III THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL A STYLE While it is true that most of the book of Ezekiel consists of the direct addresses of the Lord,5 the form and style in which those words were recorded is attributable to the writer Ezekiel Ezekiel’s style is very lofty He has brought prose and poetry together in one masterpiece The book abounds with visions, parables, allegories, apocalyptic imagery, and various symbolic acts Jerome called the book “an ocean and labyrinth of the mysteries of God.” Although the interpretations of some of its symbols are di cult, it is a singularly fascinating and interesting book Ezekiel apparently had very methodical habits of recording events and dates This is seen especially in connection with the messages he received from God There are twelve such dated messages in his book.6 Read each one, and note particularly the year of captivity cited: 1:1-2; 8:1; 20:1; 24:1; 26:1; 29:1; 30:20; 31:1; 32:1; 32:17; 40:1 The methodical style of Ezekiel is also seen in the orderly organization of his book, which will be evident in the survey stage of study B VISIONS Ezekiel is known as “The Prophet of Visions.” The very rst verse of his book reads, “The heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.” A vision in Bible days was a miraculous experience of a man of God on a special occasion, whereby God revealed truth to him in some pictorial and audible form Visions were of all kinds, di ering in such things as length, intensity, number of symbols, and whether the vision was perceived in the spirit (as in a dream) or by the conscious physical senses These are the visions recorded in Ezekiel: Vision of the Cherubim (vision of God): Ezekiel’s inaugural vision 1:4-28 Vision of the Roll or Scroll 2:9—3:3 Vision of the Plain 3:22-23 Visions of Jerusalem a) Four abominations in the Temple 8:118 b) Inhabitants slain 9:1-11 c) City destroyed by fire 10:1-22 d) The Lord departs from the city 11:1-25 Vision of Dry Bones 37:1-10 Visions of the New Temple and Associated Scenes 40:1—48:35 C SYMBOLIC ACTIONS Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other prophet, taught by symbolic actions—those strange things which God asked His prophets to in order that His messages might impress the people vividly and intensely God told Ezekiel, “I have set you as a sign to the house of Israel” (12:6) So his symbolic actions were revelatory signs Some of the things he was commanded to must have been extremely hard and trying He was continually exposing himself to the jeers and scorn of the skeptical But the symbolic acts produced the desired e ect, at least upon the hearts of the serious-minded, causing them to ask what these things meant (see 12:9; 24:19; 37:18) This was the prophet’s opportunity to explain their signi cance and drive home the application Following is a list of the main symbolic actions of Ezekiel: SIGN Sign of the Brick TEACHING Jerusalem’s siege and fall PASSAGE 4:1-3 ... exposing himself to the jeers and scorn of the skeptical But the symbolic acts produced the desired e ect, at least upon the hearts of the serious-minded, causing them to ask what these things meant... symbols, and whether the vision was perceived in the spirit (as in a dream) or by the conscious physical senses These are the visions recorded in Ezekiel: Vision of the Cherubim (vision of God): Ezekiel’s... be evident in the survey stage of study B VISIONS Ezekiel is known as ? ?The Prophet of Visions.” The very rst verse of his book reads, ? ?The heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.” A vision