CHAPTER ONE

Contents: Vision of the glory.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Christ, Ezekiel, Jehoiachin, (v. 26).

Conclusion: While no man has seen God at any time, many have had visions of Him, displays of divine glory, which prostrated man before Him in humbled sense of his own unworthiness, and of the infinite distance between man and God. The more God is pleased to make known to us of His glory, the more humble we should be before Him.

Key Word: Visions of God, v. 1.

Striking Facts: v. 26. We have here a glimpse of the glory and dignity of Christ at His incarnation, a hint of what His condescension was in taking upon Himself the form of a servant and giving Himself to the death of the cross.

CHAPTER TWO

Contents: Ezekiel filled with the Spirit, and his divine command.

Characters: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: If we stand ready to be used of God, we may expect that He will give us a commission. He is pleased to work that in us which He requires of us. Those who will do anything to purpose in His service must not be afraid of the voice of man, but faithfully deliver the message regardless of its reception.

Key Word: Called, v. 3.

Strong Verses:   6.

Striking Facts: v. 1. It is Christ's prerogative to call ministers, enjoin them in their work, and fill them with the Spirit for it (John 15:16).

CHAPTER THREE

Contents: Ezekiel's commission, continued. Again filled with the Spirit. His dumbness.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Ministers are God's mouth to the children of men, but must not undertake to preach the things of God until the Word of God has become part of themselves. Those who keep close to Him need not fear the proud looks of men. If the minister is not faithful to his trust, a loss of souls will be charged upon him in the day of account. Though ministers do not faithfully warn the wicked, it shall not be admitted as an excuse for sin the wicked will die in their iniquity.

Key Word: Watchman, v. 17.

Strong Verses:   8, 9, 18, 19, 27.

CHAPTER FOUR

Contents: The sign of the tile. Typical representations.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: If men will not serve God with cheerfulness in the abundance of all things, God will make them serve their enemies in the want of all things. In times of public distress, God's ministers must be willing to endure hardness that they may evidence the sincerity of their faith and serve the glory of God.

Key Word: Israel's iniquity, v. 5.

CHAPTER FIVE

Contents: Sign of the sharp knife. Famine, pestilence and the sword impending.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: When nations (or persons) are made great, it is with design that they may do good, and that they may be as a light to other nations. Contempt of God's Word opens the door to all manner of iniquity, and brings judgments that utterly destroy. Those who refuse God's terms of prosperity cannot expect the continuance of His favor.

Key Word: Judgments, v. 8.

Strong Verses:   7, 8.

CHAPTER SIX

Contents: Message against the mountains of Israel. Remnant to be spared. Desolations upon the land.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: If men do not, as they ought, destroy idolatry, God will first or last find a way to do it, for idolatry is spiritual whoredom, and therefore a great wrong to God's honor.

Key Word: Desolations, v. 4.

Strong Verses: 10.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Contents: Miserable end of Judah because of sin.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: The ruin of sinners comes slowly but surely, but when it comes, it will be total. In the heaviest judgments God inflicts, He does but recompense to sinners their own ways. They are beaten with a rod of their own making.

Key Word: Day of trouble, v. 7.

Strong Verses:   4, 19.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Contents: Third vision of the glory. The former profanation of the temple and God's anger because of sin.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Jaazaniah.

Conclusion: Those are ripe indeed for ruin who have given themselves over to idols, turning their backs upon God and His Word. When their punishment comes, God will be as deaf to their cries as their own idols, to which they vainly cried before.

Key Word: Abominations, v. 6.

CHAPTER NINE

Contents: Visions of the slaying in Jerusalem.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Christ.

Conclusion: Those who live in sin and hate to be reformed, despising God's Word, will perish in sin, and deserve not to be pitied, for they could have prevented their ruin, but would not. None of those, however, shall be lost whom God has marked for life and salvation.

Key Word: Day of recompense, v. 10.

Strong Verses:   10.

Striking Facts: v. 2. The man clothed in fine linen certainly represents Christ as Mediator, saving those who are His from the flaming sword of vengeance coming upon the earth. This He will do at the end of the age.

CHAPTER TEN

Contents: Visions of the altar fire scattered over Jerusalem. Description of the cherubim.

Characters: God, Christ, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: God's glory and government infinitely transcend all the brightest ideas our minds can receive concerning them. The wheels of his providence move with steadiness and regularity, and all His disposals may be looked upon with wonder, for whatever He pleases He does.

Key Word: Glory, v. 4.

Striking Facts: v. 2. The man in fine linen (same as Chap. 9). The same Jesus who is the Saviour and Protector of those who believe, as all judgment is committed to Him, will come in flaming fire to take vengeance upon sinners.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Contents: Vision of wrath against lying princes. Promise to spare the remnant. Israel's coming restoration and converson. Departure of the glory from Jerusalem.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Ezekiel, Jaazaniah, Pelatiah.

Conclusion: The fear of the wicked shall come upon him, and there is no fence against the judgment of God. Woe to those entrusted with God's message, who have hidden from the people the things belonging to their peace, for in the day of recompense God will lay at their door the guilt of souls perishing on their account.

Key Word: Judgment, v. 10. (Remnant, v. 13.)

Strong Verses:   19,20,21.

Striking Facts: vv. 17, 21. At the Second Coming of Christ, the Jews will be given a new heart, not divided as it has been through the ages among many gods, a new spirit agreeable to Christ, whom they hated. They will look upon Him whom they pierced and will mourn.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Contents: Vision of the prophet as a sign. Full captivity near at hand.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Sinners often try to think their works are not evil because sentence upon them is not executed speedily. Putting the evil day far off only provokes God to bring it sooner, and to make it so much the sorer, and so much more a surprise and terror.

Key Word: Captivity (vv. 7, 11) at hand (v. 23).

Strong Verses: 25 (a).

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Contents: Message against lying prophets.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Since the devil is the father of lies, those put the highest affront upon God who, claiming to be his prophets, tell lies and father them upon God. A thousand woes upon those who have thus deceived the people and made God their enemy. Though they had claimed to be favorites of heaven, they will in the last day be shown to be the favorites of the devil.

Key Word: False prophets, v. 3.

Strong Verses:   3, 9.

Striking Facts: Matt. 7:22-23. It is Christ who will say to the false preachers in that day, "I never knew you."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Contents: Vision of the elders of Israel. Jerusalem on no account to be spared.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Noah, Job, Daniel.

Conclusion: Many who have no idols in their sanctuary have idols in their hearts, which is no less a usurpation of God's throne. Those who have made gods of money and sensual pleasure cannot expect an answer of peace from God, but on the contrary are ripening for utter ruin.

Key Word: Heart idols, v. 3. (Sore judgments, v. 21.)

Strong Verses:   3.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Contents: Vision of the burning vine.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Those who set their faces against God to contradict His Word and defeat His purposes will find His face set against them to their ruin. Though they may come out of one trouble with little hurt, they will soon fall into another and another until they are entirely devoured by the fires, of His wrath.

Key Word: Devour, v. 7.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Contents: The harlotry of Jerusalem, and threatening of destroying judgments. Promises of future blessing under the new covenant.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Let not men flatter themselves with a conceit that because God has hitherto continued His favors to them, notwithstanding their provocations, He will continue to do so, for ultimately as they have forsaken God, they will be utterly forsaken to ruin by God. If sin is not cast off by repentance, it must be borne to eternal confusion.

Key Word: Jerusalem's harlotry, vv. 16, 35.

Strong Verses: 59.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Contents: Parable of the great eagle. Rebellion of Zedekiah and its results.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Zedekiah, Pharaoh.

Conclusion: He who breaks covenant with God, and tramples the directions of His Word under foot, cannot hope to be delivered from that vengeance which is the just punishment of such treachery. God can without any difficulty root up sinful men and whole kingdoms.

Key Word: Broken covenant, vv. 18, 19.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Contents: Ethical instructions for Israel in captivity.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: He who makes conscience of conforming in everything to the will of God, who makes it his business to serve God, and his aim to glorify God, shall without fail be happy here and hereafter, and wherein he comes short of his duty, it shall be forgiven him. Let the impenitent thank themselves if they fall under God's curse, for the soul that sinneth shall neither have peace in this life nor salvation in the next. The God of heaven has no delight in man's ruin.

