Part 42 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series 

David Pawson takes time to explain the background to Ezekiel as he says it is probably the most neglected part of the Old Testament and also difficult. Its messages were given over 20 years. Ezekiel reveals a severity in God’s character which is not usually emphasized. Paul in the New Testament referred to the “goodness and severity” of God as well. Because preachers usually concentrate on the goodness of God, listeners tend to have a one-sided view of what God is like. The southern two tribes of Israel should have known that they needed to heed God’s word because they had seen the northern 10 tribes carried off in exile. Yet they ignored prophets Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah and Habakkuk. King Josiah tried to restore the worship of God, but the people didn’t really follow his lead. Various nations attacked the land until only Jerusalem was left to the very poorest people who had not been deported.  Ezekiel was taken away in the first deportation, as was Daniel, so was never able to serve as a priest but God called him to be a prophet.  He preached and performed miracles.