January 12, 2023
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Reading along with us in Ezekiel? Here’s today’s reading:
Ezekiel 3 (NIV)
1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth..........Continue Reading
A few things stood out to me in this chapter. First the eating of the scroll spoke to how important it is for us to not just carry our Bible around but to truly ingest the Word of God to make it part of our thinking, our speech, and our lives. He wanted Ezekiel to be a vessel of His words not simply someone who memorized them well.
Second the strength He promised to provide to Ezekiel was stronger than the rebellion he would face. As strong as flint God said so Ezekiel would be prepared to face the battles and the resistance and a great lesson to us that this is the same strength we have on our side in every difficult encounter. Lastly, I love that God was fully in control of what and when Ezekiel would preach His words. He could strike him mute and He could fill him with His words at His will. I love the idea of us being a vessel allowing God to speak through us not just with the proper words but at the proper times.
He obeyed and ate the scroll that tasted like honey. Seems he was warning Ezekiel that if he did not warn someone and speak the words that God gave him to stop his evil ways the blood of the unsaved person would be on his head and he would be held responsible. If he did warn them and they still continued their evil ways then Ezekiel would be saved.
He was always aware that the spirit lifted him up wherever God wanted him to go. I wonder if the Holy spirit tries to speak to us and we just do not know how to listen to hear what God wants us to do in his name. Will missed opportunities to save someone be on our head.
Ezekiel 2
What a great picture of the nature and the purpose of the Word of God is found in the eating of the scroll. The Word of God is sweet and it’s nature is good and helpful to us. And it’s purpose is to be ingested…written on our hearts, so every facet of our being is effected. And may we all be touched by the sinfulness and rebellion of the people around us and seek to be an instrument in God’s hand to bring His message to them. I do believe that the call on Ezekiel to be a watchman and how that is communicated here and particularly the accountability he has in speaking the word to them to preserve their lives is unique to him and this situation. It is not replicated anywhere else in scripture, as I recall, not even to the other prophets. It will be something to make note of as we read. But that does not change the role we have to be ambassadors for Christ and implore people on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled to God. But the situation the Jews are in, being in exile, is critical in having them understand why they were there and what God would call them to to return to the promised land.
Ezekiel 3
Ezekiel 3
Ezekiel is sent to be a watchman to the house of Israel and God tells him He will give him the strength to stand against their rebellion. It is interesting that God sends Ezekiel, even though He knows that the people will be rebellious. This reinforces to me that man does have a free-will, otherwise, God is just having His own puppet show. It is also clear that God can and will over-ride man, if necessary, although it seems with Ezekiel, it is God empowering and enabling him to perform a difficult task.
“But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.”
Ezekiel 3.
God further chastens Ezekiel to warn the wicked or else he will make Ezekiel accountable for their death.
Further Ezekiel will not be able to rebuke the wicked with his own words. God will shut his mouth but loose his tongue to prophesy to them.
God tells Ezekiel to reveal to Israel his spoken word as a prophet sent by Him. He prepares him by saying they are rebellious people and not to be afraid of their response to his words. He further explains that foreigners listen to the Lord more than his own people do. The hand of the Lord was strong upon him, to lift him to the place he needed to go and to provide him with the power he needed to fulfill his purpose. God does not just throw us into situations without preparing us first. He provides us wisdom and power and strength to carry out the purpose he sets before us.