Readings for today: Ezekiel 5-8
The Book of Ezekiel is full of visions and dreams. They leave Ezekiel gasping for breath. Facedown on the ground. Dumbfounded for days. He is often called to use his own body as an example. Laying on his side for almost a year. Shaving his beard and hair with a sharp sword. Many of them are aggressive and almost violent in tone. The Lord seizing Ezekiel, grabbing him by the hair and almost dragging him where he wants him to go. The content of the visions and dreams are just as unsettling. Ezekiel is shown all kinds of terrifying things about the future. About the people of Israel and their idolatry. About the judgment of the Lord and the suffering they will endure. It had to be heavy. So how do we make sense of it all? Especially in the 21st century?
The Book of Ezekiel is written in a style known as “apocalyptic.” Not unique to the Bible, it has parallels in a lot of other ancient near east cultures. It has several features we need to keep in mind as we read if we are to understand.
Revelation - The word, “apokalypsis” in the Greek means “revelation” or “disclosure.” Apocalyptic literature is marked by a direct revelation from God to a seer or prophet, usually in visions or dreams, who then writes down what he sees.
Mystery - The meaning of the visions are often shrouded in mystery. They might refer to past, current, or future events. They may include strange images from the world beyond. While the seer or prophet may write them down in great detail, decifering them is a significant challenge.
Symbolism - The visions are rife with symbols drawn from nature, ancient near east mythology, astral phenomena, etc. These symbols are used by the seer or prophet to make sense of what he sees and may represent coded language so that any correspondence would be able to pass through imperial censors who were probably screening their mail.
Resistance Literature - Because the prophet is typically writing from an “exilic” perspective where he and his people live under oppression, his focus is on the future rather than the present. The visions are meant to provide hope to a people who are suffering.
God is sovereign - The overarching message of the apocalyptic genre in the Bible is that God reigns. He is supreme. He will judge the nations. He will have the final victory. Despite their present conditions, God’s people are to place their trust in Him.
Need an example? Well, consider the strange scene we read about in chapter four where Ezekiel lays on his side for 390 days and 40 days respectively to atone for the sins of each kingdom. The 390 days represents the 390 years between the apostasy of Jeroboam of the Northern Kingdom of Israel when he set up idols for his people to worship and the Babylonian Captivity that Ezekiel is now experiencing. (975-c. 583 BC) The forty days represents the final years of apostasy of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Taken together, the 430 days, representing 430 years, matches the same number of years Israel was enslaved in Egypt before the Exodus. What this vision is intended to convey is hope. Hope because the same God who delivered His people slavery in Egypt is the same God who will deliver them from bondage in Babylon. God will repeat what He has done and save them again but only after they have returned to Him with all their hearts.
What does any of this have to do with us? Wise and discerning Christians will see the similarities between the apostasy/exile of Israel and the reality of our own apostasy/exile in the church. We too have a need for God to raise up faithful “watchmen and women” who will proclaim the Word of God with boldness. Prophets who will speak God’s truth regardless of how it is received. Men and women who understand their first call is to please Christ rather than people. This is just as hard for us today as it was for Ezekiel back then. And it is the job of every Christian. The call of every single person who claims to follow Jesus.
Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 9-12