The Book of Ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 BC by the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel proclaimed the words of God to the Israelites who had been exiled to Babylon as punishment for their sins. Through visions, symbolic actions, and unusual conduct, Ezekiel conveyed God's messages of judgment on Israel for their disobedience but also future restoration if they repent. Key themes included God's sovereignty, the need to obey God to receive blessings, and the eventual coming of God's kingdom.

1. The Bible – Book of Ezekiel –31st
January 2017
“Youhave not strengthenedthe weak or healed the sick or boundup the injured.You have not
broughtback the straysor searchedfor the lost.You haveruled them harshlyand brutally”(Ezekiel
34:4)
The ProphetEzekiel isthe authorof the Book as we can learnfrom Ezekiel 1:3, “…the word ofthe LORD
came to Ezekiel the priest,the sonof Buzi,by the Kebar River in the land ofthe Babylonians.Therethe
handof the LORD was on him.” He was a contemporaryof bothJeremiahandDaniel. Ezekiel wasGod's
chosenmanand messenger.Ezekielproclaimedthe Wordsof Godto the childrenof God,the Israelites.
Ezekiel wasbotha prophetanda priest.Ezekiel wentintoexilewiththe IsraelitesasdecreedbyKing
Nebuchadnezzartothe city of Babylon.Historiansandscholarsagree thatEzekiel wasahighlyintelligent
man.Ezekiel denotesacouple differentmeanings - Godisstrong,God strengthens orGod makeshard.
These namesakesexplainasignificantamountaboutEzekiel because of the calling,anointing,and
purpose Godhad for Ezekiel.Ezekiel neededthe Lord'sstrengththroughoutall hisendeavors.
The Book of Ezekiel waslikelywrittenbetween593and 565 B.C.duringthe Babyloniancaptivityof the
Jews.Ezekiel ministeredtohisgenerationwhowerebothexceedinglysinful andthoroughlyhopeless. By
meansof hispropheticministryhe attemptedtobringthemtoimmediaterepentance andto
confidence inthe distantfuture. He taughtthat:(a) God worksthroughhumanmessengers;(b) Evenin
defeatanddespairGod'speople needtoaffirmGod'ssovereignty; (c) God'sWordneverfails;(d) Godis
presentandcan be worshipedanywhere;(e) People mustobeyGodif theyexpecttoreceive blessings;
and (f) God'sKingdomwill come.
How can youcope witha worldgone astray? Ezekiel,destinedtobeginhislife'sministryasa priestat
age thirty,wasuprootedfromhishomelandandmarchedoff toBabylonat age of twenty-five. Forfive
yearshe languishedindespair. Atage thirtyamajesticvision of Yahweh'sglorycaptivatedhisbeingin
Babylon. The priest/prophetdiscoveredGodwasnotconfinedtothe narrow stricturesof Ezekiel's
native land. Instead,He isa universal Godwhocommandsandcontrolspersonsandnations. InBabylon,
God imparted toEzekiel HisWordfor the people. Hiscall experience transformedEzekiel.He became
avidlydevotedtoGod'sWord. He realizedhe hadnothingpersonallytoassistthe captivesintheirbitter
situation,buthe wasconvincedGod'sWord spoke totheirconditionandcouldgive themvictoryin
it.Ezekiel usedvariousmethodstoconveyGod'sWord to hispeople.He usedartindrawinga depiction
of Jerusalem,symbolicactionsandunusual conducttosecure attention. He cuthishair andbeard to
demonstrate whatGodwoulddoto Jerusalemanditsinhabitants.
Ezekiel’s bookcan be dividedinto foursections:
Chapters1-24: propheciesonthe ruinof Jerusalem
Chapters25-32: propheciesof God’sjudgmentonnearbynations
Chapter 33: a last call for repentance to Israel
Chapters34-48: propheciesconcerningthe future restorationof Israel
Whenwe read thisbook,we can learnthat Ezekiel 34 isthe chapter whereinGoddenouncesthe leaders
of Israel asfalse shepherdsfortheirpoorcare of His people.Insteadof caringforthe sheepof Israel,
theycared forthemselves.Theyate well,were well-clothedandwell-caredforbythe verypeople they
had beenplacedoveraswe can learnfrom Ezekiel 34:1-4, “The word ofthe LORD came to me: 2
“Sonof
man,prophesy againstthe shepherdsof Israel; prophesyand sayto them: ‘Thisis what the Sovereign

2. LORD says:Woe to you shepherdsof Israel whoonly take care ofyourselves!Shouldnot shepherds
take care of the flock? 3
Youeat the curds, clotheyourselves withthe wool and slaughterthe choice
animals,butyou donot take care of the flock. 4
Youhave not strengthenedthe weak or healed the sick
or boundup the injured. Youhave not broughtback the strays or searched for the lost. Youhave ruled
them harshlyand brutally.”
By contrast, Jesusisthe Good ShepherdwholaysdownHislife forthe sheepand whoprotectsthem
fromthe wolveswhowoulddestroythe flock aswe can readfrom John10:11-12,“I amthe good
shepherd. The goodshepherd laysdown hislife for the sheep. 12
The hired handis not the shepherd
and doesnot own the sheep. So when he sees the wolfcoming,he abandonsthe sheep andruns away.
Then the wolfattacks the flockand scatters it.” Ezekiel 34: 4 describespeoplewhomthe shepherds
failedtoministertoasweak,sick,injuredandlost.Jesusisthe GreatPhysicianwhohealsourspiritual
woundsbyHis deathonthe cross.He isthe one whoseeksandsavesthatwhichis lost.We can learn
thisfromLuke 19:10, “Forthe Sonof Mancame to seek and to save the lost.”
The practical application forthe Bookof Ezekiel callsustojoinina freshandlivingencounterwiththe
God of Abraham,Mosesandthe prophets.We mustbe overcomers or we will be overcome byevil.
Ezekiel challengedustoexperience alife changingvisionof God'spower,knowledge,eternal presence
and holiness;toletGod directus;to comprehendthe depthof andcommitmenttoevil thatlodgesin
each humanheart.AsChristians we mustrecognize thatGodholdsHis servantsresponsibleforwarning
wickedmenof theirperil andtoexperience alivingrelationshipwithJesusChrist,whosaidthatthe new
covenantisto be foundinHis blood.
Key Verses:
Ezekiel 2:3-6, "He said:'Sonof man, I am sendingyouto the Israelites,to a rebelliousnationthat has
rebelled againstme; they and their fathers havebeen inrevolt againstme to this very day.The people
to whom I am sendingyouare obstinateandstubborn.Say to them, "Thisis what the Sovereign LORD
says." And whether they listen or fail to listen - for they are a rebellioushouse- they will know that a
prophet hasbeen amongthem.'"
Ezekiel 18:4, "For every livingsoul belongstome, the father aswell as the son - bothalike belongto
me. The soul who sinsis the one who will die."
Ezekiel 28:12-14, "'Youwere the model of perfection,full of wisdomandperfect inbeauty. Youwere in
Eden, the garden of God;every preciousstone adornedyou: ruby, topazand emerald,chrysolite,onyx
and jasper, sapphire,turquoiseand beryl.Your settingsand mountingswere made of gold;on the day
you were created they were prepared. You were anointedas a guardiancherub,for so I ordainedyou.
Youwere on the holy mountof God;you walkedamongthe fiery stones."
Ezekiel 33:11, "Sayto them, 'As surelyas I live, declares the SovereignLORD, I take nopleasure in the
death of the wicked, butrather that they turn from their ways andlive. Turn! Turn from yourevil
ways!Why will youdie, O house ofIsrael?'"
Ezekiel 48:35, "Andthe name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE."