Who was Ezekiel in the Bible?

Of the prophet whose book we now begin, we know few circumstances — none except the scanty personal details he gives in the course of his prophecies, details bound up with them and expressing their character. We are told that he was a priest, the son of Buzi; also of his wife and her sudden death, a sign to Israel; and of his home at Tel-abib by the Chebar in the land of the Chaldeans. He speaks of Daniel, his contemporary, already famous in his own day for righteousness, like Noah and Job.

Ezekiel (may God support or strengthen). Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel were prophets at the same time; the first two were priests, while Daniel was of the royal line of Judah. Jeremiah prophesied among the poor of the people who were spared and left in the land by the mercy of the Chaldean conqueror... Ezekiel raised his voice, and by sign and word warned the exiled part of Judah in the land of Mesopotamia.

Perhaps he had often been conscious of that hand resting on him as he carried out his priestly duties in the temple. But now God is saying, in effect, I am as much with you here by the river Chebar as I was with you in the temple. What an encouragement this must have been to him!

The prophet's holy energy, his burning zeal for God, and his moral authority in rebuking Israel are strikingly clear... he never flatters the people, but even in the captivity delivers the sternest rebuke for the sins, still unrepented of, that had brought Israel so low. The scroll spread out before him and eaten by him was written on both sides — lamentations, mourning and woe... He alone, apart from Daniel, carries the title "Son of man" — except, of course, the Master, lowliest of servants, who took to Himself every title of shame, suffering and rejection.

His mission, for the mass, is only to declare the certainty of the coming judgment — but a judgment which, because God is in it, discriminates, and separates a remnant of those who do hear from the unheeding crowd.

One very striking feature of Ezekiel's history seems to be that his whole life and feelings as a man were completely subordinated to the great prophetic work he was called to. He neither speaks nor acts like an ordinary man, but thinks and feels as a prophet.

The glory was departing, not coming to dwell there. Jehovah is leaving the place He chose — not for ever, for He has chosen it for ever. But for now He is morally driven away by the sin and apostasy of His own people. Ezekiel's prophecy states plainly that He will return and dwell there, never again to leave His home as long as the earth lasts.

"That you may know that I am Jehovah" rings through nearly every part... Here His dealings with them declare what He is — the Unchangeable One, true to His own nature at all times, incapable of departing from it.