Comparing Isaiah and Jeremiah:
Prophesied—worked between 593-571
OT’s book of Revelation—replete with incredible symbolism
Some traditions said that only people over 30 should be able to read this
Because this book attempts to describe God, which in a tradition that
forbids forming images of God, the Mishnah, which was the interpretation
of the Bible by the Jewish people, required that people have a sense of
the Jewish tradition.
Almost withdrawn from circulation because it seemed to contradict the
earlier parts of the Bible…a rabbi resolved its circulation. Had a harder
time getting into the canon, Jewish canon.
Modern city of Tel Aviv is named fro Ezekiel’s home in Bablyonia (3:15)
A continued comparison of the three Major Prophets
--Isaiah—many different writers over 300 years
--Jeremiah—more grounded in one historical figure, over a 40 year
period (627-587 BCE) in Jerusalem
--Ezekiel—same period as Jeremiah, but saw from the perspective of
living in Bablyon, from 596 to about 571; generally attributed to one
person
Ezekiel was a priest who was exiled to Bablyon during the first exile in
597, along with King Jehoiachin—he was the king that was treated so
well by the Bablyonian king, we read about last week.
--Isaiah—not much info on Isaiah, the person, and not many personal
stories about him
--Jeremiah—lots of stories about Jeremiah and his specific actions and
ministry
--Ezekiel—also lots of stories, like Jeremiah, he lived the story of Israel’s
suffering, by doing symbolic actions
Ezekiel also prophesies by doing symbolic actions
12 symbolic actions, at least
Ezekiel 24:15-24—The death of Ezekiel’s wife becomes the symbolic way
of showing the destruction of Jerusalem, Temple. How can they mourn
what they have brought about? They are responsible for this…
His life becomes a living sign of God’s displeasure with Israel, and their
wicked ways
Prophets don’t just tell the truth—they live the truth. Actions match the
words. Not hypocrites.
Isaiah—a jumble of different styles of writings, obviously often out of
chronological order
Jeremiah—ditto
Ezekiel—ditto, minus the chronological mess
General Outline of Ezekiel
1-11—Divine Presence, Divine Departure
12-25—Reasons and Anticipation of Jerusalem’s Destruction
25-32—Oracles Against Israel’s gloating enemies
33-39—Reasons and Anticipation of Israel’s Rebirth
40-48—God’s Coming Home To The New Temple In a New Land
One of the unique things about Ezekiel—Ezekiel has lots of visions
where he is literally transported him and allowed him to “walk” in his
visions—again, the words match the person, the life involved.
Ezekiel 8:1-10
Image of jealousy—pagan alter
Abominations—unclean things
Creeping thins, loathsome animals—impure, forbidden animals
The latter shows how much he understood priestly law, about what was
and was not allowed in the sacred places of the temple.
You will know that I am the Lord—said 50 times in this book. God will
show God’s power and strength, both by allowing the destruction of
Jerusalem and by ultimately restoring it.
Ezekiel’s ultimate point—you defile the temple, the punishment will be
swift and harsh. You go after false Gods—know this: the God who is
true, will surely punish you.
The old temple must be destroyed so that a new temple, with new priestly
regulations, will be built and will be the future focus of Israel.
God is other, and God will protect the honor of God’s name—God will not
be humiliated by the pagan idols honored then by the wayward people of
Israel.
Not the tenderness you find in books like Jeremiah and Isaiah—but not
without hope either. The experience of exile in Babylon was so traumatic
for him, that God
Why is this book considered the OT equivalent to the NT book of
Revelation?
--Later Jewish interpretations saw it as telling of the future Messianic
restoration of Jerusalem, especially the last 8 chapters.
--Christians use these same images in our book of Revelation
Gog (Ezekiel 38:1-5 and Revelation 20:8)
--a book about hope that finds us at the end of all things…
Ezekiel 37:1-14
I will open your graves—not about resurrection of individuals, as it has
often been interpreted, but the resurrection of a people…
Can the dead, spiritually, emotionally, physically be re-born, be given
flesh and spirit?
Yes, the final answer is yes, much like our book of Revelation, and the
whole Christian story—
The end of the story is resurrection, always resurrection.
