From the Pulpit...

Tonight we begin our series in the book of Ezekiel with an overview of Ezekiel himself. He was a priest of the tribe of Levi and was held captive in Babylon during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. Chapter one focuses on Ezekiel's vision on the appearance of God. Chapters one through twenty-four focuses on the future destruction of Jerusalem. Chapters two and three, God commissions Ezekiel in two ways 1) as a prophet to rebellious Israel and 2) as a watchmen to the rebellious house of Israel. In Chapter four Ezekiel constructs a model of the city of Jerusalem and how it will be overtaken. Then God tells him to lie on his sides to picture punishment, constraint, and imprisonment to bear the iniquity for the people of Israel. On his left side every day for 390 days for the iniquities of Israel, on his right side every day for 40 days for the iniquities of Judah. In chapter five Ezekiel portrays the destruction of Jerusalem. In chapter six Ezekiel prophecies the people of Israel dying. In chapter seven God tells Ezekiel judgement on Israel is near.