Another God-guided “tour” for Ezekiel!
And the beginning of a nine-chapter “vision” the Prophet was commanded to record!
Ezekiel 40:1-4, our Text for today’s Lesson. “In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.”
This experience is dated. (As are several in the Book of Ezekiel.)
So verse 1 screams for comment: “In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.”
This vision occurred about a third of the way through the whole Babylonian Captivity, which was prophesied to last seventy years. According to Jeremiah 25:11-12 and 29:10. It furthermore happened “in the beginning of the year,” which would have been Passover Day, according to the Jewish calendar! Wow! (Though likely the Jews, most of them, no longer practiced those holy holidays.) Talk about “preaching” messages that fit the occasion! Deliverance, Redemption, God miraculously Working! (Passover compared to the Millennium!)
This too, “the Hand of the Lord was upon me,” testified Ezekiel. Six times I find that “string” of words in Ezekiel, this Prophet obviously knowing God that well! (This clause can be used in a good sense, in blessing … or in a bad sense, in judgment!) Here Ezekiel is being further educated, enlightened, inspired, very good!
Next in our Text … where does the Lord take Ezekiel, verse 2? “In the visions of God brought he (the Lord) me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.” The Man of God is (miraculously) “transported” from Babylon to Jerusalem, to Israel! To a “very high mountain” … as John on Patmos was many years later, Revelation 21:10. (Here Ezekiel sees a Millennial City but there John sees a Heavenly City, New Jerusalem!) The verb “set” is “nuach,” meaning “to rest!” And the noun “frame” means “structure, building.”
Now we meet Ezekiel’s “tour-guide, tutor,” verse 3. “And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.” Looks like here the Lord turns the Prophet over to a “man,” who glowed like brass! We’re going to figure he is an “angel.” Proof that an angelic being (a spirit) can assume the body of a person. And this creature has measuring tools in his hand. This is a “survey” trip, sounds like!
Then, in verse 4, the angel gives Ezekiel a fresh set of instructions. You might say the Prophet is being “re-commissioned.” Read with me: “And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.”
Ezekiel, pay attention! Get good notes and share ALL THIS with the Jews, with your brethren in captivity! The verb “declare” is translated “expound” twice in the old Testament. Clearly the “intent” (in Hebrew ma-an = to this end) of this vision is revelation, encouragement to God’s people in Babylonian turmoil. (Note the three “gateways” of learning; one’s eyes, one’s ears, and one’s heart!)
This must be important, nine chapters of statistics and minute data, yet the crowning achievement (the grand opus) of the Prophecy we yet today call “Ezekiel.”
And as usual, tomorrow, the next paragraph, Lord willing.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell