Rio Vida

Written 2/11/08
Revised 3/7/08

God is speaking in this chapter. The chapter is titled “The End Has Come”. This is because God says He will punish the people for their actions very soon. Verse 15 says “Outside is the sword, inside are plague and famine…” God says people’s gold will not save them during this time. It will not satisfy their hunger. The chapter ends by God saying “Then they will know that I am the LORD.” You see this pattern many times in the Bible. God punishes people to teach them something, so when we are faced with difficulty, we should see what God is trying to teach us through it.

Written 1/29/08
Revised 3/7/08

God tells Ezekiel to look toward the mountains and prophesize against them. God tells Ezekiel to say that people would die of the sword or plague or famine and then be laid in front of their idols. This would show that God is the one and only true God. God says he will bring disaster on the Israelites because they have been worshipping other gods, being adulters, etc. This chapter ends like this: “Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Written 1/27/08
Revised 3/7/08

The LORD told Ezekiel to shave his head and beard with a sharp razor. Ezekiel then was to divide the hair into three equal parts. He was supposed to burn one-third, strike one-third with the sword, and scatter the last one-third to the wind. This was symbolizing what would happen to Jerusalem. God says that during the seige, some people will turn into cannibals. This hardship would come on Jerusalem because they had “not followed my (God’s) decrees.” or “kept my laws.” This chapter shows us that we need to read the Bible so we know what to do and what not to do.

Written 1/21/08
Revised 2/24/08

God tells Ezekiel to draw out the city of Jerusalem on a clay tablet and then to erect seige works against it. This symbolizes the seige that will happen to Jerusalem. God tells Ezekiel to lie on his left side for 390 days, because that is the number of Israel’s years of sin. Ezekiel is then told to lie on his right side for 40 days for the sins of Judah. God tells Ezekiel to make cakes, using cow manure as fuel. He is told to eat the cakes and drink water at certain times each day. This is because the people will ration their food and water and will eat defiled food.

Written 1/17/08
Revised 2/24/08

God tells Ezekiel to “eat” the scroll and then to go tell it to the Israelites. Ezekiel says the scroll tasted “sweet as honey”. The LORD picked him up and placed him among the exiles of Tel Abib near the Kebar River. The LORD tells Ezekiel not to be afraid many times. God tells him that if he (Ezekiel) doesn’t tell someone they will die when God gives him the message, Ezekiel will be held responsible for that person’s death. The LORD tells Ezekiel to shut himself inside his house, where he will be tied up and unable to speak until the LORD gives him words to speak. God continues to point out that Israel is rebellious.

Written 1/15/08
Revised 2/24/08

God tells Ezekiel to stand up and listen to what He has to say. God tells Ezekiel He is sending him to Israel to tell the people what God says. God tells Ezekiel that the people are rebellious and might not listen to him. God also tells Ezekiel “you live among scorpions” in verse 6. God tells him not to be afraid, though. Then Ezekiel saw a hand stretched out to him holding a scroll.

Written 1/14/08
Revised 2/24/08

This book is written by Ezekiel, which means “God is strong”, when the Babylonians laid seige to Jerusalem in 588 B.C. Israel’s monarchy ended and the Temple was burned. Ezekiel begins the chapter by talking about four strange creatures (in a vision). They have many wings and faces, and also glow. He then talks about seeing God on His throne and bowing down to Him.