Ezekiel 23:1
Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Again
This indicates a continuation of communication between God and the prophet Ezekiel. It suggests that Ezekiel is in an ongoing prophetic relationship with God, receiving multiple messages. This continuity is important for understanding the flow of the prophetic narrative and the consistency of God's message to His people.

the word of the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the divine origin of the message. It is not Ezekiel's own thoughts or ideas but a revelation from God. The "word of the LORD" is a common expression in the prophetic books, underscoring the authority and authenticity of the message. It aligns with other instances in the Bible where prophets receive direct communication from God, such as in Jeremiah 1:4 and Isaiah 1:10.

came to me
This personalizes the message, indicating that Ezekiel is the chosen vessel for this revelation. It highlights the role of the prophet as an intermediary between God and the people. The phrase suggests a direct and personal encounter with the divine, similar to other prophets like Moses in Exodus 3:4 and Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:10.

saying
This introduces the content of the message that follows. It prepares the reader for the specific words and instructions that God is about to deliver. The use of "saying" is a common biblical narrative technique to transition from the introduction of a divine message to its actual content, as seen in Genesis 22:1 and Jonah 1:1.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the recipient of God's messages. His role is to convey God's words to the Israelites, often through vivid imagery and symbolic actions.

2. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who communicates directly with Ezekiel. This emphasizes the divine authority and origin of the message.

3. The Word of the LORD
This phrase signifies the divine revelation given to Ezekiel. It underscores the importance and seriousness of the message that follows.

4. Babylonian Exile
The historical context in which Ezekiel prophesied. The Israelites were in captivity, and Ezekiel's messages often addressed their spiritual state and future restoration.

5. Israel and Judah
Though not explicitly mentioned in this verse, they are the primary audience of Ezekiel's prophecies, representing the divided kingdom of God's people.
Teaching Points
The Authority of God's Word
Recognize that the messages delivered by prophets like Ezekiel come directly from God, carrying divine authority and truth.

The Role of Prophets
Understand the role of prophets as God's messengers, tasked with delivering His word to guide, correct, and encourage His people.

God's Communication with His People
Reflect on how God consistently seeks to communicate with His people, both in the past through prophets and now through His Word and Spirit.

The Importance of Context
Consider the historical and cultural context of Ezekiel's prophecies to better understand their meaning and application for today.

Responding to God's Word
Evaluate how we respond to God's word in our lives, ensuring that we listen, understand, and apply His teachings faithfully.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the role of a prophet like Ezekiel help us appreciate the messages in the Old Testament?

2. In what ways can we discern the authority of God's word in our daily lives, similar to how Ezekiel received it?

3. How does the historical context of the Babylonian exile influence the interpretation of Ezekiel's prophecies?

4. What are some modern-day applications of understanding that God communicates with His people through His word?

5. How can we ensure that we are responding appropriately to the messages God communicates to us through Scripture?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 1:4
Similar to Ezekiel, Jeremiah receives the word of the LORD, highlighting the consistent way God communicates with His prophets.

2 Peter 1:21
This verse explains that prophecy never had its origin in human will, but prophets spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit, reinforcing the divine source of Ezekiel's message.

Hebrews 1:1-2
These verses discuss how God spoke to the ancestors through the prophets, like Ezekiel, and now speaks through His Son, Jesus Christ, showing the continuity and fulfillment of God's revelation.
Aholah and AholibahA London MinisterEzekiel 23:1-49
Inexcusable InfidelityJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 23:1-49
People
Aholah, Aholibah, Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Ezekiel
Places
Assyria, Chaldea, Egypt, Jerusalem, Koa, Pekod, Samaria, Shoa
Topics
Saying
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 23:1-4

     1431   prophecy, OT methods

Ezekiel 23:1-8

     6243   adultery, spiritual

Ezekiel 23:1-10

     5243   byword

Ezekiel 23:1-21

     8777   lust

Ezekiel 23:1-35

     6239   prostitution
     8705   apostasy, in OT

Ezekiel 23:1-49

     5737   sisters
     7241   Jerusalem, significance

Library
How those are to be Admonished who have had Experience of the Sins of the Flesh, and those who have Not.
(Admonition 29.) Differently to be admonished are those who are conscious of sins of the flesh, and those who know them not. For those who have had experience of the sins of the flesh are to be admonished that, at any rate after shipwreck, they should fear the sea, and feel horror at their risk of perdition at least when it has become known to them; lest, having been mercifully preserved after evil deeds committed, by wickedly repeating the same they die. Whence to the soul that sins and never
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and Ungodly Men.
Scriptures Showing The Sin And Danger Of Joining With Wicked And Ungodly Men. When the Lord is punishing such a people against whom he hath a controversy, and a notable controversy, every one that is found shall be thrust through: and every one joined with them shall fall, Isa. xiii. 15. They partake in their judgment, not only because in a common calamity all shares, (as in Ezek. xxi. 3.) but chiefly because joined with and partakers with these whom God is pursuing; even as the strangers that join
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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