The prophet Ezekiel had a most unenviable assignment. He was called to preach a message of coming judgment to the rebellious children of Israel, on the occasion of the Lord's delivery of the nation into enslavement under the Babylonians. Ezekiel witnessed marvelous things in his prophetic visions even as he lived through terrible things on earth.

In this context, Ezekiel serves not only as the prosecutor of God’s covenant lawsuit, vindicating God’s judgment against his own people; he serves also as pastor to the despairing exiled flock, providing them hope that judgment is not God’s final word to them. If they will repent, God will again be their God and dwell with them, and they with him.