The Prince

The most important personage referred to in the chapters of Ezekiel dealing with matters concerning the Sanctuary is the Prince. The title is almost anonymous, as nothing is said about him that specifically indicates who he is and why he is uniformly described by that title. Yet he occupies so important a position in the last nine chapters of the Prophet’s writings that he must be a person of supreme importance. Who, and what is he?

In earlier chapters of Ezekiel the term is applied to the reigning king of Israel. It occurred, for example, on the occasion when Ezekiel acted the part of an emigrant, and it was said, “This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem” (Ezek 12:10) — the prince being the king. It occurred also in the reference to King Zedekiah when the words were used, “O unhallowed wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment” (Ezek 21:25). On the latter of these two occasions it was further said, “There shall not be even a trace of it until he comes whose right it is; and to him I will give it.” He whose right it is, is unquestionably Jesus the Christ, the son of David, “Great David’s greater son,” of whom it was said by the angel who spoke to Mary of Nazareth, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32) It is obvious, therefore, that the Prince of Ezekiel’s prophecy is the same — Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah. When the use of the term in previous chapters is examined it will be realized that this is the only conclusion that can be drawn. When the Prophet referred to the One Shepherd who is to be set up over the house of Israel, he, speaking for God, said “I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken” (Ezek 34:23-24). In the visions of dry bones and the united sticks, the same idea is expressed, “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd” (Ezek 37:24). In all of these quotations the application is the same; Israel’s Messiah is referred to — God’s beloved Son. David means beloved, and he it is whose right it will be to occupy the supreme position when the Sanctuary is built.