Key Word: Righteousness and wickedness, v. 20.

Strong Verses:   4, 9, 20, 21, 22, 23, 32.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Contents: Lamentation for princes of Israel.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: God's ministers who have foretold His judgments upon sinners should bitterly lament the destruction of sinners when it comes, as those who have not desired the woeful day. Sinners may thank themselves for the fire that consumes them, for they have by their wickedness made themselves like tinder to the sparks of God's wrath.

Key Word: Lamentation, vv. 1, 14.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Contents: Jehovah vindicated in the chastising of Israel. Israel's future judgment. Parable of the forest of the south field.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: God takes it as an affront when those come to inquire of Him who are resolved to go on in their trespasses. He is indeed long-suffering with sinners, and it is owing purely to His mercy, which guards His own glory, that they are not immediately made an end of. If men will not acknowledge God as their ruler, they will have to face Him as Judge when it is too late.

Key Word: Jehovah's long-suffering, vv. 9, 14, 17, 22.

Strong Verses:   19, 20.

Striking Facts: vv. 33-44. This prophecy has to do with the future judgment of Israel at Christ's Coming. The issue determines who of Israel in that day shall enter the land for kingdom blessing. (Ezekiel 20:38; Psalm 50:1-7; Malachi 3:2-5; 4:1, 2.)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Contents: Parable of the sighing prophet, and of the sword of God. No king for Israel until Messiah comes to reign.

Characters: God, Christ, Ezekiel, King of Babylon.

Conclusion: When the sword is unsheathed among nations, God's hand must be owned in it, for His wrath against sin often puts an edge upon the sword, and the instruments He uses in executing judgments, He fills with strength and fury according to the service they are employed in.

Key Word: Jehovah's sword, v. 3.

Strong Verses:   27.

Striking Facts: v. 27. Jesus Christ has incontestable title to the kingship, not only of Israel, but the whole world, and in due time He will have the possession. Until that time, there will be a general and continual overturning of kingdoms.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Contents: Sins of Israel enumerated. Parable of the dross in the furnace. Sins of priests, prophets and people.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Whatever God's wrath inflicts upon a people, it is their own way that is recompensed upon their heads, and God deals with them much better than their iniquity deserves.

Key Word: Abominations, v. 2.

Strong Verses:   14, 30, 31.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Contents: Parable of Aholah and Aholibah. Sentence passed upon Judah.

Characters: Ezekiel, Aholah, Aholibah.

Conclusion: Whatever creature we dote upon we make an idol of, and what we make an idol of, we defile ourselves with. Forgetfulness of God is at the bottom of all such adulterous departures from Him. If men will not part with their spiritual whoredoms, they must bear the consequences of them.

Key Word: Whoredoms, v. 8.

Strong Verses:   49.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Contents: Parable of the boiling pot. Ezekiel again made a sign to Israel.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, King of Babylon.

Conclusion: There is a day coming when it will be said, "He that is filthy, let him be filthy still." The declarations of God's wrath against sinners are as inviolable as the assurances He has given His people of His favor.

Key Word: Vengeance v. 8.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Contents: Prophecy against the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites and Philistines.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Those who glory in any other defence than divine power and promises will sooner or later see cause to be ashamed of their glory. Those who rejoice in the calamities befalling God's people will shortly be reckoned with.

Key Word: Judgments, v. 11.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Contents: Coming judgment upon Tyre.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Nebuchadnezzar.

Conclusion: It is just with God to blast the designs and projects of those who contrive to raise themselves upon the ruin of others, and let them not expect to prosper long, for the Lord of Hosts is against them to bring them down to the dust.

Key Word: Tyrus' destruction, v. 17.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Contents: Lamentation for Tyre.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: God takes notice of the vain conceits men have of themselves in their prosperity. When they pride themselves on pomp and pleasure, and think themselves perfect, because of their worldliness, He will find a way to bring down their estate to the dust.

Key Word: Lamentation, vv. 2, 32.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Contents: Rebuke of the King of Tyre, and the fate of Satan who inspiredhim. Zidon's judgment and Israel's re-gathering.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Daniel, King of Tyre, Satan.

Conclusion: Those who pretend to be rivals with God will certainly be shown that they are but men weak, timorous, trembling and perishing men.

Key Word: Brought down, vv. 8, 17.

Strong Verses:   17 (See Rev. 20:10).

Striking Facts: vv. 12-18 go beyond the King of Tyre to Satan, the real but unseen ruler of Tyre. His unfallen state is here described. For his fall see Isa. 14:12-14.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Contents: Prophecy against Egypt.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar.

Conclusion: Those who abuse their power will justly be stripped of it. Those who pride themselves in prosperity, forgetting that God is proprietor of the earth, will be forced out of it. God may even use bad men as tools to bring about His purposes.

Key Word: Desolations, v. 9.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Contents: Egypt in the day of Jehovah. God against Pharaoh in the war with Babylon.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh.

Conclusion: Nothing can protect a provoking people when God comes forth to contend with them. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another for the executing of His judgments upon sin.

Key Word: Judgments, v. 19.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Contents: Prophecy against Pharaoh.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Pharaoh.

Conclusion: It is rare to find a humble spirit in the midst of great advancement. God can easily expel those who think themselves, and seem to others, to have taken deepest root. Pride goeth before a fall.

Key Word: Pride punished, vv. 10, 11.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Contents: Lamentation for Pharaoh and Egypt.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Pharaoh, Nebuchadrezzar.

Conclusion: Great potentates, if they be tyrannical and oppressive, are in God's account no better than beasts of prey, and will be shortly devoured. The nation that has terrorized others will eventually be made a terror to itself. (God's messengers should sympathize with the miseries which sinners bring upon themselves. It becomes them to weep for sinners who will not weep for themselves.)

Key Word: Lamentation, vv. 2, 16. Terrors, v. 32.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Contents: Ethical instructions for the captivity. Rebuke to those who are not sincere in their professions.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, Abraham.

Conclusion: God warns sinners of the wrath to come that they may flee from it. Those who go promiscuously into the mouth of judgment, though they hear the warnings of God's servants against the dangers of sin, have destroyed themselves.

Key Word: Warning, v. 3.

Strong Verses:   8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 31, 32.

Striking Facts: vv. 12-13. Many have been ruined by trusting to the merit of their own righteousness, and thinking that God is so much their debtor that they may therefore venture to commit a little sin. "The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him." (Rom. 4:5-8; 10:1). Happy is the man who is clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ and in whom Christ lives. (Gal. 2:20.)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Contents: Message to the faithless shepherds of Israel. Promise of restoration of Israel, and setting up of the kingdom.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Those will have a great deal to answer for in the day of judgment who took upon them the care of souls as under-shepherds, yet never took any care of them. Happy are they who know Christ, the Good Shepherd, being fed in His pastures and blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him.

Key Word: Shepherds, v. 2.

Strong Verses:   12, 15, 31.

Striking Facts: vv. 23, 29. Jesus is coming as the Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) to gather His people and make a final covenant of peace with Israel. He is the "plant of renown," far above all principalities and might and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but that which is to come.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Contents: Prophecy against Mount Seir.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Those who have a perpetual enmity to God and His people must expect eventually to be made a perpetual desolation. Those who have

lived to shed blood will be given blood to drink.

Key Word: Desolations, vv. 3, 9, 14.

Strong Verses:   6.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Contents: Message to the mountains of Israel. Restoration of Israel predicted. Israel's past sins.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Those who put shame and reproach upon God's people, though God may have made it serve a purpose to His end, will sooner or later have it turned upon themselves. God takes occasion from the insolence of enemies to show Himself concerned for His people, ready to do them good.

Key Word: Mountains of Israel, v. 1. Restoration, v. 24.

Strong Verses:   23 (b), 26, 27.

Striking Facts: The restoration of Israel is yet future. The remnant which returned after the seventy years and their posterity were continually under Gentile yoke. In A. D. 70 they were driven into dispersion, which still continues.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Contents: Vision of the valley of dry bones. Sign of the two sticks.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Ezekiel, Joseph, Ephraim, Judah.

Conclusion: He who made man so fearfully and wonderfully can in like manner make him new. Scattered atoms can be marshalled in their proper place and every bone can be made to come to its place by the same wisdom and power by which bones were first formed in the womb.

Key Word: Dry bones, v. 4.

Strong Verses:   5, 6, 28.

Striking Facts: v. 22. As bone came to bone, so the Israelites scattered over the earth will come to their respective families and tribes in the last day. Then Christ will come to be recognized as King, in allegiance to whom all will cheerfully unite. (Many believe David will sit upon the literal throne of Jerusalem as representative of Christ, the great Ruler in the air above.)

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Contents: Prophecy against Gog.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: God does not only see those who are now the enemies of His people, but foresees those who will be so in the last days, and lets them know by His Word that He is against them, and will make their movements to serve His own purposes.

Key Word: Gog, v. 3. (Latter days, v. 16.)

Striking Facts: This prophecy should be read in connection with Zech. 12:1-4; 14:1-9; Matt. 24:14-30; Rev. 14:14-20; 19:17-21. Many see a reference to the northern European powers headed by Russia in the last days to wage a great war. The reference to Mesheck (Moscow) and Tubal (Zobolsk) is thought to be clear identification. The prophecy belongs to the future battle of Armageddon.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Contents: Prophecy against Gog, continued. Vision of restored and converted Israel.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Ezekiel, Gog.

Conclusion: The powers in the last days that rise up to oppress Israel and work havoc in the earth will be made to know by dear-bought experience that Jehovah is the God of power and the Saviour of Israel, even though they seem long to have been neglected by Him. In that day the slaughter will be so great that there will not be a sufficient number of the enemies left alive to bury their dead. God will then let all nations know the leaning of all Israel's troubles, and will get glory to Himself, and their cleansing and restoration.

Key Word: Gog, v. 1.

Strong Verses:   21, 23, 24.

CHAPTER FORTY

Contents: Vision of the man with the measuring reed. The future temple and its service.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, sons of Zadok.

Conclusion: A great and beautiful temple, framed in detail in the counsel of God, is to be set up in Jerusalem in the millennial age, for the setting forth of the truths of God's Word.

Key Word: Temple.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Contents: Further description of the temple.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Same as Chap. 40.

Key Word: Temple.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Contents: Further description of the temple.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Same as Chap. 40.

Key Word: Temple.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Contents: Vision of God's glory filling the temple. Place of the throne of the future kingdom. The altar and offerings.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: The glory of God shall return to earth in the kingdom age, filling the new temple, and Israel will once more offer their appointed and acceptable sacrifices in praise to God.

Key Word: Temple, glory (v. 2), throne (v. 7), offerings (vv. 18-27).

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Contents: Gate for the prince. God's glory filling the temple. The priests. God, Ezekiel, sons of Zadok, prince.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, sons of Zadovk, prince.

Conclusion: In the great temple of Jehovah in the kingdom age, Israel shall worship with a new heart, and every detail of the temple services will be carried out according to God's appointment.

Key Word: Temple services.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Contents: Jehovah's portion of the land and the prince's portion.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, prince.

Conclusion: In the kingdom age Israel will honor Jehovah with portions of land set apart for divine service. Sin offerings will be offered according to God's appointment, for while sin will be suppressed, the tendency to sin is not removed until the new heaven and new earth are established.

Key Word: Portion of land, v. 1.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Contents: Worship of the prince and people, and the offerings.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, prince.

Conclusion: Israel will acknowledge their dependence upon Jehovah in the kingdom age with many offerings according to a divine plan for that period, by which perfect fellowship may be maintained.

Key Word: Offerings, v. 4.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Contents: River of the new sanctuary. Borders of the land.

Characters: God, Ezekiel.

Conclusion: Rev. 22:1-2; Zech. 14:8-9.

Key Word: River of sanctuary, v. 1; borders, v. 13.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Contents: Division of the land. The city and its gates.

Characters: God, Ezekiel, prince.

Conclusion: The tribes of Israel will in the kingdom age be distributed according to the divine counsels by a plan different from that previously known. The chief glory of the land will be the manifestations of Jehovah's presence in the city of His choice.

Key Word: Borders, v. 1.

Strong Verses:   35 (b).