Westside Bible Studies

Ezekiel's final indictment of Jerusalem is another vulgar portrayal of whoring women: Oholah ("my tent"; Samaria) and Oholibah ("my tent is in her"; Jerusalem). They were corrupted in Egypt; Oholah had met her humiliating fate, and Oholibah was about to join her. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 24 | Ezekiel 23:1-49

YHWH looked for a man to stand in the breach of Israel. None was found. Ezekiel thus provided a most succinct indictment of YHWH against Jerusalem. Judgment was imminent. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 23 | Ezekiel 22:1-31

The decision had been made. The judgment was now imminent. Nebuchadnezzar was on the march. The sword was being prepared. Woe, woe to Israel! And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 22 | Ezekiel 20:45-21:32

Ezekiel's generation had walked in the ways of their fathers. Judgment was coming. Restoration would come for another generation, but with tears and lamentation for the traumas endured. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 21 | Ezekiel 20:27-44 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, "Thus saith the Lord YHWH: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed m...

Elders of Israel inquired of YHWH through Ezekiel. He would not be inquired of by them, for they persisted in the sins of their fathers. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 20 | Ezekiel 20:1-26

Two kings of Judah, Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin, had been taken away into exile. Ezekiel laments for their fate, which is the end of the Davidic kingdom. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 19 | Ezekiel 19:1-14 Moreover, take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, and say, What was thy mother? A lioness: she couched among lions, in the midst of the young lions she nourished her whelp...

<p>Israel felt doomed to its fate.  But their ways were not God's ways.  God yearned for them to turn aside from their sins and not die.</p> <p>And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 18 | <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+18&version=ASV">Ezekiel 18:1-32</a></p>

<p>Zedekiah had proven traitorous and faithless to his covenant with Nebuchadnezzar.  To YHWH, it was the same as being traitorous and faithless against Him.  Judgment was coming.</p> <p>And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 17 | <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+17&version=ASV">Ezekiel 17:1-24</a></p>

Ezekiel concluded his shocking and vulgar denunciation of Jerusalem. And then it got even more shameful for the city. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 16 | Ezekiel 16:35-63

YHWH directed Ezekiel to declare a metaphorical condemnation of Jerusalem. What he uttered proved ribald and vulgar, certainly not suitable for work and remains offensive even to modern sensibilities. But why? To what end? And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 15 | Ezekiel 16:1-34

Grape vines produce wonderful grapes, but what of grape vines themselves? Otherwise pretty worthless! And so Jerusalem proved to be, and destined for fire. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 14 | Ezekiel 15:1-8 And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying, "Son of man, what is the vine-tree more than any tree, the vine-branch which is among the trees of the forest? Shall wood be taken thereo...

Israel could have its idols or it could serve their God. Judgment was coming, and only the righteous could escape it. God's judgment was righteous; its righteousness would provide cold comfort. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 13 | Ezekiel 14:1-23

Why did the Israelites not heed what the prophets said? But they did! They listened to prophets. It was just the false prophets they heeded, who promised peace and security for Jerusalem. The false prophets would be excised from Israelite memory, just as Ezekiel prophesied. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 12 | Ezekiel 13:1-23

The Israelites remained a rebellious house, able to see and hear but refusing to do so. The prince would be humiliated. They presumed the time of judgment was far off, yet it proved very near. Disaster was close at hand. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 11 | Ezekiel 12:1-28

The abominations and the judgment were one thing. Now Ezekiel saw something truly astonishing and horrifying: the glory of YHWH departed from Jerusalem. He would be a Sanctuary for His people in exile, but all hope for Jerusalem was gone. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 10 | Ezekiel 10:15-11:25

Ezekiel had been shown the abominations of Jerusalem. Now he would see God's judgment upon it. He would despair of hope for any remnant of Israel. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 9 | Ezekiel 9:1-10:14

Ezekiel is transported in a vision to see Jerusalem. He would see great abominations. All who heard would understand why YHWH had no other remedy than judgment in His wrath. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 8 | Ezekiel 8:1-18 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the han...

In the midst of the sign-acts Ezekiel would indict the Israelites for their transgressions. Their idolatry would come at a heavy cost. They had trusted in these gods; they would learn far too late how they would not deliver in the hour of distress. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 7 | Ezekiel 6:1-7:27

Ezekiel was called upon to endure a most harrowing shave. But it would be nothing like the terror and devastation which he prophesied would come upon his people in Jerusalem. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 6 | Ezekiel 5:1-17 "And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp sword; as a barber's razor shalt thou take it unto thee, and shalt cause it to pass upon thy head and upon thy beard: the...

YHWH began speaking to Israel through Ezekiel through sign-acts. They would not like the fate of Jerusalem he would vividly enact. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 5 | Ezekiel 4:1-17 "Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it a city, even Jerusalem: and lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against it; set camps...

Ezekiel was appointed as a watchman to warn Israel in exile regarding the coming of the Day of YHWH. The Word of YHWH would be the only words he could speak for years. Thus Ezekiel began to represent a sign-act before all Israel in exile regarding their hardness of heart. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 4 | Ezekiel 3:16-27 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of...

The glory of YHWH appeared to Ezekiel in Babylon. YHWH had not abandoned His people, but they would not like what He had to tell them. YHWH was calling Ezekiel to go and speak to them. It would not be easy. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 3 | Ezekiel 2:1-3:15 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak with thee. And the Spirit entered into me when he spake u...

Ezekiel saw a vision of the likeness of the glory of YHWH at the Chebar canal in Babylon. Much is made of a lot of the detail of the vision; that it was seen, and in Babylon, is of the greatest importance. And You Shall Know That I am YHWH | Episode 2 | Ezekiel 1:4-28

Some of Judah had gone into exile in 597 BCE; some remained in Jerusalem. In 593 YHWH called Ezekiel the priest in Babylon to speak to His people in exile. Join us as we begin our exploration into the book of Ezekiel. And You Shall Know That I Am YHWH | Episode 1 | Ezekiel 1:1-3 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captiv...