Three Anticipation of Christ and the Gospel in Ezekiel

An important theme in Presuppositional apologetics is the need to evaluate things from a Christian worldview that is informed by God’s revelation.

I believe something similar to that is also helpful in evaluating what’s going on in the New Testament in light of Old Testament anticipation of prophecies.

In this post we will look at three anticipation of Jesus and the Gospel from the book of Ezekiel.

 

1. A future righteous Davidic King
   1. Prediction one day the lineage of Davidic king will end: “And you, O slain, wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day has come, in the time of the punishment of the end,’ 26 thus says the Lord God, ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; this will no longer be the same. Exalt that which is low and abase that which is high.” (Ezekiel 21:25-26)
      24. The reason is due to the sins of these kings, see 24.
      25. As a result of these kings’ sins note God says “take off the crown”
   2. Yet there is also a prediction of a future righteous King of David: “A ruin, a ruin, a ruin, I will make it. This also will be no more until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.’” (Ezekiel 21:27)
      1. The phrase “until he comes” sounds similar to the word “Shiloh” in Genesis 49:10 and thus echoing the verse in Genesis: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”[1]
      2. What Ezekiel 21:27 is trying to say is that Genesis 49:10 will still be a promise that will be fulfilled!
      3. Ezekiel 21:27 also add further that this will be a righteous king of David’s line!
      4. Of course this is anticipating the righteous Jesus Christ!
2. The Good Shepherd
   1. Israel have a history of bad shepherds according to Ezekiel 34:1-10.
   2. Note one day there will be a Good Shepherd: “Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.” (Ezekiel 34:23-24)
      1. This is from David’s lineage since 23 says “one shepherd, My servant David.”
      2. This shepherd also is a ruler since He is a prince according to verse 24.
      3. Yet according to Ezekiel 34:11-22 it is God who is Shepherd.
      4. Is the Shepherd both from David’s line and also God? We shouldn’t be surprised that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who is both God and David’s son!
   3. See also Ezekiel 37:24-28: “Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.”
3. What is the result of the result of the Shepherd/God/righteous Davidic king? The New Birth
   1. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. 28 You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel 34:23-24)
      1. Notice a cleansing is the result (25)
      2. Note also believers will now have new hearts and a new spirit to obey with the heart of stone removed (26-27)
   2. This passage is incredible because before this oracle was given we have seen how sinful Israel and Judah is towards God.
   3. Yet in light of this passage shouldn’t we expect a future regeneration of believers in the New Testament?

[1] Walter Kaiser, The Promise-Plan of God (Grand Rapids: Zondervan), 205.