Ezekiel Synopsis

Ezekiel is one of the major prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) who lived and preached during the time of the Babylonian exile.  He offers a strong message of judgment when he predicts the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple.  More importantly, perhaps, is the hopeful vision he lays out when he describes how dry bones can live again.  The dry bones represent all that is left of the Israelites who have been thrown into exile. God breathes His spirit into these bones, and they live again.  The message: No matter how dire our circumstances are, there is always hope with God.

The Hebrew word for prophet is “nabi.” It describes a person who is called to speak on behalf of God. The Old Testament is filled with the writings of the “nabi.” These faithful people are called from many different walks of life to bring the word of God to the people of Israel and Judah. Their words still inspire and strengthen our faith, today. 

There are seventeen books of the prophets in the Old Testament. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel are known as the major prophets. The other thirteen books are known as the contributions of the minor prophets. The difference? The size of the books. Major prophets are significantly larger works. The words of the minor prophets may be few, but they are as significant because they are the words of God. 

Each prophet speaks and acts in unique ways to encourage God’s people. Although the settings are not all the same, there is an underlying pattern to the work of the “nabi.” Without hesitation, they point out bad behavior, injustice, oppression, and the faithlessness of the people who were called by God to be a holy nation. The prophet’s job is to call the people back to a faithful relationship with God. The prophets point out that there are consequences to living apart from God’s law. However, each prophet demonstrates that there is hope in the midst of God’s righteous judgment. Although the message of the prophets is challenging, it is necessary. 

Even today, it is easy to see that God’s people can forget who they are called to be, yet the word of God is our foundation. It reminds us of who God is, who God has created us to be, and the word of God provides us hope that we can become the people who live in and are motivated by the ageless love of God.

We encourage you to begin your Bible reading time by reciting the month’s memory verse and then the daily Bible reading. Reflect on the reading – did it raise questions or confusion; did it inspire you or warm your heart? Then, to live in a spirit of gratitude, write down three things for which you’re grateful. Finally, close your devotional time in prayer. While you might not feel the same way each day, the ongoing discipline of having a daily devotional time will have lasting impact on your life and certainly deepen your relationship with God.