A glorious vision:
1. In exile, in Babylon, on the bank of a river, Ezekiel has a terrifying vision; heavenly winged creatures glide across the land on giant wheels, bearing a throne which carries God, blazing bright in human-like form
2. Ezekiel hears a voice; I'm sending you as a prophet to the people of Israel, they are stubborn and rebellious, but don't be afraid of them, listen to me and I'll give you words to speak
3. Ezekiel is fed a scroll filled with words for Israel, he is commanded to speak to all of the unlistening people and his fate is bound to theirs
4. Ezekiel is commanded to build a model of Jerusalem under siege, to fast and be confined before it, as visible and painful reminders of the Israel's guilt and unfaithfulness
5. Because Israel did not obey, God's anger against them is great; Ezekiel is commanded to shave his head and dispose of the hair to signify Israel's destruction
6. Ezekiel prophesies that, before God's justice is satisfied, the mountains, hills, vallies and cities of Israel will be desolate, that the bones of the people will lie scattered before the altars of the false gods they worshipped
7. Then - when the end comes - the people will understand that their doom came upon them because they abandoned the true God for false gods, only when they understand will God's anger be satisfied
The vision focuses on Jerusalem:
8. In an angry vision God takes Ezekiel to the temple in Jerusalem, to show him how the leaders of Judah worshiping graven images, in the very space set aside for the worship of God
9. God pronounces a judgement of death by violence on all who have willingly followed false gods, but protects those who were dismayed by the practices of the defilers
10. As Ezekiel watches God's messenger is instructed to scatter some of the coals carried in the brazier of the terrifying winged creatures across Jerusalem
11. Ezekiel becomes distressed as he prophesies the death of the unfaithful exiles, and he is reassured by God that a faithful remnant will return to the land of Israel one day
12. Prophesying with his actions and words; Ezekiel sees the coming exile and suffering, and urges the people to remember God
13. Ezekiel prophesies against the prophets, who build false hope with lies, and trap people in superstitious practices
14. God's people will be like Noah, Daniel and Job who stayed firm in their faith in times of trial, such people are rare but give hope to others
15. God tells Ezekiel that the people are like wood taken from a vine; not strong enough to build something lasting, and yet because it's green, it won't be completely consumed by the coming fire
16. God's relationship with the people is compared to a rescued child; saved when a helpless baby, and loved dearly, but who when grown, betrays their saviour
17. In a series of stories about growing things, all of the different ways that the people have failed to listen to God, and the inevitable outcomes of this failing are recounted
God's mercy is remembered:
18. God does not delight in death - even the death of wicked people - but longs to see people turn from sin to life, and deals with people individually, not according to what their family members have done
19. The fierceness and strength of motherhood is praised and lamented; strong mothers raise great warriors and leaders, only to be captured and die
20. God remembers the peoples disobedience to law and Sabbath from the days of Egypt onwards, reminding them that God's salvation has never been earned or deserved
21. With groans Ezekiel prophesies the destruction of Israel, by the flashing sword that is Babylon
22. Because the people have chosen to go their own way again and again, forgetting God's ways, they are now held to account and will be purified by the coming trials
The failures of the nations are remembered:
23. Samaria and Jerusalem are compared to two beautiful lusty women; unfaithful to the one who loves them, they instead chase after attractive lovers, and are ultimately destroyed by them
24. By not following mourning customs when his wife dies, Ezekiel testifies that worship and ritual has become meaningless, because the places of worship have been defiled by idolatry
25. God pronounces judgement on all of the nations who have forgotten God
26. Even Tyre - a land celebrated as the 'queen of the sea' - will be destroyed by Babylon
27. A lament for Tyre; remembering the riches of the great trading port
28. The rulers of Tyre thought their wealth and wisdom would protect them, but it couldn't, and Sidon too suffered the same fate
29. Proud Egypt will also fall to Babylon's power, and my people will see they were wrong to trust it's strength
30. Egypt's allies cannot help, it's kings will be crushed forever and it's great cities despoiled
31. Just as Assyria grew like a mighty tree that towered above the forest, but then was felled, so too will Egypt fall
32. Ezekiel compares Egypt to a crocodile - mighty in the water but helpless on land - and laments the destruction of such a seemingly powerful nation, destined for the underworld because they do not belong to God
33. Hearing the news that Jerusalem has fallen, Ezekiel is on lookout, ready to warn the other exiles when they are heading into danger, but if they don't respond to the warning, it's on their head
34. Because the prophets of Israel have proven to be like greedy uncaring shepherds, God will shepherd the people in future; gathering the lost and scattered flock, and guiding them to safe pastures
35. When Israel rejoices again Mount Seir, who added to Israel's distress, will become desolate
36. The mountains and plains of Israel will be renewed when God's people return to the land
37. Ezekiel is shown visions of the restoration of God's people in the promised land, with dry bones brought back to life
38. Gog from Magog is going to attack Israel, rousing God's anger
39. Israel will know that God is with them when they return from exile and are safe again in the land, then they will cleanse the land of the many fallen warriors of Gog
Ezekiel's vision of Jerusalem and the temple:
40. In a vision, Ezekiel is taken to Jerusalem and shown the city and the temple in close detail
41. The main hall and the most holy place within the temple are described in minute detail
42. The parts of the temple only to be used by priests are described in minute detail
43. The altar is described in detail, and Ezekiel understands that this vision of the temple and Jerusalem is to be used to inspire the exiles of Israel that they will be reunited with God in worship again one day
44. Instructions and standards for the priestly order are given; of all the Levite tribe only Zadok is deemed as having remained faithful to his priestly calling
45. Honest boundaries are set, in the land and in offerings, to set aside and make holy that which belongs to God
46. Details for order in the temple on Sabbath days and festival days are given
47. Moving beyond Jerusalem, Ezekiel sees a vision of Israel restored and brought back to life, and sharing the land peacefully with other nations
48. The resettled land is divided according to the twelve tribes of Israel (except that the Levites have been kicked out from the priestly portion in favour of Zadokites)
I was very relieved to get to the end of Ezekiel - there was little I enjoyed about this book! This was mainly because it became so very tedious, with all of the measurements and repetition. Also, Ezekiel's depiction of God feels distant and stern. Of course, this isn't really surprising, Ezekiel is in exile along with all of the other people of influence from Israel. They have been thoroughly defeated and humiliated by the Babylonians.
There are signs of a hope in God's grace though; dry bones coming back to life, salty water becoming fresh, growth and abundance spreading through the land. These tantalising hopes though can only be realised with a rigorous adherence to God, hence all of the details and measurements for reordering Jerusalem and the temple when God restores them to the land.
But I can't help feeling that Ezekiel is missing the really important point, the one he keeps repeating in the first part of the book, 'then they will know that I am the Lord'. Each time a new suffering is heaped upon the defeated people, there is opportunity to remember God - but will they? Is it easier to remember God in times of suffering or in times of joyful abundance? Consolation and desolation as some of the saints have described it... Ezekiel challenges me to consider when my faith is strongest, and what I can do to strengthen it in times of weakness.