26 - Ezekiel

TLDR: Prophet to the exiles: God's glory leaves the temple; judgment is certain. Then dry bones live, a new temple is shown, and God's glory returns. Visions and signs mark the book.

Overarching Storyline

Call and visions (ch. 1–3). Signs of siege and exile (ch. 4–7). Glory leaves the temple (ch. 8–11). Oracles and allegories (ch. 12–24). Nations (ch. 25–32). Watchman; restoration (ch. 33–37). Gog and Magog (ch. 38–39). New temple and land (ch. 40–48).

Bible Project: Ezekiel overview.

Pegs for Memorizing This Book

• Person: Ezekiel, the glory of the LORD.
• Image: Wheel within a wheel, dry bones, new temple, river from the temple.
• Number: 37 (dry bones in ch. 37), 48 (chapters; temple vision ends book).
• Phrase: "Son of man"; "Dry bones" (37); "The glory of the LORD" (43:2).

Highlights

• Ezekiel 1 — Vision of the throne and wheels.
• Ezekiel 36:26 — New heart and spirit.
• Ezekiel 37 — Valley of dry bones.
• Ezekiel 47 — River from the temple.

(Link to verse entries and meditations as added.)

Before and After

• Before: Lamentations grieves; Ezekiel prophesies to those already in exile.
• After: Daniel is also in exile; Ezekiel's temple vision parallels Revelation's imagery.

Place in the Overarching Biblical Story

Glory and restoration. The Spirit gives new life (ch. 37); the NT applies this to spiritual renewal. The river from the temple (ch. 47) echoes in Revelation 22.

Interesting Facts

• Son of man — God's address to Ezekiel; Jesus uses the title for himself (e.g. Mark 2:10).
• Dry bones — Often used for revival and national restoration; the Spirit brings life.