Ezekiel 11: Who Is The True Israel?

Ezekiel 11 points to a serious rift that was developing between the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the exiled community in Babylon.

Ezekiel 10: The Lord Has Left The Building!

Another grand vision of God's glory, complete with the four living creatures and the "wheels within wheels", takes place in Ezekiel 10.  The same elements are present as were seen in chapter 1, but this time the setting is the Temple in Jerusalem.  Ezekiel hears a voice from the sapphire throne at the top of the vision commanding a man dressed in white linen to take some of the fiery coals from the wheelwork and scatter them over the city.  After he does that, the whole image itself lifts up and leaves the Temple!  "The cherubim rose up" (vs. 15).   The wheelwork, too, lifts up and ascends with the four living creatures (vs. 16).  "Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house and stopped above the cherubim" (vs. 18).  In one of the most devastating scenes of judgment upon the nation, God's presence vacates the Temple.  Just like Elvis, the Lord has left the building!

Psalm 137: Ouch.

Psalm 137 is rather infamous in Christian circles for its bloodthirsty final verse: "Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!" (vs. 9)  Is this really an appropriate sentiment to be included in the Bible?  Is this truly God's Word?

Ezekiel 9: Saved By A Mark

In Ezekiel 9, we see the biblical motif of being saved through a special mark placed upon God's people.

Ezekiel 8: Nation Of Abominations

A-bom-i-na-tion: (noun) A thing that causes disgust or hatred.

Ezekiel 7: Time's Up

"An end has come, the end has come.  It has awakened against you; see, it comes!" (vs. 6)

Ezekiel 6: Preaching To The Land

Has God given up on reaching the people?  He instructs His prophet Ezekiel not to address the nation, but the land instead.  "O mortal, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: I, I myself will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places" (vs. 2 and 3).