OT101 Introducing the Old Testament: Its Structure and Story
OT102 Introducing the Old Testament: Its Poetry and Prophecy
OT291 The Jewish Trinity: How the Old Testament Reveals the Christian Godhead
OT355 Book Study: Isaiah: God’s Salvation for Israel and the Ends of the Earth
OT366 Book Study: Daniel and Its Literary and Historical Contexts
Join Old Testament scholar Daniel Block as he helps recover the message of an enigmatic prophet. Book Study: Ezekiel (OT362) begins with an introduction to the book and its author. Dr. Block then explores the text according to its genres including the different roles—the visionary, watchman, dramatist, debater, spinner of parables and fanciful tales, prosecutor, and herald of both bad and good news—Ezekiel plays. Dr. Block examines well-known passages like the valley of the dry bones or the Gog and Magog oracle, as well as the confusing imagery found in the book. He concludes the course by looking at the outpouring of the Spirit in the Old and New Testaments focusing on what the outpouring of the Spirit signifies and differentiating between the meaning of the spirit being put into a people and being poured out on them.
Find the grace of God in the book of Ezekiel
Understand Ezekiel’s vision of the cherubim and the divine glory
Describe the attitudes and behavior of the exiles in Babylon and their counterparts in Jerusalem
Explain the significance of Ezekiel’s first temple vision
Interpret Ezekiel’s “sign actions”
Unravel the riddle of the Eagle and the Vine
Understand the purpose and imagery of the Gog oracle
Explain how the book of Ezekiel was produced
Find early evidence of belief in resurrection in the vision of the dry bones
Better understand and appreciate the heart of God
Explain the “woe” against the shepherds of Israel
Introduction
Introducing the Speaker and the Course
Unit 1: Introduction to the Book of Ezekiel
Book of Ezekiel Distinctives: Organizational Demarcation and Dating
Book of Ezekiel Distinctives: Style Emphasizing Revelation
Book of Ezekiel Distinctives: Structure and Symmetry
Author and Production
How Did the Prophet Ezekiel Function?
Ezekiel’s Rhetorical Goal
Ezekiel’s Rhetorical Method
Unit 2: Superscription to the Book of Ezekiel
Nominal Event
Questions about the Superscription of Ezekiel
What Is the Thirtieth Year?
Where Is the River Chebar?
Unit 3: Ezekiel the Visionary
The Call as a Call to Prophecy
The Call as a Call to Priestly Ministry
The Living Creatures and the Wheels
The Struggle for Description
The Imagery of Ezekiel’s Vision
What Is the Point of This Vision?
Ezekiel’s Reluctance to Accept the Call
Ezekiel’s First Temple Vision: The Purpose of the Vision
Ezekiel’s First Temple Vision: Ezekiel Taken to Jerusalem
Abominations in the Temple: Image of Jealousy, 70 idols and Elders Violate the Temple
Abominations in the Temple: Tammuz and Shamash
The Verdict
Execution of the Sentence; The Glory Departs
Epilogue to the Temple Vision
Unit 4: Ezekiel the Watchman
Introduction to Ezekiel the Watchman
First Commissioning Speech
Second Commissioning Speech
Metaphors for Prophets
Four Cases
First and Second Alarms
Third Alarm, Parts 1–3
Third Alarm & Theology of the Watchman Texts
Unit 5: Ezekiel the Dramatist
Introduction to Ezekiel the Dramatist
The Binding of Ezekiel
Ezekiel’s Muteness
Death of Ezekiel’s Wife
Ezekiel’s Sign Actions: Features of a Sign Act
Ezekiel’s Sign Actions: Sign Acts Regarding the Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem
Ezekiel’s Sign Actions: The Destruction of Jerusalem
Interpretation of the Sign Acts
Second Announcement of Judgment upon Jerusalem
Packing for Exile: God’s Command and Ezekiel’s Obedience
Packing for Exile: The End of the Davidic Line
Yahweh’s Aim in the Judgment: They Will Know That I Am Yahweh
Yahweh’s Aim in the Judgment: The Death of Zedekiah
Unit 6: Ezekiel the Debater
Features of Disputation Speeches
The Three Generations
Rejoinder and Reply
Call to Repentance: God’s Principles Are Just
Call to Repentance: The Lord Does Not Desire the Death of Anyone
Thesis Statement: Pot and Meat
Refutation and Counter Thesis
Second Refutation, Theological Significance
Our God, Our Land?
