Ezekiel

What verses really stood out to you?

How would you summarize this book in a sentence or two? What is it about? What is God trying to say to us?

What was the thing God was most upset about that brought about the destruction of Israel?

Are you a watchman to anyone? Where is their blood?

Have you noticed that God always seems to give them another chance. Even after he was so angry he sent them to exile for 70 years. Why is that?

In what ways has the church flirted with the world the way Israel did in those days? Can we expect any judgement or are we exempt?

Do you consider yourself to be a fat sheep in God’s flock? How are you looking after the weaker sheep?

That king of Tyre in chapter 28… do you think it was Satan?

What was that valley of dry bones about?

Why did God give such detailed instructions about the new temple?

Has Israel ever been as big as the boundaries described in chapter 47? So is that still somewhere in the future?

Have you ever seen anything like creatures with four faces, wings and wheels? What would you do if you did?


	Ezekiel
	Who, When, Where
	Written by Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a Jewish priest living among his people near Babylon during the Exile. Written in the years around 600BC. Towards the end of the time of the divided kingdoms. Around the time when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem and took Israel captive to Babylon. Ezekiel prophesied in Babylon. He lived near the river in Tel Abib, which is in modern Iraq.
	Summary
	Ezekiel had some major visions from God about the impending judgement and always how Yahweh would relent if Israel would just repent. And in the end, even though they didn’t repent and were carried away captive, Yahweh promised to judge Israel’s enemies and restore Israel to a land of abundance where they could once again worship and make offerings to him.
	Before You Read
	Do you think God is fair? How many chances does Israel deserve? How many will they get? How many temples have been built to Yahweh? Where are they now? Have you ever been camping and used poop for firewood? According to the Law, what should happen to the righteous son of a wicked son of a righteous son. Should any of them be spared?
	Key Verses
	Ezekiel 3:17,18 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. I have made you a watchman. If you warn them but they don’t listen their blood is on their own hands. If you don’t warn them… it’s on yours. Ezekiel 16:49 “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. What was Sodom’s sin? How was that bad enough for God to totally destroy Sodom beyond recovery? Ezekiel 22:30 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. Are you willing to be the one who stands in the gap for others? Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
	After You Read
	What verses really stood out to you? How would you summarize this book in a sentence or two? What is it about? What is God trying to say to us? What was the thing God was most upset about that brought about the destruction of Israel? Are you a watchman to anyone? Where is their blood? Have you noticed that God always seems to give them another chance. Even after he was so angry he sent them to exile for 70 years. Why is that? In what ways has the church flirted with the world the way Israel did in those days? Can we expect any judgement or are we exempt? Do you consider yourself to be a fat sheep in God’s flock? How are you looking after the weaker sheep? That king of Tyre in chapter 28… do you think it was Satan? What was that valley of dry bones about? Why did God give such detailed instructions about the new temple? Has Israel ever been as big as the boundaries described in chapter 47? So is that still somewhere in the future? Have you ever seen anything like creatures with four faces, wings and wheels? What would you do if you did?