GREAT THEMES OF EZEKIEL - ElectronicGospel

Printing Instructions1. Download the booklet and open it in Adobe Reader.2. Print ONLY the ODD pages.3. Now FLIP THE PILE OVER so the blank sides are ready.4. Print ONLY the EVEN pages.5. Fold the pages in the middle and staple twice along the spine.Copyright• This title is Copyright © 2008, Jeff S. Smith, All Rights Reserved• All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New KingJames Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.All rights reserved.• On the Cover: Ezekiel, a portrait by Guy RoweLesson 13: Review1. Why couldn’t Ezekiel enter fully into his priestly duties once he reachedthe age of 30 (1:1-3)? How did God show him that he had another office inmind? Why didn’t God express much confidence in his prospects (2:1-5)?Ezekiel could not enter into the full priesthood because he was inBabylonian exile, but God called him instead to prophesy through thesevisions of God. God acknowledged that Israel was a rebellious house, evenin captivity. They were disrespectful toward God’s commands and tooobstinate to see that he was challenging them to make correction.2. What did God have Ezekiel make for a sign for the house of Israel(4:1-3)? How might this have looked to the exiles? How severe would thefamine get (5:5-10; Jeremiah 19:9, Lamentations 4:10)?Ezekiel made a model of Jerusalem under siege, using an engraved brick,dirt and an iron griddle. Ezekiel might have appeared to be playing withtoys, but he was making a serious point. The people would resort tocannibalism to stay alive.3. What did Ezekiel see in his vision (8:1-6)? Explain. How did God say hewas responding to this (verse 6; Matthew 6:19-24, James 4:7-10)?Ezekiel saw in the Jerusalem temple an idolatrous image that provoked thejealousy of God because it introduced wickedness to the people and robbedthem of truth and blessing. Because the north gate opened to the king’spalace, the monarch was responsible for this abominable act. All this hadforced God to abandon the temple.4. What reason did God give for allowing a remnant to escape hisdevastation (12:7-16)? How did Judah interpret God’s patience (12:21-28)?Why is God so patient (Romans 2:4-13, Second Peter 3:1-9)?God wanted them to declare all their abominations among the nations intowhich they would go as exiles, to know the Lord. They turned it into aproverb that suggested he would never actually fulfill these prophecies. Godyearns to save souls, but too many are unwilling.5. To what does God compare Judah (16:44-52)? Why did Jesus return tothis theme in his ministry (Matthew 10:14-15, 11:20-24)? What is thebenefit of shame (16:53-63, Second Corinthians 7:8-12)?Ezekiel compares Judah to Samaria and Sodom because, as they were moreaccountable, their failures were more severe. Jesus indicted his detractorson the same basis. Shame leads the softhearted to make corrections.6. How would you characterize their proverb (18:1-2)? What do we inheritfrom Adam (Romans 5:12-14, 8:1-4; First Corinthians 15:20-22)?They were simply trying to “pass the buck” backward to their parents, whenin fact, they were equally guilty of this unfaithfulness. We do not inherit asinful nature or Adam’s condemnation, but only the frailty of his human fleshand a sinfully corrupted environment.GREAT THEMES OF EZEKIEL! 25