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The "Be" Commentary
Be Reverent (Ezekiel): Bowing Before Our Awesome God (The BE Series Commentary) by Warren W. Wiersbe
Excellent Book
Paperback
First published September 21, 2000
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About the author
Warren W. Wiersbe
662 books412 followersWarren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as 'the pastor's pastor.' He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 14, 2019
I have read several of Wiersbe's BE Bible commentaries and found them all useful. Unlike the other books I've read in the series, I've never studied Ezekiel before. Having read the Bible through annually for many years, of course, I have read Ezekiel a number of times, but never before have I done a study of it. Since I was at a basic level on this, I didn't look up all the cross-references, of which there are many. I concentrated on reading the chapters of Ezekiel referenced in each section of the commentary and looked up cross-references only if I had a question about the topic or something in the discussion particularly intrigued me. I had thought that Ezekiel was primarily prophesying about the Babylonian captivity and the return of the exiles and was fascinated to read how the author interprets Ezekiel in terms of the end times.
November 14, 2016
"The important thing at the judgement seat of Christ won't be how much Bible we studied or learned, but how much we loved and obeyed."
This commentary is perfect if you seek to understand more Ezekiel and his ministry.
I found it definetely worth reading.
It has helped me a lot and I've started to appreciate more this often-underestimated-book.
This commentary is perfect if you seek to understand more Ezekiel and his ministry.
I found it definetely worth reading.
It has helped me a lot and I've started to appreciate more this often-underestimated-book.
July 28, 2024
My favorite commentary on Ezekiel.
July 21, 2012
One of the brothers in our Thursday night band of brothers said maybe Warren Wiersbe should have titled this one "Be Weird."
There are certainly passages in Ezekiel that are hard to fathom, or at least hard for my mind to fathom. Often, as I was first reading the Scripture, I thought: I'm sure glad I have Warren Wiersbe with me to explain what this means, and the guys on Thursday night to chew it over and ultimately understand (at least sometimes) what Wiersbe means.
We understood throughout that Wiersbe comes with his own interpretation, and that there are other valid interpretations. I'm not sure we're intended to fully grasp everything that's in Ezekiel.
It's certainly a difficult book. There are passages that thrill and chill me, such as the famous "Valley of the Dry Bones" passage in Ezekiel 37. ("He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord God, You know.'")
There are passages that are painful to read, such as in Ezekiel 25, when the prophet is told that his wife will die suddenly, and he is to make no open display of mourning -- this in a culture where mourning publicly and openly is the norm. "So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded," Ezekiel writes.
The bottom line is impossible to miss, though, especially since it's repeated more than 60 times. "Then they will know that I am the LORD," Ezekiel is told over and over.
Wiersbe points out the application: "If the book of Ezekiel teaches us anything, it teaches us that we must honor God's name and magnify His glory."
I thought the questions at the end of the chapters in this book were more thought-provoking and helpful than the questions in some of Wiersbe's other Bible study books.
There are certainly passages in Ezekiel that are hard to fathom, or at least hard for my mind to fathom. Often, as I was first reading the Scripture, I thought: I'm sure glad I have Warren Wiersbe with me to explain what this means, and the guys on Thursday night to chew it over and ultimately understand (at least sometimes) what Wiersbe means.
We understood throughout that Wiersbe comes with his own interpretation, and that there are other valid interpretations. I'm not sure we're intended to fully grasp everything that's in Ezekiel.
It's certainly a difficult book. There are passages that thrill and chill me, such as the famous "Valley of the Dry Bones" passage in Ezekiel 37. ("He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord God, You know.'")
There are passages that are painful to read, such as in Ezekiel 25, when the prophet is told that his wife will die suddenly, and he is to make no open display of mourning -- this in a culture where mourning publicly and openly is the norm. "So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded," Ezekiel writes.
The bottom line is impossible to miss, though, especially since it's repeated more than 60 times. "Then they will know that I am the LORD," Ezekiel is told over and over.
Wiersbe points out the application: "If the book of Ezekiel teaches us anything, it teaches us that we must honor God's name and magnify His glory."
I thought the questions at the end of the chapters in this book were more thought-provoking and helpful than the questions in some of Wiersbe's other Bible study books.
February 17, 2017
On my own, I knew I would not be able to truly grasp the meaning of the Biblical book Ezekiel. I needed a guide, and I turned to the best teacher I could think of, Dr. Warren Wiersbe. With his help, I not only understood the book better, I came to LOVE the book. I loved the story of Ezekiel himself, and the story of the people of God, who at that time were captives in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. I loved the sad vision of the Glory of the LORD lingering, then leaving the temple, then lingering, then leaving the city of Jerusalem. I rejoiced in later chapters to read of the return of the Glory of the LORD in the future temple. I was made aware of how much God wants everyone to know Him. He says that at least 60 times in the book, “Then they will know that I am YAHWEH (The LORD).” I also saw how serious He is about His Holiness, and I see how the entire book comes together in a final happily ever after in the city of Jehovah Shammah which means "Yahweh is There"
September 11, 2020
Wiersbe’s clear, accurate, heartfelt Bible teaching is reaching out to a new generation with new editions of his works being produced rapidly in the months after his death. He still deserves to be heard. His volume on Ezekiel was of great help to me.
March 30, 2020
Warren Wiersbe has written a “Be” series commenting on almost every book of the Bible. The individual books cover more than a study Bible would, but they are not as in-depth as some commentaries. They are good study aides. Wiersbe gives background information, word meanings, different interpretations for passages as well as his reasons for the interpretation he chooses, and applications for modern-day believers. His style is easy to read.
The books are available in paperback, but I often see a few at a time on Kindle app sales for 99 cents to $1.99. I’ve collected most of them, but, I’m sorry to say, they stayed tucked away and forgotten in my app.
Our church has been reading through Ezekiel for the last several weeks. Ezekiel is known for having some of the toughest passages in all of Scripture to understand and interpret, so I figured perhaps a bit more help than my study Bible might be needed.
Wiersbe sets the theme for Ezekiel right in the title: Be Reverent (Ezekiel): Bowing Before Our Awesome God. Judah had been taken over by the Babylonians, and most of the nation was sent to Babylon in three different deportations. God had called Jeremiah to warn the people before the kingdom fell to Babylon. He called Ezekiel to preach to the people in Babylon.
Many prophets would act out object lessons for the people. But Ezekiel seems to have been given not only the most of what the ESV Study Bible calls “street theater” messages, but also the most unusual. Wiersbe calls them “actions sermons.”
One of our former pastors taught that many of the prophets prophesied during the same era, and one reason was that different people responded to different personalities. Some may have thought Ezekiel a little weird or might have been uncomfortable watching him, but others would have been drawn especially because he was different.
Wiersbe points out several repeated phrases in the book:
God is called “Lord God” (“ Sovereign Lord” NIV) over four hundred times.
“I am the Lord” occurs fifty-nine times.
“You will know that I am the LORD” (6:7 NIV) . . . is found seventy times.
Ezekiel is called “son of man” ninety-three times.
“The phrase ‘the word of the Lord came’ is used fifty times in his prophecy and speaks of the authority of his message, and ‘the hand of the LORD’ is found also in Ezekiel 3: 14, 22; 8: 1; 33: 22; 37: 1; and 40: 1. The word of the Lord brings enlightenment and the hand of the Lord enablement (see Eph. 1: 15–23).”
Wiersbe notes that “The Jews were sinning against a flood of light” in that they had the books of Moses, “knew the terms of the covenant,” had heard the messages of several prophets, “yet persisted in disobeying God’s will.” “The attitude of the people wasn’t that of militant opposition but rather passive indifference.” “In their pride, they had cultivated a false confidence that the Lord would never allow His people to be exiled or His temple destroyed, but their sin had now ‘matured’ and both were now about to happen.”
