Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.
And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;
Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.
But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.
Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.
And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place.
I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.
So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.
Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel–abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
And the hand of the Lord was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.
Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.
But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:
And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.
But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 3 delves deep into the heart of prophetic calling, revealing not only the divine mandate given to Ezekiel but also the profound challenges and responsibilities that accompany such a weighty task. This chapter highlights the prophet's preparation, the nature of his message, and the stark reality of the people's resistance. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of faithful proclamation and the urgency of heeding God's word.
Digesting the Message (Ezekiel 3:1-3)
The chapter opens with a continuation of God's instructions to Ezekiel, building upon the vision in Ezekiel 2. Ezekiel 2:9-3:1 describes the scroll filled with "lamentations and mourning and woe," representing the severe judgment awaiting Israel. God commands Ezekiel to eat the scroll, symbolizing the complete internalization and assimilation of the divine message. This act goes beyond mere intellectual understanding; it signifies a deep, personal connection with God's word. The prophet is to "digest" the Word of God—to read it and make it a part of himself.
Interestingly, despite the scroll's grim content, Ezekiel finds it "as sweet as honey" in his mouth (Ezekiel 3:3). This seeming paradox reveals a crucial truth: even messages of judgment, when received as God's word, possess a sweetness for the believer. This sweetness stems from the knowledge that God is just, and his warnings are ultimately for the purpose of restoration and redemption.
Fortified for Resistance (Ezekiel 3:4-9)
Having internalized the message, Ezekiel is now prepared to deliver it to the house of Israel. God underscores the daunting nature of this task, highlighting the people's stubbornness and resistance. God emphasizes Israel’s rebellious nature to Ezekiel by saying that if he were sent to a foreign people whose language he didn’t understand, they would believe him and repent (Ezekiel 3:4-6)! But not Israel. They didn’t want to hear from Ezekiel because they didn’t want to hear from God.
The people to whom Ezekiel was being sent were hardheaded and hardhearted, so God told Ezekiel that he was going to make him just as tough so he could speak to them without being discouraged (Ezekiel 3:7-9). To equip Ezekiel for this opposition, God promises to make him as unyielding as the people he is sent to confront. This divine empowerment ensures that Ezekiel will not be intimidated or discouraged by their rejection.
A Spirit-Led Journey (Ezekiel 3:10-15)
With the message and the strength to deliver it, Ezekiel is transported back to the exiles by the Chebar Canal (Ezekiel 3:15; see 1:1). The Spirit lifted him up to take him back there (Ezekiel 3:12). This experience is both awe-inspiring and deeply unsettling. He hears a loud rumbling sound and finds himself being transported on God’s chariot-throne by the four cherubim and the wheels (Ezekiel 3:13).
The prophet was so overwhelmed by all that had happened and the gravity of his message, in fact, that he sat there among the exiles stunned for seven days (Ezekiel 3:15). This is a reminder that true spirituality is manifested when we feel the way God feels about unrighteousness. Ezekiel's bitterness and anger (Ezekiel 3:14) stem from a shared grief with God over the sin of Judah. He is overwhelmed by the weight of his calling and the impending judgment, leading to a period of stunned silence for seven days.
The Watchman's Responsibility (Ezekiel 3:16-21)
After this period of reflection, God speaks again, clarifying Ezekiel's role as a watchman for the house of Israel (Ezekiel 3:17). This role carries a two-fold responsibility: to warn individuals of their sin and to deliver God's message faithfully. God would hold Ezekiel guilty of the blood of a wicked person if he failed to warn him of his sinfulness (Ezekiel 3:18, 20). There was also the promise of vindication for Ezekiel should a righteous person heed his message and avoid sin (Ezekiel 3:21). This passage underscores the serious consequences of neglecting to warn others and the potential for salvation when the warning is heeded.
This passage speaks powerfully to believers in Jesus Christ who bear the responsibility to proclaim the good news so that sinners may believe, be saved, and follow him in godliness. After all, how can we keep silent when we know how people can escape the wrath of God?
Confined Yet Compelled (Ezekiel 3:22-27)
Ezekiel's commissioning concludes with a second appearance of God's glory, prompting him to fall facedown in reverence (Ezekiel 3:23). God orders him to confine himself to his house lest his fellow exiles in Babylon tie him up with ropes to keep him there (Ezekiel 3:24-25). This confinement, along with the symbolic muteness (Ezekiel 3:26), serves as an object lesson for the people.
God intended to create an object lesson for the people about their refusal to hear Ezekiel’s message. The same can be said for Ezekiel’s tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth (Ezekiel 3:26). It suggests that he wouldn’t have anything to say to the rebellious Israelites unless it was the message God had given him. Ezekiel is to speak only when God opens his mouth, delivering the divine message without compromise. Whether the people heard and repented, or rejected and plunged into ruin, the prophet was only to say, This is what the Lord GOD says (Ezekiel 3:27), letting the chips fall where they may. In fact, this should be the posture of every preacher who speaks for God.
Ezekiel 3 is a powerful chapter that resonates with the challenges and responsibilities of prophetic ministry. It reminds us that true messengers of God must internalize the message, stand firm in the face of opposition, and faithfully deliver God's word, regardless of the consequences. The chapter also serves as a call to all believers to heed the warnings and embrace the hope offered in God's message.
