The Prophet Ezekiel
The Prophet Ezekiel : 2009 Past Paper
In the following essay i am going to provide a detailed discussion on how the prophet Ezekiel's message changed after the fall of Jerusalem in 586B.C.E. In Ezekiel's opening vision, he see's the majesty of God on His chariot throne on the the plains of Babylon and recieves his call to be a prophet of the house of Israel. "Son of man, i send you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels."(Ezek.1:3) Here Judah is being regarded as a "rebellious house" and Ezekiel is called to prophecy against the disobedient elect. The prophet is given the task to be watchman over Israel, "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the House of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them a warning from me."(v.7) The text emphasizes the grave responsibility of the prophet to the community, which he must serve. As a watchman Ezekiel is to be constantly on gaurd for both Yahweh and his people, he is charged to continue to observe the conduct of Yahweh's people and respond accordingly. Ezekiel's message consists of warning sinners to repent and to remain steadfast. He is to embrace a pastoral role, which meant that he was concerned about the spiritual welfare of the people. Ezekiel pastoral office makes it his duty to live for other people, to seek them out and place himself and his prophetic word at their disposal. He also had to undertake a prophetic role, this meant that he had to prepare for his message of restoration, to announce God's new acts of salvation and hope. As Boulton comments, "Hitherto his words had been recieved with incredulity, now they were calculated to encourage a spirit of hopefulness." Ezekiels words consisted of the call to repent and to turn to a new life of righteousness alongside with the possibility and necessity for change. The whole illusion of Ezekiel as watchman over Israel was a warning to Jerusalem of her final doom if she persisted in her apostasy.
Ezekiel 4-24 consisted
In the following essay i am going to provide a detailed discussion on how the prophet Ezekiel's message changed after the fall of Jerusalem in 586B.C.E. In Ezekiel's opening vision, he see's the majesty of God on His chariot throne on the the plains of Babylon and recieves his call to be a prophet of the house of Israel. "Son of man, i send you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels."(Ezek.1:3) Here Judah is being regarded as a "rebellious house" and Ezekiel is called to prophecy against the disobedient elect. The prophet is given the task to be watchman over Israel, "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the House of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them a warning from me."(v.7) The text emphasizes the grave responsibility of the prophet to the community, which he must serve. As a watchman Ezekiel is to be constantly on gaurd for both Yahweh and his people, he is charged to continue to observe the conduct of Yahweh's people and respond accordingly. Ezekiel's message consists of warning sinners to repent and to remain steadfast. He is to embrace a pastoral role, which meant that he was concerned about the spiritual welfare of the people. Ezekiel pastoral office makes it his duty to live for other people, to seek them out and place himself and his prophetic word at their disposal. He also had to undertake a prophetic role, this meant that he had to prepare for his message of restoration, to announce God's new acts of salvation and hope. As Boulton comments, "Hitherto his words had been recieved with incredulity, now they were calculated to encourage a spirit of hopefulness." Ezekiels words consisted of the call to repent and to turn to a new life of righteousness alongside with the possibility and necessity for change. The whole illusion of Ezekiel as watchman over Israel was a warning to Jerusalem of her final doom if she persisted in her apostasy.
Ezekiel 4-24 consisted