Sing
Ezekiel
© Carolyn Randall
Can be sung to the tune:
"Dry Bones"
Ezekiel's visions God planned
So Jewish exiles understand
Before they return to their homeland
They must return to the LORD.
The glory of the LORD will not be
in a temple filled with idolatry.
Yet one day dry bones will live and breathe.
Now hear the Word of the LORD!
Words with Piano
Piano - Jeff Parish
click to enlarge
Teach
Ezekiel’s visions God planned: Who was Ezekiel?
Ezekiel was a priest from Judah who was taken into captivity. God asked him to preach to those in exile from Judah. God gave him visions to know what to tell the people. Ezekiel also communicated by special stories and acting out stories.
What were his visions?
He took a tour of the wickedness in Jerusalem and saw God in his glory riding a royal throne that was leaving Jerusalem. He saw dry bones come back to life. He saw a restored temple and God’s throne in this temple.
So Jewish exiles understand before they return to their homeland they must return to the LORD: What were the exiles thinking?
The exiles were hoping their return to Jerusalem would be soon, but Ezekiel was to tell them that it would not be right away, because of what needed to take place: they must return to the LORD!
The glory of the LORD will not be in a temple filled with idolatry: What is the glory of the LORD?
In this book it is a brilliance, a radiance, that shows God’s majestic presence among mankind. In one of Ezekiel’s visions he saw the glory of the LORD leave Jerusalem.
But one day dry bones will live and breathe: What does this vision of dry bones coming to life mean?
The dry bones represent how Israel’s relationship with God was dead, but one day God would breathe his life and Spirit into these bones. This tells of a future time when relationship with God is restored.
Now hear the Word of the LORD: Who was to hear the word of the LORD?
Seventeen times Ezekiel begins with “The word of the LORD came to me… ,” and Ezekiel was to declare to the exiles from Judah God’s future plan to bring them back to Him and also to correct their false hope of returning soon.
Preparing: Ezekiel 16:60 talks of the everlasting covenant. This is preparing the way for the Savior who shed his blood for make an everlasting covenant (a promise that He will never leave us or forsake us).
Pictures: The dry bones coming back to life is a picture of what the Savior does to us in our heart. Before we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior, we are dead in our sin. That means because of sin we cannot have any relationship with God. The Savior cleanses us from sin and brings us to life. John 5:24 says “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but has crossed over from death to life.”