Let's be honest: Ezekiel is a tough read. It opens with a mind-bending vision of heavenly creatures and wheels covered in eyes, and it rarely lets up from there. The prophet Ezekiel, living in exile in Babylon, delivers messages from God that are equal parts theatrical, harsh, and strangely hopeful. He acts out prophecies, lies on his side for over a year, and cooks food over dung. He sees a vision of God's glory leaving the temple in Jerusalem because of the people's corruption, and later, a vision of a new temple and a restored land. The core of the story is the collision between God's holiness and the people's failure, and the painful, necessary path to renewal.

Why You Should Read It

This is where Skinner shines. He doesn't just explain the strange symbols; he helps you feel the weight of them. He shows you that Ezekiel wasn't being weird for weirdness' sake. Every bizarre action and complex vision was a desperate attempt to shock a broken, displaced people into understanding their situation. Skinner makes you see the person behind the prophecies—a man tasked with an almost impossible job. What struck me most was how Skinner handles the famous 'valley of dry bones' vision. He frames it not just as a general promise of resurrection, but as a specific word of hope for a nation that felt completely dead and finished. It becomes incredibly powerful. He also tackles the hard parts, like the violent language and judgments, without glossing over them, helping you wrestle with the text honestly.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone—student, curious reader, or person of faith—who has looked at Ezekiel and felt lost. It's for the reader who wants more than a simple explanation, who wants to understand the historical context and the prophetic passion behind the poetry. It's not a quick read; it's a companion for a deep dive. If you're looking for light devotional material, this might be too much. But if you're ready to explore one of the Bible's most complex and dramatic books with a clear, thoughtful guide, John Skinner's work is absolutely worth your time. It transforms a confusing ancient text into a compelling story of crisis and hope.