Ezekiel 1 - 7

The Destruction and Exile

Today we began another book of the prophets.  The Lord rose up Ezekiel at the time of the fall of Jerusalem and Judah to Babylon.  In fitting manner, his book starts the way Jeremiah's book ends with a prophecy of destruction and exile.  Only a small remnant of the people would be preserved and scattered to the other nations to learn to believe and respect Jehovah.

Chapter one tells of a fantastic vision that Ezekiel sees - four living creatures each with four faces that looked in all four directions.  The faces: man, lion, ox, and eagle - match the beasts in Revelations 4 and 5, thus tying this portion to that book.  Additionally, there were wheels that moved with the beasts.  These were supernatural wheels that had wheels in the wheels in perpendicular (orthogonal) directions, allowing them to move any any directions with the four beast.

Chapter 7 is a retelling, in poetic form, of the first six verses.  Israel and Judah have sinned beyond the point that the Lord will save them.  He will utterly destroy the land, Jerusalem, the Temple, and most of the people.  Only a small portion of the people will be preserved and scattered among the nations.