Ezekiel is a prophet. This book records his preaching. Ezekiel name means “Gods strengthens” or “May God strengthen” appropriate for a prophet called to proclaim a message of uncompromising judgement and later a message of a restoration for God’s sale, not Israel’s. Ezekiel lived out his prophetic career among the community of exiled Judeans in Babylon. Ezekiel spoke to a community forced from its home, a people who had broken faith with their God. As the spokesman for God of Israel, Ezekiel spoke oracles that vindicate the reputation of this holy God. Thus the primary purpose of Ezekiel’s message was to restore God’s glory before the people who had spurned it in view of the watching nations.
