes:
It emphasized that Ezekiel's words were not his own, but solely God's.
It underscored the people's stubbornness. They were so rebellious that even constant warnings might not have changed them.
It allowed for Gods word to be pure, and unaltered by Ezekiel.
Ezekiel used symbolic acts to convey God's message, such as:
Lying on his side
Ezekiel 4:1-8 NIV [1] “Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. [2] Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. [3] Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the people of Israel. [4] “Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. [5] I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the people of Israel. [6] “After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the people of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year. [7] Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. [8] I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
The numbers of days, 390 and 40, are symbolic and relate to the length of time that God has judged the two kingdoms.
Ezekiel is commanded to lie on his left side for 390 days, symbolizing the bearing of the sin of the house of Israel. This represents the long period of Israel's iniquity.
The 40 days he is to lay on his right side, represents the bearing of the sin of Judah.
The message emphasizes the severity of Israel's sins and the inevitability of God's judgment.The symbolic actions serve as a stark warning of the suffering and hardship that would befall the people.
This act conveys a powerful message of impending judgment and the weight of Israel's sin.
Divine Judgment:
In some prophetic contexts, such as in Ezekiel, shaving the head was used as a symbolic act to represent God's judgment and the impending destruction of Israel.
Shaving his head
Ezekiel 5:1-4 NIV [1] “Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber’s razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair. [2] When the days of your siege come to an end, burn a third of the hair inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind. For I will pursue them with drawn sword. [3] But take a few hairs and tuck them away in the folds of your garment. [4] Again, take a few of these and throw them into the fire and burn them up. A fire will spread from there to all Israel.
Ezekiel chapter 5, verses 1 through 4, presents a dramatic and symbolic picture of the judgments that would come upon Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
The Shaving of the Hair:
God commands Ezekiel to take a sharp sword (or razor) and shave his head and beard. This act symbolized the utter humiliation and removal of the people of Jerusalem. In ancient cultures, hair was often a sign of glory and strength, so its removal represented disgrace.
Dividing the Hair:
Ezekiel is then instructed to divide the shaved hair into three portions and treat each portion differently:
One-third is to be burned in the midst of the city: This represents those who would die by famine and pestilence within the besieged city.
One-third is to be struck with the sword around the city: This symbolizes those who would be killed by the sword outside the city walls.
One-third is to be scattered to the wind: This signifies the dispersion of those who would be scattered among the nations.
The Remnant:
A small portion of the scattered hair is to be bound in Ezekiel's garment, representing a remnant. However, even from this small remnant, some are to be burned, showing that even those who escaped would still face God's judgment.
Symbolic Significance:
These actions communicate the severity and multifaceted nature of God's judgment.
The division of the hair illustrates that the people would experience various forms of destruction.
The use of scales emphasizes that God’s judgement is exact.
Packing for exile
Ezekiel 12:1-6 NIV[1] The word of the Lord came to me: [2] “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. [3] “Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people. [4] During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile. [5] While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. [6] Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the Israelites.”
Ezekiel is commanded by God to perform a symbolic act that conveys a very specific message. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"A Rebellious House" (Verse 2):
This phrase characterizes the people of Israel. Despite having eyes and ears, they were spiritually blind and deaf, refusing to acknowledge God's warnings.
Packing for Exile (Verses 3-4):
Ezekiel is instructed to pack his belongings as if he were going into exile, doing so in broad daylight where everyone could see. This symbolized the imminent forced removal of the people from their land.
Digging Through the Wall (Verse 5):
The act of digging through the wall and carrying his belongings out at dusk represented the secret and desperate escape that the king and some of the people would attempt.
Covering His Face (Verse 6):
This action symbolized the confusion and distress of those being taken into exile, and potentially the fact that the king would be captured, and brought to Babylon, without seeing that land.
"A Sign to the House of Israel" (Verse 6):
Ezekiel's actions were not just a personal exercise; they were a visual prophecy, a sign to the people that what he was doing would soon happen to them.
The symbolic actions vividly portray the reality of the coming exile: the forced removal, the fear, and the desperation.
It also is a very specific prediction of how the king, and some of the people would attempt to flee Jerusalem.
2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 39 & 52:
These chapters detail the siege and capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.
They describe how King Zedekiah attempted to flee the city at night, which aligns with Ezekiel's symbolic act of digging through the wall and carrying out his belongings at dusk.
These accounts also confirm Zedekiah's capture, his being brought to Babylon, and his being blinded, which directly corresponds to the prophecy of him being taken where he would not see.
Not mourning his wife's death
Ezekiel 24:15-18 NIV [15] The word of the Lord came to me: [16] “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. [17] Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.” [18] So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
The Loss:
God informs Ezekiel that "the delight of your eyes" (his wife) will be taken from him suddenly. This highlights the personal and emotional pain Ezekiel would experience.
The Command:
God commands Ezekiel not to mourn in the traditional ways. He is told not to:
Weep aloud.
Let his tears flow.
Go through the typical mourning rituals.
Instead he is to put on his turban, and sandals, and not cover his lips, and not eat the bread of men. This would make him stand out to the people.
Symbolic Significance:
Ezekiel's personal grief is used as a powerful symbol of the coming grief of the people of Judah.
Just as Ezekiel was forbidden to express his sorrow, the people would be so overwhelmed by the destruction of Jerusalem that they would be unable to properly mourn.
Ezekiel 24:21-24 NIV [21] Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary—the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword. [22] And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners. [23] You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of your sins and groan among yourselves. [24] Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’
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