Jensens survey of the old testament adam 215
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III. THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL
A. STYLE
While it is true that most of the book of
Ezekiel consists of the direct addresses of
the Lord,5 the form and style in which those
words were recorded is attributable to the
writer Ezekiel. Ezekiel’s style is very lofty.
He has brought prose and poetry together in
one masterpiece. The book abounds with
visions, parables, allegories, apocalyptic
imagery, and various symbolic acts. Jerome
called the book “an ocean and labyrinth of
the mysteries of God.” Although the
interpretations of some of its symbols are
di cult, it is a singularly fascinating and
interesting book.
Ezekiel apparently had very methodical
habits of recording events and dates. This is
seen especially in connection with the
messages he received from God. There are
twelve such dated messages in his book.6
Read each one, and note particularly the
year of captivity cited: 1:1-2; 8:1; 20:1; 24:1;
26:1; 29:1; 30:20; 31:1; 32:1; 32:17; 40:1.
The methodical style of Ezekiel is also seen
in the orderly organization of his book,
which will be evident in the survey stage of
study.
B. VISIONS
Ezekiel is known as “The Prophet of
Visions.” The very rst verse of his book
reads, “The heavens were opened and I saw
visions of God.” A vision in Bible days was a
miraculous experience of a man of God on a
special occasion, whereby God revealed
truth to him in some pictorial and audible
form. Visions were of all kinds, di ering in
such things as length, intensity, number of
symbols, and whether the vision was
perceived in the spirit (as in a dream) or by
the conscious physical senses.
These are the visions recorded in Ezekiel:
1. Vision of the Cherubim (vision of God):
Ezekiel’s inaugural vision 1:4-28
2. Vision of the Roll or Scroll 2:9—3:3
3. Vision of the Plain 3:22-23
4. Visions of Jerusalem
a) Four abominations in the Temple 8:118
b) Inhabitants slain 9:1-11
c) City destroyed by fire 10:1-22
d) The Lord departs from the city 11:1-25
5. Vision of Dry Bones 37:1-10
6. Visions of the New Temple and Associated
Scenes 40:1—48:35
C. SYMBOLIC ACTIONS
Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other
prophet, taught by symbolic actions—those
strange things which God asked His
prophets to do in order that His messages
might impress the people vividly and
intensely. God told Ezekiel, “I have set you
as a sign to the house of Israel” (12:6). So
his symbolic actions were revelatory signs.
Some of the things he was commanded to do
must have been extremely hard and trying.
He was continually exposing himself to the
jeers and scorn of the skeptical.
But the symbolic acts produced the
desired e ect, at least upon the hearts of the
serious-minded, causing them to ask what
these things meant (see 12:9; 24:19; 37:18).
This was the prophet’s opportunity to
explain their signi cance and drive home
the application.
Following is a list of the main symbolic
actions of Ezekiel:
SIGN
1. Sign of the Brick
TEACHING
Jerusalem’s siege and fall
PASSAGE
4:1-3
