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Who was Ezekiel?
Ezekiel 1:3 “the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest“
Ezekiels’ name in Hebrew is made up of Yah-Hazak-El H3168 – yᵊḥezqē’l, where Yah is short for YHWH, and El for Elohim (or God). Hazak H2388 – ḥāzaq means strong, repair, strength, prevail, encourage and courage. When Ezekiel started receiving prophecies, it was right before the fall of Jerusalem, so Ezekiel’s name would have had to stand like a pillar, to remember YHWH is strong, will prevail and will restore. Ezekiel’s name is a reminder to be courageous, that YHWH gives courage.
Ezekiel and John from Revelation are the only ones who saw visions of the Cherubim (angels with four heads), and this right before the greatest events, which was end of the world scenes for them. Ezekiel witnessed and lived throught the destruction of Jerusalem with Babylon, and John lived in the same time when Jerusalem was destroyed around 70AD, comparing it with Spiritual Babylon.
North
Ezekiel 1:4 “Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.”
In our lasts posts from Jeremiah, we explained the meaning of North, and that is where YHWH’s throne is (click here for more). The North would also resemble the Highest place, and also the center. So if you would look from above, like YHWH does, you would see the north pole area, surrounded by the main continents and also the biggest populations, Americas, Europe and Asia, and even Africa is close by. From there you would see it spread out to the ends of the continents and the smaller islands. In the North is also where you would also find the most fight for power happening, including wars always start in the North. Both Ezekiel and John from Revelation talk about Gog and Magog, whom is also in the North.
Watchman
Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me”
The Hebrew word for watchman is Sapa H6822 – ṣāp̄â, meaning behold, to look out or about, spy, keep watch, observe, watch. This word is actually closely related to a few other Hebrew words as well.
- SAPA H8193 – śāp̄â, lips, or language. All languages would understand, or all would have one language.
- SAPAR H5608 – sāp̄ar, to declare/tell, write/scribe, count/account
- SAPAK H8210 – šāp̄aḵ, to pour out – as in your heart, or in anger
- SAPAT H8199 – šāp̄aṭ, to govern, vindicate, plead, avenged, condemn, execute, judgement and even defend or deliver
The Watchman’s / Sapa responsibility is extremely great! YHWH tells Ezekiel, in chapter 3:18-21, “When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.””
Prophecy, 40 Days
Ezekiel 4:5-6 “For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year.”
After King Solomon, Israel split into two kingdoms, the North and the South, Israel and Judah – click here for previous posts on the 2 Kingdoms. Since the kingdoms split, it was about 390 years until they were exiled. Israel didn’t have any good or righteous kings, and they their sins were very great. Judah, which is where Jerusalem was, received a 40 years punishment. Forty years relates to starting over, like with Noah’s Flood, it rained forty days and forty nights (Gen 7:12) in judgment for the sin of the human race, but afterwards there was restoration. And the Israelites were forty years in the wilderness because of their sinful unbelief and rebellion (Numbers 14:33-34), but afterwards they were restored to God’s favour and entered into the Promised Land.
Interestly, Yeshua fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. And after His Resurrection (when he was about 30 years old), He spent 40 days with the disciples before going to Heaven to YHWH. And 40 years later, Jerusalem was destroyed.
