’of Him All The Prophets Bear Witness’

by NEELY, E. | Category: Getting To Know God Through Ezekiel | Jun 2007

Lest we become mesmerized with the vast variety of the depiction of things and places in Ezekiel's book, we need to remind ourselves that he also portrays the Lord Jesus Christ, as did all the prophets (Acts 10:43), as did all the Scriptures (Luke 24:27). Some prophets, like Jonah, became a sign; some like Isaiah, spoke direct prophecies; some, like Ezekiel saw visions and told parables that exalted Christ. A brief examination of some things that Ezekiel saw and did and said will teach us something or at least remind us of what God sees in His Holy Servant, His well-beloved Son.

Ezekiel begins his book as he did his ministry with the heavens being opened and seeing the appearance of the likeness of God in various visions. Perfect servants depicted in the symbolic likeness of the form of cherubim along with their mysterious wheels became the chariot of the One seated on a throne above them in his vision. God, who needs none to support or transport, in grace uses His servants to participate in His actions. Their bodies were perfectly suited to their calling and displayed their abilities. As servants of God they must reflect the likeness of the One they served. Their four faces depicted four characteristics of Christ also seen by the Gospel writers in their New Testament books: Matthew writes of Christ the King, seen in the face of the stately lion in Ezekiel’s vision; Mark portrays the Serving Christ, seen in the face of ox or cherub; Luke, Christ the Man as portrayed in the face of the man seen by the prophet; John, the Son of God, as depicted by Ezekiel's eagle. These four 'faces' of Christ are again seen as the various prophets declare Him to be the branch from the stem of Jesse, the royal line (Is.11:1), ‘"My servant the Branch"’ (Zech.3:8), ‘"Behold, a man whose name is Branch"’ (Zech.6:12), and ‘"In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious,"’ the Son of God (Is.4:2). We marvel as we meditate on Ezekiel's words: ‘and this was their appearance: they had human form’ (1:5). That the same should ever have been said concerning Christ (Phil.2:7) and that He should retain that in heaven today, the Man upon the throne, is even more astounding than the mysterious visions of the likeness of God in Ezekiel's book. That man on earth can likewise exemplify Christ is equally astounding. Ezekiel himself becomes a picture of Christ in some of the things reported of him and in some of his object lessons to guilty Israel. He was carried about by the Spirit (Ezek.3:14; Mat.4:1); he came to where the captives sat and sat there (Ezek.3:15; John 1:11); he was obedient to every call of God (Ezek.12:7; Phil.2:8), eating the scroll written front and back with lamentations, mourning and woe, reminding us of the Man of Sorrows whose life progressed with strong crying and tears. Christ, like Ezekiel, knew the sweetness of the word as He consumed it; like John (Rev.10:9,10). He knew the bitterness that the word would bring to Him as He fulfilled it. Being made a watchman to iniquitous men, their blood required at his hand, lying bound as with ropes, unable to move save in obedience to the commands of God and mute save for the words that the Lord gave him to speak, and bearing the iniquity of those who passed disinterestedly by - the whole picture of Ezekiel's life seemed to be a reliving of Isaiah 53, a picture of the life and suffering of Christ. Judah would see his sorrows; ‘"As for you, son of man, groan with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan in their sight"’ (Ezek.21:6,7). ‘"Cry out and wail, son of man"’ is a preview of the Lord's descent from the top of Olivet, mourning over what might have been in Jerusalem, ‘"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, … How often I wanted to gather ... and you were unwilling"’ (Mat.23:37)!

Then in chapter five a sharp sword must again take the measure of Jerusalem's judgement and dispersal. Ezekiel's shaving sword was the same word that he used 83 times in the book for the sword used mostly in judgement. His hair removal portrayed the city's destruction. A third of the hair was to be burnt, a third smitten with the sword, a third scattered to the winds and chased by the sword, and only a few bound in one of the edges of Ezekiel's robes for safekeeping. The eradication of Judah's pernicious idolatry, its high places, its apostasy, would shortly bring the fire and sword to her. Only a very few inhabitants would eventually be spared, and that only because of the tender mercy of God. Ezekiel clapped his hands as ordered by God, not in pleasure but in derision, to make the people know that God is the Lord, the only One to be worshipped, the supreme authority. Christ, like Ezekiel, took the measure of sins, only this time of the world. The sword instead of shaving Him was plunged into His bosom (Zech.13:7). Unlike Ezekiel who saw so little of blessing, He shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied (Is.53:11).

There were some in the land who actually believed Ezekiel's prophecies. They just couldn't convince themselves of an early fulfilment (12:27). Satan has three great lies: there is no heaven; there is no hell; there is no hurry! The last one may claim more souls than the other two, and also affect believers in their service. Peter, speaking seriously about the consummation of the age prescribes urgency to all; although the Lord is longsuffering, not wishing any to perish, but all to come to repentance, the time is at hand (2 Pet.3:3-10)!

On the day that Nebuchadnezzar began the final siege of Jerusalem, Ezekiel proclaimed a parable to the captives in Babylonia. It was on the 10th of the 10th month. The number ten is so often associated with judgement in Scripture. A large pot made of bronze (also associated with judgement) with water poured into it was put on a pile of flaming wood so that the water might boil vigorously (24:6-11). Into the water were put choice cuts of lamb and the bones and spices. The whole would be consumed or removed, the bones burned, and still the pot would be heated until the bronze glowed in the heat. The pot and contents depicted Jerusalem and inhabitants. Their rust must be consumed in the flaming fervency. The lesson of complete destruction was evident. But think for a moment of the One who some five hundred years later bore Jerusalem's judgement and that of the world, the Lamb whose bones were afflicted with fire from on high (Lam.1:13), when He who could suffer infinitely was judged infinitely. There was no rust on His part to be consumed. Satan had nothing in Him. Our own hearts are consumed with joy mingled with sorrow and appreciation as we try to enter into the scene. This scene with the pot was followed by the sudden announcement of the taking away of the desire of Ezekiel's life, his wife, with a blow (Ezek.24:16). One shudders at the pain of one doing such good and yet bearing such sorrow. ‘"Look and see if there is any pain like my pain which was severely dealt out to me …"’ (Lam.1:12). ‘"Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness"’ (Lam.3:19). All this was done so that Israel might know ‘"… when it comes then you will know that I am the LORD GOD"’ (Ezek.24:24).

The vision of the valley of dry bones has often been used as a lesson in Gospel preaching. As in creation (Gen.2:7) the breath of God alone could bring life, and Ezekiel's vision of bleached, dry bones scattered through a huge valley, speaking of the condition of Israel, needed that breath to bring back life. Ezekiel was the instrument used to bring the breath through his prophecy (Ezek.37:10). The bones, unburied, and that in itself an abomination, then came together, bone to its bone; muscle and flesh followed and then the bones stood and lived. The vision illustrated what God could and would do to Israel to restore their place and glory in times yet future (Jer.31:33; 33:14-16; Mat.24:30,31). Linked with this vision was a picture of Israel as two sticks, sticks that should be united into one, never to be separated again. These will be together under one shepherd, David. But none of this could be accomplished apart from the King who will reign, the King whom Israel rejected, but who will be received and worshipped in that future day.

NEELY, E. | Jun 2007
Getting To Know God Through Ezekiel