Ezekiel: From Glory Departed to Glory Restored
Ezekiel is a prophetic call to behold the glory of God in the midst of judgment, exile, and renewal. Written by a priest turned prophet during the Babylonian captivity, the book confronts Israel’s sin, unveils the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, and offers an unshakable hope of restoration through the sovereign grace of God. From the terrifying wheels of divine glory to the dry bones of resurrection life, Ezekiel reveals a God who departs not in defeat but in judgment—and who will return in power, purity, and promise to dwell with His people forever.
Bottom line: Ezekiel reminds us that God’s holiness demands judgment, but His covenant love guarantees restoration—pointing forward to the cleansing, indwelling, shepherding work of Christ, and the future kingdom still to come.
1. Title, Author, and Date
Ezekiel stands as one of the most vivid and symbolic prophetic books in the Old Testament, written by a priest turned prophet during the Babylonian exile. It bridges visions of divine glory with judgments against sin, portraying the holiness of God and His redemptive plan for Israel.
- Title Meaning: Ezekiel (Hebrew: יְחֶזְקֵאל, Yeḥezqēʾl) means “God strengthens.”
- Author: Ezekiel, a Levitical priest and prophet (Ezek 1:3), deported to Babylon in 597 BC with King Jehoiachin.
- Date: Ministry spans ~593–571 BC, during the Babylonian exile.
- Historical Setting: Captivity in Babylon; Israel had already experienced judgment, and Jerusalem fell in 586 BC.
- Covenantal Role: Ezekiel reinforces Mosaic covenant consequences (blessing/cursing) and introduces New Covenant promises (Ezek 36–37).
- Redemptive Role: Highlights God’s sovereign judgment and restoration plan, prefiguring Christ’s shepherding and kingdom rule.
Book Stats:
Chapters: 48 | Verses: 1,273 | Approx. Word Count: 39,400
2. Purpose and Themes
Ezekiel’s primary purpose is to reveal the glory and holiness of God amidst Israel’s rebellion and exile, calling the exiles to repentance and hope in God’s future restoration.
- Central Purpose: To vindicate God’s holiness through judgment and to promise Israel’s ultimate restoration.
- Major Doctrines:
- Divine glory and transcendence
- Individual responsibility and national accountability
- The New Covenant and spiritual regeneration
- Eschatological restoration and the Messianic kingdom
- Literary Features:
- Symbolic actions (e.g., eating a scroll, lying on one side, cutting hair)
- Apocalyptic visions (ch. 1, 8–11, 37–48)
- Allegories (e.g., adulterous wife, two eagles)
- Covenant lawsuit structure (judgment → hope)
3. Outline
Ezekiel unfolds in three major movements: judgment on Israel, judgment on the nations, and the future hope of restoration through the New Covenant and Messianic reign.
I. Ezekiel’s Call and Commission (Chs. 1–3)
A. The Vision of God’s Glory (1)
B. The Prophet’s Commission (2–3)
II. Oracles of Judgment Against Judah and Jerusalem (Chs. 4–24)
A. Symbolic Acts Portraying Judgment (4–5)
B. Sermons on Sin and Idolatry (6–11)
C. Parables and Allegories of Judgment (12–24)
III. Oracles Against Foreign Nations (Chs. 25–32)
A. Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia (25)
B. Tyre and Sidon (26–28)
C. Egypt (29–32)
IV. Restoration for Israel and the Future Kingdom (Chs. 33–48)
A. The Watchman Renewed and the Fall of Jerusalem (33)
B. The Shepherd and the New Heart (34–36)
C. The Vision of Dry Bones and Two Sticks (37)
D. Gog and Magog War (38–39)
E. The Millennial Temple and Restored Worship (40–48)
4. Key Themes and Theological Contributions
Ezekiel presents a theologically rich vision of God’s glory, human responsibility, judgment, and the sure hope of restoration through divine initiative and the New Covenant.
- Creation/Fall: Sin desecrates both land and sanctuary, demanding divine judgment.