Israel’s Theology of Land
Ezekiel’s Gospel: 11:16–20
Epilogue
Theological Implications of Ezekiel 11
Unit 7: Ezekiel the Prattler of Parables and Fanciful Tales
Introduction to the Riddle: Structure
Introduction to the Riddle: The Text of the Riddle
Introduction to the Riddle: A Basic Interpretation
The Riddle of the Great Eagle
The Eagle and the Vine
The Second Eagle and the Vine
The Interpretation: Zedekiah Will Be Taken to Babylon to Die
The Interpretation: Ill-Founded Reliance on Egypt
Prediction of Zedekiah’s End
The New Cedar Interpretation: A Tender Shoot from the Root of David
The New Cedar Interpretation: The Tender Shoot Will Restore the Promise of Davidic Rule
The New Cedar Interpretation: God Is Lord of History
Unit 8: Ezekiel the Prosecutor
Introduction to Legal Judgment Oracles
Style of Legal Judgment Oracles
Exposition: Call for Jerusalem’s Arraignment
Indictment of Jerusalem
Yahweh’s Expressions of Grace: Jerusalem’s Elevation
Yahweh’s Expressions of Grace: God as Husband to Israel
Jerusalem’s Religious Response to Grace
Jerusalem’s Political Promiscuity
The Sentencing of Jerusalem
Disqualification from Grace but Grace Will Prevail
Grace in the End
Unit 9: Ezekiel the Herald of Bad Good News
Introduction to the Bad Good News: A Turning Point
Introduction to the Bad Good News: A Greater Exodus
Ezekiel 28
Announcement of Doom for the Prince of Tyre (Part 1)
Announcement of Doom for the Prince of Tyre (Part 2)
The Problem with the Prince of Tyre
Announcement of Doom for the King of Tyre: From Beauty to Ashes
Announcement of Doom for the King of Tyre: A Signet of Authority
Announcement of Doom for the King of Tyre: Cherubim and Stones of Fire
Announcement of Doom for the King of Tyre: Tyranny
Announcement of Doom for the King of Tyre, Part 5: Fire to Come
Unit 10: Ezekiel the Herald of Good Good News
Glimmers of the Gospel: A Guarantee of Continued Existence
Glimmers of the Gospel: Renewed Promise of the Land
Introducing Ezekiel 34–48
Themes in the Restoration Oracles
Introduction to Ezekiel 34
The Woe against the Shepherds of Israel
Indictment of the Shepherds
Sentencing of the Shepherds
Rescue from External Threats
The Deliverance from Internal Threats
The Answer for the Bullies
The Covenant of David
The Covenant of Peace: More Than Absence of War
The Covenant of Peace: The Flock of My Pasture
Implications of the Shepherd Text
Unit 11: Recovering the Lord’s Reputation
Introduction to Ezekiel 36
Desecration of the Land
Defiled Land, Defiled Reputation
Exile and Defilement of the Name
Theme: Recovering Yahweh’s Honor
Actions That Sanctify the Name of God
Israel’s Renewal: I Will Replace Your Heart of Stone
Israel’s Renewal: You Will Walk in the Ways of the Lord
Israel’s Renewal: All Israel Will Be Saved
Blessing of Israel
The Name-Sanctifying Goal
Vindication of Yahweh’s Honor
Unit 12: The Dry Bones: Resurrection
Vision of the Dry Bones
Resuscitation of the Dry Bones: Breath from the Four Winds
Resuscitation of the Dry Bones: The Bodies Stand Up
Interpretation of the Vision: The Bones Are All Israel
Interpretation of the Vision: Resurrection of All Israel
Theological Implications of Ezekiel 37:1–14
Yahweh’s Eternal Covenant with Israel
The Pieces of Wood: A Wooden Diptych?
The Pieces of Wood: Israel and Judah to Be Reunited
First Panel: The Reversal
Restoration of Israel’s Health as a Covenant People
Second Panel: Four Pillars: David Shall Be King Forever
Second Panel: Four Pillars: Land and King Forever
Second Panel: Four Pillars: Land, Davidic Line, Covenant of Peace
Second Panel: Four Pillars: Land, Davidic Line, Covenant of Peace, Dwelling in Their Midst Forever
Theological Reflection on Ezekiel 37:15–28: Yahweh Alone Can Sanctify
Unit 13: Gog and Magog
Context of Gog Oracle
Genre of the Gog Oracle
Structure of the Gog Oracle
Panel A, Frame 1: The Conscription of Gog
Panel A, Frame 2: The Motives of Gog
Panel A, Frames 3 and 4: The Advance of Gog and the Judgment of God
End of Panel A; Panel B, Frame 5: Then They Will Know That I Am Yahweh; The Slaughter of Gog and Magog
Panel B, Frame 6: The Spoiling of Gog
Panel B, Frame 7: The Burial of Gog
Panel B, Frame 8: The Devouring of Gog
Interpretative Conclusion
Outpouring of the Spirit in the Prophets
Outpouring of the Spirit in the New Testament: First Expansion of the Covenant Community
Outpouring of the Spirit in the New Testament: Universal Expansion of the Covenant Community
Conclusion
Bringing Honor to God’s Name
Title: OT362 Book Study: Ezekiel
Instructor: Daniel I. Block
Publisher: Lexham Press
Publication Date: 2020
Product Type: Logos Mobile Education
Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources
Courses: 1
Video Hours: 17
Dr. Daniel Block, professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, has been teaching God’s Word for more than 30 years.
It has been a special joy for Dr. Block to watch students, who often take introductory courses in Old Testament only because they are required to do so by the curriculum, suddenly awaken to the fact that the Old Testament is understandable and its message is both life-giving and relevant for modern, everyday life.
Dr. Block has published a number of books and essays in scholarly journals. The paradigm for his research and ministry is set by Ezra, as described in Ezra 7:10: he committed himself to the study the Torah of Yahweh, to put it into practice, and to teach his revealed will in Israel. This means constantly asking serious questions of the Scriptures: What does the text say? Why does the text say it like that? What did the text mean to the original audience? What does the text have to say to me today? In order to answer these questions, one needs to understand both the worlds out of which the biblical texts arose and the worlds in which modern people live.