Ezekiel assured the people that “Though His people were in exile and their nation was about to be destroyed, God was still on the throne and able to handle every situation. In His marvelous providence, He moves in the affairs of nations and works out His hidden plan.”
Ezekiel had to deal with the people about their sin and idolatry, but he also held out hope that one day God would set up a future shepherd (34:22-24), a covenant of peace (34:25-31), and His presence with them (34:30; 48:35).
One of the applications Wiersbe says Ezekiel brings out for us is “Too much so-called worship is only a demonstration of man-centered religious activity that fails to bring glory to the Lord.” He warns against falling into the trap Judah did in keeping outward forms of worship and religious activity without engaging the heart.
There is a lot of controversy in Ezekiel, too, especially over what the details of the new temple mean in the last few chapters.
There’s so much more, both to Ezekiel and Wiersbe’s comments. But perhaps this gives you taste of both. I’m looking forward to exploring more of the “Be series” in the future.
The books are available in paperback, but I often see a few at a time on Kindle app sales for 99 cents to $1.99. I’ve collected most of them, but, I’m sorry to say, they stayed tucked away and forgotten in my app.
Our church has been reading through Ezekiel for the last several weeks. Ezekiel is known for having some of the toughest passages in all of Scripture to understand and interpret, so I figured perhaps a bit more help than my study Bible might be needed.
Wiersbe sets the theme for Ezekiel right in the title: Be Reverent (Ezekiel): Bowing Before Our Awesome God. Judah had been taken over by the Babylonians, and most of the nation was sent to Babylon in three different deportations. God had called Jeremiah to warn the people before the kingdom fell to Babylon. He called Ezekiel to preach to the people in Babylon.
Many prophets would act out object lessons for the people. But Ezekiel seems to have been given not only the most of what the ESV Study Bible calls “street theater” messages, but also the most unusual. Wiersbe calls them “actions sermons.”
One of our former pastors taught that many of the prophets prophesied during the same era, and one reason was that different people responded to different personalities. Some may have thought Ezekiel a little weird or might have been uncomfortable watching him, but others would have been drawn especially because he was different.
Wiersbe points out several repeated phrases in the book:
God is called “Lord God” (“ Sovereign Lord” NIV) over four hundred times.
“I am the Lord” occurs fifty-nine times.
“You will know that I am the LORD” (6:7 NIV) . . . is found seventy times.
Ezekiel is called “son of man” ninety-three times.
“The phrase ‘the word of the Lord came’ is used fifty times in his prophecy and speaks of the authority of his message, and ‘the hand of the LORD’ is found also in Ezekiel 3: 14, 22; 8: 1; 33: 22; 37: 1; and 40: 1. The word of the Lord brings enlightenment and the hand of the Lord enablement (see Eph. 1: 15–23).”
Wiersbe notes that “The Jews were sinning against a flood of light” in that they had the books of Moses, “knew the terms of the covenant,” had heard the messages of several prophets, “yet persisted in disobeying God’s will.” “The attitude of the people wasn’t that of militant opposition but rather passive indifference.” “In their pride, they had cultivated a false confidence that the Lord would never allow His people to be exiled or His temple destroyed, but their sin had now ‘matured’ and both were now about to happen.”
We must correctly distinguish regret, remorse, and true repentance. Regret is an activity of the mind; whenever we remember what we’ve done, we ask ourselves, “Why did I do that?” Remorse includes both the heart and the mind, and we feel disgust and pain, but we don’t change our ways. But true repentance includes the mind, the heart, and the will. We change our minds about our sins and agree with what God says about them; we abhor ourselves because of what we have done; and we deliberately turn from our sin and turn to the Lord for His mercy.
Ezekiel assured the people that “Though His people were in exile and their nation was about to be destroyed, God was still on the throne and able to handle every situation. In His marvelous providence, He moves in the affairs of nations and works out His hidden plan.”
Ezekiel had to deal with the people about their sin and idolatry, but he also held out hope that one day God would set up a future shepherd (34:22-24), a covenant of peace (34:25-31), and His presence with them (34:30; 48:35).
One of the applications Wiersbe says Ezekiel brings out for us is “Too much so-called worship is only a demonstration of man-centered religious activity that fails to bring glory to the Lord.” He warns against falling into the trap Judah did in keeping outward forms of worship and religious activity without engaging the heart.
There is a lot of controversy in Ezekiel, too, especially over what the details of the new temple mean in the last few chapters.
There’s so much more, both to Ezekiel and Wiersbe’s comments. But perhaps this gives you taste of both. I’m looking forward to exploring more of the “Be series” in the future.
April 23, 2017
Ezekiel is a difficult book to like with its fierce judgments and difficult-to-interpret prophecies. I really appreciated Wiersbe's insights that caused me to dig deeper. I've been reading the Bible every day for decades, but I can honestly day that this is the first time I've wrestled with some of the difficult passages in Ezekiel. I didn't always agree with Wiersbe, but valued his thoughts as springboards for coming to my own conclusions. (I have not figured it all out, by the way.) This is a very helpful commentary for laymen.
Some good quotes:
"God gives his people many privileges, but he never gives the privilege to sin." (p. 26)
"Popularity is not a test of truth. History shows that those who spoke the truth were usually, rejected by the majority, persecuted, and even killed." (p. 73)
"Any theology that makes sin easy and divine punishment unimportant is not biblical theology." (p. 134)
Some good quotes:
"God gives his people many privileges, but he never gives the privilege to sin." (p. 26)
"Popularity is not a test of truth. History shows that those who spoke the truth were usually, rejected by the majority, persecuted, and even killed." (p. 73)
"Any theology that makes sin easy and divine punishment unimportant is not biblical theology." (p. 134)
June 19, 2015
I have to admit to finding Ezekiel and the commentary by Wiersby very difficult reading. Three quarters of the book is gloom and doom, followed by redemption, and finally the glorious vision of the temple. Chapters 40-48 of Ezekiel and Wiersby's final chapter concerning them were the one part of the book which really engaged me. It's been a struggle, you can see that from the time elapsed for me to get through the 250 odd pages, but my biblical and spiritual knowledge has grown as a result of that lengthy struggle!
April 28, 2014
He is a very talented commentator! I loved reading his insights after I'd studied a chapter or two...he brought scripture references and insights to light that I hadn't thought of. If you want a great understanding of this amazing book of the Bible, then this is fantastic commentary! High recommend!!
July 11, 2017
Makes a difficult book somewhat clearer. I am seeing my nation in the light of this book.
He fails to apply the insights to our world. He is failing to see America as ancient Israel. The value of the book was to provide a yardstick for seeing our flaws.
He fails to apply the insights to our world. He is failing to see America as ancient Israel. The value of the book was to provide a yardstick for seeing our flaws.
March 6, 2017
A good overview of Ezekiel
May 11, 2017
The best!
January 25, 2025
A very easy-to-read commentary on Ezekiel. Since this was my first time studying Ezekiel on my own, I appreciated the author's outline and opinions. The outlines helped me focus or find the themes of each section of Ezekiel. It's similar to Isaiah in that it discusses the sins of Israel as a nation, individuals, leaders, priests and the nations. I was surprised that Wiersbe's outline didn't include the warnings or calls to repentance included throughout the book.
Wiersbe's commentary on the many images and literary devices used in Ezekiel helped me get an idea about what was being illustrated. Although Wiersbe sometimes called a story a metaphor when another commentator called the same story and allegory.
It was helpful to have Wiersbe's insight into the temple in chapters 40-48, otherwise I would have been lost in the details. I didn't know there will be 5 temples total. Solomon's, Herod's, the temple defiled by the antichrist, the millennial temple and the temple in the New Jerusalem. I also didn't know that God's name for the new city is Jehovah Shammah or the Lord is there, which is the final verse of Ezekiel (48:35).
Some of Wiersbe's beliefs or biases were apparent but not as many as excoriated by his online critics. I think this was a helpful guide for a beginner.
