If you’ve ever read though the entirety of the Old Testament, then you’ve encountered what is, arguably, the most bizarre and perplexing book of the Old Covenant Scriptures.   We know the book by way of the author’s name, a Hebrew name meaning “God strengthens.”  It is a prophetic book, one of the five major prophetic books of the Old Testament.

According to many readers, the book appears to be the work of man who has disconnected himself from reality.  The things he says, the events he claims to have seen and heard first hand, and the actions he engages in are unlike any other prophet before or since.  The general opinion of critical scholars from the liberal tradition is that the author of this prophecy was clearly demented, perhaps suffering from some form of extreme mental illness, or enduring the effects of a significant personality disorder at the least.  Indeed, any honest assessment of the man and his book must account for the obvious ‘uniqueness’ of what he has written.

For Christians like us, we also have to grapple with what we find here.  We must raise the question as to why such a book falls within the Biblical canon, and why we must view it through the lens provided for us by the Apostle Paul, who said “all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable” (2 Tim 3:16).  The “all” in Paul’s second letter to Timothy certainly included this strange Old Testament book as well.

Ezekiel. That’s his name.  And his prophecy, composed of forty-eight lengthy chapters, is one that we’d really like to avoid if possible.  Aside from two chapters (37-38), most of us know relatively little about its contents, and even less about its initial purpose in Israelite history and its abiding significance for us as New Testament saints.   But here it is in our Bibles, tucked in between Lamentations and Daniel.

I bring all of this to your attention because this Sunday, the Lord willing, we will begin a series of sermons from this prophecy.  Now, fear not, for I’m not suggesting that we will engage in a years-long series of messages from Ezekiel.  While that would be profitable, if not most daunting, my purpose in this series is less ambitious.  My aim is to expose us to the bigger (and breathtaking!) picture that Ezekiel paints for us, one that has implications for all of creation.  Our initial messages will come from the first three chapters.

This coming Lord’s day we will begin with a first look at Ezekiel 1:1-3.  As you prepare for these messages, let me encourage you to start reading through the book, perhaps assisted along the way by a good commentary or study guide (see the links below for my suggestions).  And let us pray fervently together that our awesome God, whom we will encounter afresh in this book, will speak to us with life-changing power!