Bio – Ezekiel

c. 7^th–6^th century BC

While Ezekiel grew up in Jerusalem and served as a priest in the holy temple, when the city fell to Babylonian forces he was among the second group of captives taken into exile.

It was in Babylon that he had his first vision—he saw God’s throne, four strange living creatures, and wheels within wheels. God spoke to him and told him that he was sending Ezekiel as a messenger to his rebellious people, though he did not promise that they would listen to him. Ezekiel saw more visions in his lifetime, including that of a restored Jerusalem and the land in which God’s people will reside.

An educated and intelligent man, Ezekiel used both words and actions to convey God’s message to the people. Once he staged a miniature military siege on top of a clay brick; another time he cut off his hair, divided it and scattered it. His methods were unusual, but his intention was to explain things in a way that all might choose to understand, should they only listen. He also tried to explain to them why God had allowed this to happen and what the future held for them.

One day, God took him to an abandoned valley full of dry bones. There he told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and when Ezekiel spoke the words as instructed he saw the bones rise and come together, making a vast living army. The bones represented the people of Israel, who had lost all hope. God then told Ezekiel to prophesy to his people, “I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land.” (Ezekiel 37:14)

After the final fall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel preached a message of hope—he told people that God did not want to kill his people but wanted them to repent and come back to him. He prophesied that the exiles from both Judah and Israel would return to their homeland, but he understood that for this to happen, his people must use this time in exile to understand where they had gone wrong and to renew their covenant with God. Then, when they once again called out to God, he would gather them to him, cleanse them of their sins, and they would return to the holy city.

Ezekiel used all his powers of creativity and persuasion to capture people’s attention and so pass God’s message on to those in exile, to explain where they had gone wrong, to show them what would happen to Jerusalem after they left, and to advise them of what they needed to do to earn God’s forgiveness and the hope that he offered them in his infinite mercy. The name Ezekiel means “God strengthens”. In sad and trying times, Ezekiel reminded his people that God was still with them, and that he would make them strong again.

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