Ezekiel Part 2: Prophecies of Restoration

Welcome back to Cross Connections! In this episode, Natalee, Elliot, and Rick dive into the second half of Ezekiel, exploring the prophet’s dramatic sign acts, the shift from doom to hope, and a preview of the wild world of apocalyptic literature.

Episode Highlights:

• Ezekiel’s wife dies as a sign act, and the hosts discuss the significance of mourning without grieving (Ezekiel 24), drawing connections to Leviticus 10 and traditions around priestly mourning.
• The oracles against the nations: Why does Egypt get so much attention? The team explores the historical context and the role of neighboring nations in Judah’s downfall.
• The turn to hope: Starting in chapter 33, Ezekiel’s message shifts to restoration, individual responsibility, and the metaphor of the sentinel.
• Wrestling with God’s justice: The hosts reflect on how people inside and outside the church grapple with the question, “Is God just?”.
• The Good Shepherd: Ezekiel’s critique of Israel’s leaders (the “shepherds”) and the promise of a new, Davidic shepherd. The conversation connects these passages to Matthew 25, John 10, and the New Testament’s imagery of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
• Grace in Ezekiel: God’s promise of a new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 36), emphasizing that restoration is an act of grace, not something the people have earned. The priestly language and Levitical references are highlighted.
• The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37): A powerful vision of resurrection and hope, often read at the Easter Vigil. The hosts unpack the Hebrew word “ruach” (spirit, wind, breath) and its significance.
• Apocalyptic and eschatological literature: What’s the difference? The team explains these terms, referencing the Book of Enoch (for the curious, it’s part of the Ethiopian Orthodox canon and a wild read!) and how Ezekiel’s visions set the stage for later apocalyptic works like Daniel and Revelation.
• Gog and Magog: Who are they? The hosts discuss their symbolic role in Ezekiel and their reappearance in Revelation, as well as their presence in other ancient Jewish texts like 1 Enoch and the Sibylline Oracles.
• The vision of the new temple: Ezekiel’s grand, hope-filled vision of a future temple, and how this shapes both Jewish and Christian understandings of God’s presence. The discussion touches on the shift from temple-based to more universal ideas of holiness in the New Testament (see John and Paul’s writings).
• Restoration and hope: The episode closes with the promise that “the Lord is there” (Ezekiel 48:35).

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Next week: Daniel and the world of apocalyptic stories—lions, furnaces, and more! Sign your 2nd-5th Graders up for Sunday Christian Formation - they're reading Daniel, too!

Cross Connections is a ministry of ⁠⁠St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA⁠⁠. Season two, Cover to Cover is hosted by the Rev. Rick Morley, Elliot VanHoy, and Natalee Hill.

A full copy list of readings for 2025 may be found on our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stdavidschurch.org/crossconnections⁠⁠ ⁠If you have questions for us, you can call us at 484.588.5656 and leave a voicemail with your name, where you’re from, and your question or comment. Please note, we may use your recorded voice in an upcoming episode of Cross Connections. You can also email us at ⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠.

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