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.
And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;
Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.
But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.
Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.
And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place.
I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.
So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.
Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel–abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
And the hand of the Lord was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.
Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.
But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:
And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.
But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 3 delves deep into the heart of prophetic calling, revealing not only the divine mandate given to Ezekiel but also the profound challenges and responsibilities that accompany such a weighty task. This chapter highlights the prophet's preparation, the nature of his message, and the stark reality of the people's resistance. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of faithful proclamation and the urgency of heeding God's word.
Digesting the Message (Ezekiel 3:1-3)
The chapter opens with a continuation of God's instructions to Ezekiel, building upon the vision in Ezekiel 2. Ezekiel 2:9-3:1 describes the scroll filled with "lamentations and mourning and woe," representing the severe judgment awaiting Israel. God commands Ezekiel to eat the scroll, symbolizing the complete internalization and assimilation of the divine message. This act goes beyond mere intellectual understanding; it signifies a deep, personal connection with God's word. The prophet is to "digest" the Word of God—to read it and make it a part of himself.
Interestingly, despite the scroll's grim content, Ezekiel finds it "as sweet as honey" in his mouth (Ezekiel 3:3). This seeming paradox reveals a crucial truth: even messages of judgment, when received as God's word, possess a sweetness for the believer. This sweetness stems from the knowledge that God is just, and his warnings are ultimately for the purpose of restoration and redemption.
Fortified for Resistance (Ezekiel 3:4-9)
Having internalized the message, Ezekiel is now prepared to deliver it to the house of Israel. God underscores the daunting nature of this task, highlighting the people's stubbornness and resistance. God emphasizes Israel’s rebellious nature to Ezekiel by saying that if he were sent to a foreign people whose language he didn’t understand, they would believe him and repent (Ezekiel 3:4-6)! But not Israel. They didn’t want to hear from Ezekiel because they didn’t want to hear from God.
The people to whom Ezekiel was being sent were hardheaded and hardhearted, so God told Ezekiel that he was going to make him just as tough so he could speak to them without being discouraged (Ezekiel 3:7-9). To equip Ezekiel for this opposition, God promises to make him as unyielding as the people he is sent to confront. This divine empowerment ensures that Ezekiel will not be intimidated or discouraged by their rejection.
A Spirit-Led Journey (Ezekiel 3:10-15)
With the message and the strength to deliver it, Ezekiel is transported back to the exiles by the Chebar Canal (Ezekiel 3:15; see 1:1). The Spirit lifted him up to take him back there (Ezekiel 3:12). This experience is both awe-inspiring and deeply unsettling. He hears a loud rumbling sound and finds himself being transported on God’s chariot-throne by the four cherubim and the wheels (Ezekiel 3:13).
The prophet was so overwhelmed by all that had happened and the gravity of his message, in fact, that he sat there among the exiles stunned for seven days (Ezekiel 3:15). This is a reminder that true spirituality is manifested when we feel the way God feels about unrighteousness. Ezekiel's bitterness and anger (Ezekiel 3:14) stem from a shared grief with God over the sin of Judah. He is overwhelmed by the weight of his calling and the impending judgment, leading to a period of stunned silence for seven days.
The Watchman's Responsibility (Ezekiel 3:16-21)
After this period of reflection, God speaks again, clarifying Ezekiel's role as a watchman for the house of Israel (Ezekiel 3:17). This role carries a two-fold responsibility: to warn individuals of their sin and to deliver God's message faithfully. God would hold Ezekiel guilty of the blood of a wicked person if he failed to warn him of his sinfulness (Ezekiel 3:18, 20). There was also the promise of vindication for Ezekiel should a righteous person heed his message and avoid sin (Ezekiel 3:21). This passage underscores the serious consequences of neglecting to warn others and the potential for salvation when the warning is heeded.
This passage speaks powerfully to believers in Jesus Christ who bear the responsibility to proclaim the good news so that sinners may believe, be saved, and follow him in godliness. After all, how can we keep silent when we know how people can escape the wrath of God?
Confined Yet Compelled (Ezekiel 3:22-27)
Ezekiel's commissioning concludes with a second appearance of God's glory, prompting him to fall facedown in reverence (Ezekiel 3:23). God orders him to confine himself to his house lest his fellow exiles in Babylon tie him up with ropes to keep him there (Ezekiel 3:24-25). This confinement, along with the symbolic muteness (Ezekiel 3:26), serves as an object lesson for the people.
God intended to create an object lesson for the people about their refusal to hear Ezekiel’s message. The same can be said for Ezekiel’s tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth (Ezekiel 3:26). It suggests that he wouldn’t have anything to say to the rebellious Israelites unless it was the message God had given him. Ezekiel is to speak only when God opens his mouth, delivering the divine message without compromise. Whether the people heard and repented, or rejected and plunged into ruin, the prophet was only to say, This is what the Lord GOD says (Ezekiel 3:27), letting the chips fall where they may. In fact, this should be the posture of every preacher who speaks for God.
Ezekiel 3 is a powerful chapter that resonates with the challenges and responsibilities of prophetic ministry. It reminds us that true messengers of God must internalize the message, stand firm in the face of opposition, and faithfully deliver God's word, regardless of the consequences. The chapter also serves as a call to all believers to heed the warnings and embrace the hope offered in God's message.