EZEKIEL BS No.

15 18 May 2006
With acknowledgements to Chris Wright The Message of Ezekiel, IVP, 2001.

Read Ezekiel chapters 15, 17 and 19 – Appendix 2

Introduction
The common element in all three of these chapters is the vine as a metaphor for Israel.
We have already studied chapter 15 in Ezekiel BS No. 11 on 23 March and answered
the following question: In what 2 events did God punish Jerusalem for unfruitful
disobedience?

Questions on Chapter 17
This chapter is an allegory designed to illustrate specific historical events. 17:3-10 is
the allegory, 17:11-21 is its explanation and 17:22-24 is a smaller allegory.
1. What events are referred to in this chapter?
a. Who is the first great eagle?
b. Who is the topmost shoot?
c. Who is the seed of your land?
d. Who planted it?
e. Who is the second great eagle?
The allegory becomes a prediction as it comes before the final rebellion by Zedekiah
and the fall of Jerusalem and would have strengthened Ezekiel’s credentials when the
event finally occurred. What point does this final section (22-24) make?

Questions on Chapter 19
This chapter is a funeral dirge or lament.
2. What clues are found in this lament? What do they probably indicate?

Read Ezekiel 14:12-23; 18:1-32; 33:10-20

Theme: Who then can be saved?
Outline of chapter 14:12-23
14:13-20. Only the righteous will be saved
14:21. No privileged exemption for Jerusalem, in particular.
14:22-23. No more protest at God’s justice.
We have already studied the whole of chapter 14 in BS No.10 on 16 March.

Chapters 18:1-29; 33:12-20

Theme: Only the wicked need die. Wright p.181
Chapter 18 is about the profound relationship between God’s justice and human
freedom, including a powerful evangelistic appeal by Ezekiel. In this study we start
with the study of verses 1-4 and will conclude in the next study.

Questions on Ezekiel 18:1-4

3. Ezekiel 18: 2. What were the people saying?

4. Ezekiel 18:1-4. What do these verses mean? See Jeremiah 31:27- 30.
No to fatalism
5. What kind of fatalism was/is current among
a. The Israelites in Jerusalem?

b. The exiles in Babylon?

c. in our modern world?

No to blame-shifting

6.What is the first biblical example of blame-shifting?

7. What was/is the evidence of blame-shifting

a. among the Israelites in Jerusalem?

b. The exiles in Babylon?

c. in our modern world?

8. What are the implications for us today in the statement that every person belongs to
God and is responsible to him?

9. How does this affect our own position before God?

10. How does it affect our sharing of God’s good news?

No BS on Thursday 25 May. Ascension Day service and picnic in Peyia Woods at

11 am.

Next BS on Thursday 1 June 2006