OK....here comes an entirely different style of writing...it is apocalyptic: very symbolic...Revelation is also in this style......what did you think of Ezekiel's vision of the glory of God? You'll see wheels again when Daniel has a vision of God on his throne.....Lot's of differing opinion on what the 4 figures represent, so I won't get into that...
Ezekiel is assigned to be a watchman and that job in that time was to warn the people of approaching danger...that is exactly what Ezekiel would do. He was 30, about the normal age a priest began his duties, and God called him to be a prophet. Notice how many times God uses the word rebellious in our reading.....a scroll appears with instructions to eat the Word of God. Ezekiel did and it was sweet....it was life-giving food.
God gave Ezekiel instructions to act out...talk about object lessons. Looks like God would be creative in getting His people to listen. Ezekiel had to act out the siege and fall of Jerusalem. He had to lie on his side for 390 days to show how long Israel would be punished, and 40 days to show how long Judah would be punished. Each day represented a year. Ezekiel could speak only when God told him to speak and the people knew it was the word of the Lord. Ezekiel acted out famine conditions with food in very short supply....the kosher diet would be impossible to follow.....
Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
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Cool description....I assume these are angels in Ch. 1.
ReplyDeleteIn Ch. 2:10, is this the book lamentations?
Now this lying on side for 390 days.....how could he do this? Then the gross part....using cow dung for bread.......YUCK>>>>>>
Can you imagine what the people thought when they saw him?
Yeah, would you be able to take a priest seriously if he did this today? God had Ezekiel do it, so He had a plan....perhaps they were more used to these kinds of things in that culture....they did worship other gods, but know our gods aren't graven images, but work, sex, addictions etc.....different culture, same principles apply....Alan would be put in a Psych hospital if he did these things today....
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