Wiersbe's commentary on the many images and literary devices used in Ezekiel helped me get an idea about what was being illustrated. Although Wiersbe sometimes called a story a metaphor when another commentator called the same story and allegory.
It was helpful to have Wiersbe's insight into the temple in chapters 40-48, otherwise I would have been lost in the details. I didn't know there will be 5 temples total. Solomon's, Herod's, the temple defiled by the antichrist, the millennial temple and the temple in the New Jerusalem. I also didn't know that God's name for the new city is Jehovah Shammah or the Lord is there, which is the final verse of Ezekiel (48:35).
Some of Wiersbe's beliefs or biases were apparent but not as many as excoriated by his online critics. I think this was a helpful guide for a beginner.
April 30, 2022
The book of Ezekiel was a book of restoration. Here the commentary also focused on this history and also the remembrance what God already did and what would the fate of the enemies. The hardest part only explained in a chapter here, about the gog and magog. But overall, this commentary widen my perspective on many things I never found when I read the book of Ezekiel alone.
November 27, 2022
Weirsbe's BE series is my go to for hard to understand Bible studies. His grasp of Jewish history and culture once again deepened my understanding and my interest in Ezekiel's prophecy book. His interpretation of future events seem to ring true yet I appreciate he mentions other theories and their strong and weak points.
June 14, 2025
A reminder that everyone is accountable for their own choices—to choose God or to choose a life of sin—and that God is holy and there is no other beside Him.
I was also inspired by Ezekiel’s obedience. Anything God asked of him, he did and he did it immediately. May I have the same attitude towards what God asks of me.
I was also inspired by Ezekiel’s obedience. Anything God asked of him, he did and he did it immediately. May I have the same attitude towards what God asks of me.
April 17, 2019
The Book of Ezekiel
This writer has a gift for explaining scripture so clearly. I got much new insight into the End Times and it is helping me with my increased faithfulness to The Lord.
This writer has a gift for explaining scripture so clearly. I got much new insight into the End Times and it is helping me with my increased faithfulness to The Lord.
August 15, 2019
God had Ezekiel act out his messages. These charades were a special sermon in in each act. When you see them as multiple messages only then can you understand the book of Ezekiel. You see the awesomeness of God when you look at each charade as a separate sermon.
June 15, 2020
This commentary is a huge help in understanding the book of Ezekiel in the Bible. I really like how the author explains so many of the reasons behind God’s instructions and how he points out the basis (Bible verses) for what he is teaching.
May 27, 2021
God is sovereign
If you learn anything from reading the book Ezekiel, it is that God is sovereign. So much is explained by Warren Wiersbe in a book that can be a little difficult to understand.
If you learn anything from reading the book Ezekiel, it is that God is sovereign. So much is explained by Warren Wiersbe in a book that can be a little difficult to understand.
August 20, 2021
Clarity amidst Discovery
Warren Wiersbe always takes the deep truths of God’s Word and helps me apply real truth to my everyday life, while giving me plenty of direction for personal discovery.
Warren Wiersbe always takes the deep truths of God’s Word and helps me apply real truth to my everyday life, while giving me plenty of direction for personal discovery.
April 7, 2022
I really enjoy this series. Dr. Wiersbe has a gift for explaining Scripture that makes some of the difficult passages much more understandable. I always come away from these books learning a great deal.
February 22, 2018
I would have been some what lost in the book of Ezekiel with this helper book. I felt that it had some good insights.
October 14, 2019
Very interesting and helped me understand this book better.
October 16, 2019
really helped to make sense of some difficult Bible passages
August 14, 2020
Ezekiel is a tough book to understand but the commentary helped me so much!
August 27, 2020
To be fair, this is a hard book of the Bible for which to write commentary, but I am used to Wiersbe making readable commentaries even for difficult books and this was hard to get through.
December 28, 2020
This was my main study companion while reading Ezekiel. It brought understanding to challenging sections of interpretation while also providing modern day applications. Highly recommend!
April 2, 2021
Excellent coverage of the Book of Ezekiel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews