Click Arrow To Start Audio

EZEKIEL: LESSON FIVE

PARABLES – DISCOURSES- SIGNS

Time: 591 – 588  B.C. (Chapters 17-24)

 

I. MORE PARABLES, DISCOURSES, AND SIGS OF JERUSALEM’S DESTRUCTION (586 B.C.)  (Chapters 17-24)

A. Parable of two eagles – strong Babylon takes Jerusalem – appeal to Egypt of no avail (Chapter 17).

B. Parable of sour grapes – being punished for own sins, not fathers’ – God is equal in His ways (Chapter 18).

C. Parable of lions – exalted princes conquered by Egypt and Babylon (19:1-9).

D. Parable of the vine – Zedekiah is not a strong rod ruling (19:10-14).

E. Discourse of Israel’s shameful past and similar present (20:1-44).

F. Parable of the Sword and Fire (590 B.C.) – total judgment coming upon Judah in the South (20:45-21:32).

G. Discourse of corruption inside Jerusalem – indictment against the people of God including prophets, princes, priests (Chapter 22)

H. Parable of Oholah and her younger sister Oholibah – judgment upon Israel of her spiritual adultery (Chapter 23)

I. Sign of the rust-filled caldron – scum of Israel’s sins only purged by the fire of judgment (24:1-14)

J. Sign of silent mourning over loss of wife, the desire of Ezekiel’s eye (588 B.C.) – the guilty mourning over the profaning of sanctuary, the desire of Israel’s eye by Babylon (24:15-27)

QUESTIONS:

1. Who do the two great eagles represent?

2. Who does the “top of the cedar” represent?   

3. What did the first great eagle desire?   

4. Why was the second eagle approached?

5. Where was God to plant a tender twig?

6. Chapter 18 is teaching what about fathers, sons and sin?  

7. How does the teaching of chapter 18 relate to Israel’s circumstances in Ezekiel’s day?  

8. In chapter 19, who are the two lions?   

9. Why is the parable of the vine a lamentation?   

10. In chapter 20, why is God not pleased with the elders coming to inquire of Him through the prophet Ezekiel?

11. Why is the history lesson in chapter 20 appropriate for Israel in Ezekiel’s day?

12. In chapter 20, after God’s judgment on Israel, what four things would occur?

13. In 20:45-21:32, who is the “south”?

14. What descriptions of the sword make it fearful?

15. In 21:4, who is “the great one” that is wounded with the sword?  

16. What did the shaking of arrows, the teraphim, and liver play with the king of Babylon’s decision to come upon Jerusalem?  

17. How were some viewing the kings’ decision?

 

18. Who is it “whose right it is” to have the crown and mitre (diadem – KJV)?  

19. In chapter 22, what did Jerusalem do to become “dross”?

20. What did God not find to avoid the destruction of Jerusalem?

21. Who were Oholah and Oholibah?

22. How was Oholibah worse than her sister?

23. What was ironic about the two sisters’ lovers?

24. What is important about the ninth year, tenth month, and tenth day in chapter 24?

25. What was the rust or scum in the caldron?

26. When would the caldron be cleansed?

27. Who dear to Ezekiel did he lose?

28. How is Ezekiel commanded to react to the loss?

29. How was Ezekiel a sign in all this loss to Israel?