Book Description
A prophet’s heart broken, a woman’s joy gone. What does Yahweh have planned for His people?
On the brink of Jerusalem’s demise, devoted priest, Ezekiel, sees the insincerity of Judah’s worship. Despite his efforts to call the people back to true worship of Yahweh, priests, artisans, valiant warriors, and royals are exiled to Babylon. Ezekiel’s heart breaks while he continues to deliver God’s messages of judgment for his homeland. How can he minister to the people from so far away?
The presence of the Lord is tangible when Shiriel sings in the temple, and her voice prepares the hearts of many to worship. When she is exiled to Babylon, her faith is shaken. Does the Lord’s presence extend beyond Jerusalem and His holy temple?
Ezekiel is struck mute and paralyzed as he begins his prophetic ministry, and Shiriel devises a plan to get the Lord’s message back to the unfaithful people of Judah. Shiriel struggles with discontentment as serving the Lord looks nothing like she’d imagined. Can she provide for her family and carry out her husband’s ministry when her joy is gone, and her own dreams are placed on hold?
How will Yahweh save His people from themselves? Find out in Ezekiel’s Song!
My Review
5 Smiles 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Incomparable BibFic on Ezekiel
Ezekiel’s Song was the first book I’ve read by Naomi Craig but it won’t be my last. It is a masterpiece of epic proportions. I realize that sounds a bit over-the-top, but I’ve researched Ezekiel’s story and even considered writing it myself. In fact, I proposed it to my editor a few years ago, and she gave me a flat NO! Why? Because Ezekiel’s story is such a difficult one to unravel. Besides the nightmare of timeline issues during Judah’s last five kings, Ezekiel’s personal story is foggy at best—downright depressing at worst. Yet, somehow, Ms. Craig writes a compelling, believable story about a sympathetic prophet who readers can not only understand but also cheer for in those final chapters.
The female main character, Shiriel, is entirely likable and should be nominated for sainthood—if she were a real person. Yet Shiri never sugar-coats the nearly impossible circumstances she must endure when she and Ezekiel are taken from Jerusalem and exiled to Babylon. Without gratuitous violence or descriptions of abuse, readers learn the harsh realities of captivity in a foreign land and the unique challenges of a prophet called to speak to people who he knows will never listen. Glimmers of hope and pearls of insight kept me turning pages late into the night as I yearned for God’s people to prosper—even knowing they would refuse Him again and again.
Touches the Heart
The lessons the characters in the book learn are lessons I need to learn. The harsh realities they face are some of the same ones we face today. (Okay, not the Babylonian guards and maniacal king.) I truly believe most who read this book will relate to Ezekiel and Shiriel on some level. It’s a splendid work that digs deep into the fleshy part of a heart. No surface stuff.
So be ready to search your heart as you learn more about the prophets Ezekial and Jeremiah as well as the last days of Jerusalem and the Jewish exile to Babylon. I’ve never heard of another biblical novel that covers the prophet Ezekiel, and I can’t imagine another that would ever explore his ministry, emotions, and impact on God’s people as well as Naomi Craig’s Ezekiel’s Song. A must read for ALL serious biblical fiction lovers!
Author Bio:
Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, Pastor’s wife, and mom to an amazing young lady. Naomi loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church, or trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes, you’ll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee.
CLICK HERE to discover more about Naomi Craig and her wonderful writing!
