Ezekiel, Pastor of His People

GOLDEN TEXT: “Ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.” —Ezekiel 34:31

EZEKIEL 1:1-3; 2:1-5; 34:11-16

EZEKIEL was a prophet of the captivity, being one of the first of the nation to be taken to Babylon. The Israelites were progressively taken captive even before the fall of their last king, Zedekiah. Ezekiel was in Babylon when called to be a prophet, and this was in the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, six years before the complete fall of Judah, when Zedekiah was dethroned.—II Chron. 36:9-11

Describing his experience when called by God, Ezekiel wrote, “The heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.” (1:1) The expression, “the heavens were opened,” is used in the New Testament with respect to Jesus at the time of his consecration, when he began his ministry. (Matt. 3:16) It evidently denotes discernment of the Lord’s will, a revelation from God to serve as a guide for his servants.

Ezekiel wrote that he “saw visions of God.” In vision Isaiah also saw the Lord, “high and lifted up.” (Isa. 6:1) Isaiah understood that by means of this vision the Lord was calling him to a special service, and his response was, “Here am I; send me.” (Isa. 6:8) Ezekiel understood his vision to mean the same thing, and he also responded in faithful service.

It is imperative that those who serve the Lord be given a vision of him to serve as an inspiration to faithfulness. “Visions” are not always given in the same literal fashion that came to Isaiah and to Ezekiel. The Lord also reveals himself to his people through an understanding of his written Word, a knowledge of his great plan of redemption and salvation through Christ Jesus. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”—Matt. 5:8

To “see” God within the meaning of this Beatitude is to understand the great attributes of his character which combine to make up his glory. This understanding comes through the written Word. But it is not given to all—only to as many as the Lord calls. It is in this age restricted to those whom the Lord invites to be co-workers with him. To these it is given to know “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 13:11) These “see” God now, through his Word, and, if faithful, will be ushered into his actual presence in glory.—II Cor. 3:18

“Stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee,” the Lord said to Ezekiel. (ch. 2:1) Ezekiel testifies that the “Spirit” entered into him. This is the Holy Spirit, the holy power of God by which he inspired all his prophets. The Lord called Ezekiel the “Son of man,” and said, “I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me.”

Since Ezekiel was among the captives of Judah, it would seem that his ministry was mostly to those of the two-tribe kingdom of Judah which technically still existed at this time. It is interesting to note, however, that the Lord speaks of sending him to the children of Israel. Actually the name Israel properly applied to all twelve tribes, the terms Judah and Israel being used only temporarily as designations of the southern and northern kingdoms during the time of the separation. This distinction was dropped beginning with the captivity of Judah.

Ezekiel was sent to what the Lord called a “rebellious house.” (ch. 2:3) But whether or not the people heard and responded favorably to his message, the Lord wanted them to know that a prophet had been among them. In every age those who have spoken for the Lord have usually had to accept the fact that their messages have been largely merely in the nature of a witness, but the Lord wants his faithful people to continue bearing witness to the truth.

Seldom are those who witness for the Lord limited in their messages merely to the warnings and prophecies of calamities by which his people will be punished. They are also given words of comfort to speak. So it was with Ezekiel. The captivity in Babylon was to end, and, more important, a much longer captivity was forecast when this people would be scattered among all nations, and which would also end: and, from that time forward they would no longer be oppressed by the “heathen.”

It is to this final gathering and returning to their land that the final portion of our lesson seems to apply. Even now we see this prophecy in course of fulfillment, and we are glad—glad for Israel, and glad for the whole world, for the events of today betoken the near and full establishment of the kingdom of Christ, through the agencies of which all the nations of the earth are to be blessed.

The Golden Text is a simple explanation of the fact that the Lord speaks of his people as “sheep,” implying that as a loving shepherd he will care for them.

QUESTIONS

When did Ezekiel serve as a prophet?

Do all the Lord’s servants see visions of him?

Is it proper now to bear witness to the truth?

What encouraging message did Ezekiel have for Israel?

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