Pastor: Rich Schaller

The 48 chapters of Ezekiel are, as one writer observed, “some of the most slighted in Scripture, and the most neglected of the prophetic books.” Why? Because many readers fail to consider the historical moment into which Ezekiel spoke—the trauma of exile, the collapse of Judah, and the crisis of faith that followed. Others struggle with the prophet’s unusual methods of communication.

For 23 years (from approx. 593-571 BC), Ezekiel used a wide array of literary devices to shape how God’s message was perceived —symbols, allegories, visions, proverbs, parables, and dramatic symbolic actions. These devices did not merely decorate the message; they intensified it. And we must remember that Ezekiel received not only the content of God’s word but also how he was to present it. The mysterious imagery of the opening vision alone has caused many readers to shy away from the book.