- Redemption: God acts unilaterally to cleanse, restore, and regenerate His people (Ezek 36:25–27).
- New Creation: Vision of a reconstituted Israel and restored temple anticipates eschatological renewal.
- Covenant: The “New Heart” promise (Ezek 36:26) reflects spiritual regeneration under the New Covenant.
- Divine Presence: From departing glory (Ezek 10) to returning glory (Ezek 43).
- Typology: The shepherd-king (Ezek 34) prefigures Christ.
Memory Verse: Ezekiel 36:26 (LSB) — “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
Major Rebellions/Turning Points:
1. Glory Departs the Temple (Ezek 10) — Judgment culminates in God’s presence leaving Jerusalem.
2. Jerusalem’s Siege & Fall (Ezek 24, 33) — The exilic community is left stunned.
3. Dry Bones Vision (Ezek 37) — A turning point from judgment to supernatural restoration.
5. Christ in Ezekiel
Ezekiel anticipates Christ as the divine Shepherd, Son of Man, and Prince who will reign in the restored kingdom. His prophetic acts and temple visions foreshadow Christ’s mediatorial role.
- Christ as the True Shepherd (Ezek 34:23–24)
- Son of Man Title (used over 90 times) — Jesus adopts this title as a messianic identifier.
- Cleansing Water and New Spirit (Ezek 36) — Prefigures regeneration through Christ.
- Davidic King (Ezek 37:24–25) — Direct link to the Messianic reign of Christ.
- Millennial Temple (Ezek 40–48) — Foreshadows Christ’s reign during the 1,000-year kingdom (Rev 20).
Cross-Reference Chart:
| Ezekiel | New Testament Fulfillment |
|---|---|
| Ezekiel 34:23 | John 10:11 – Christ the Good Shepherd |
| Ezekiel 36:25–27 | Titus 3:5 – Washing of regeneration |
| Ezekiel 37:1–14 | John 11 – Resurrection & new life |
| Ezekiel 37:24–28 | Luke 1:32–33 – Davidic King forever |
| Ezekiel 40–48 | Revelation 21 – Temple & presence of God |
6. Historical and Literary Notes
Ezekiel blends prophetic genre with apocalyptic imagery, offering one of the most symbolically complex and theologically rich visions of Israel’s future restoration.
- Genre: Prophecy with apocalyptic visions and symbolic actions.
- ANE Context: Parallels with Babylonian dream interpretation, temple cult, and omens.
- Theology of Presence: God’s glory departs (ch. 10) and returns (ch. 43).
- Systematic Theology Contributions: Divine transcendence, individual accountability, regeneration, eschatology.
👤 Key Characters Sidebar:
- Ezekiel: Priest-prophet to the exiles.
- “Son of Man”: Repeated divine address to Ezekiel, prefiguring Christ’s title.
- The Glory of Yahweh: Manifest presence of God (visible in vision form).
- Gog and Magog: Symbolic/prophetic enemies of restored Israel.
7. Applications for Today
Ezekiel challenges modern believers to recognize God’s holiness, repent of compromise, trust in His sovereignty, and live with eschatological hope and spiritual resilience.
- Discipleship: God disciplines His people to restore them to holiness.
- Worldview: God’s glory is central—no secular-sacred divide.
- Ethics: Personal accountability (Ezek 18); corporate intercession.
- Missions: God’s name will be known among the nations (Ezek 36:23).
- Spiritual Formation: Daily heart renewal and dependence on the Spirit.
8. Shoe Leather Discipleship Tie-In
This book shows us that…
Even in exile, God is not absent. Ezekiel teaches us that sin cannot be ignored, but neither can grace be extinguished. The God who departs in judgment is also the God who returns in glory. He gives new hearts, raises dry bones, and makes all things new. For the believer walking through spiritual desolation, Ezekiel offers a hope that’s not merely future — but forming us now.
He is the God who dwells with His people. The God who speaks through wind, fire, and vision — and the God who, through Christ, enters our exile to lead us home.
Ezekiel Resources
Major Prophets
