Read Ezekiel 3
3 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.
4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”
10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.”
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing.13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. 14 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lordon me. 15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River.And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—deeply distressed.
Ezekiel’s Task as Watchman
16 At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
20 “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
22 The hand of the Lord was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.” 23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people. 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.
Go Deeper
Perhaps the most memorable image from Ezekiel comes in today’s reading, when he eats a scroll that tastes like honey. The act is done within the continuation of a God-given vision in which Ezekiel is called to prophesy to the obstinate nation of Israel and warn them of destruction if they continue to rebel. We already learned yesterday what was written on the scroll: “words of lament, mourning, and woe”. The mood is dour. The tension is high. God has had enough.
Symbolically, the scroll is a reference to the living Word of God. Ezekiel ingests the Law before going to speak to Israel. He “fills” his stomach with it. This serves as preparation for what he will face. He embodies the Law and therefore represents its authority on behalf of God. God then sets the expectations for what Ezekiel will encounter on the journey. In short, God declares that Israel is out of excuses. There are no language or speech barriers preventing them from hearing Ezekiel’s plea.
But what happens next carries high stakes for Ezekiel himself. God likens him to a watchman. Those under his watch are now his responsibility. If he doesn’t warn them about God’s impending destruction, their blood will be on his own hands. God says directly, “I will hold you accountable for their blood.” Ezekiel must go and share. Otherwise, he will be held personally responsible for their sin. He will pay the price.
This seems unfair to him. But there is a clear tie to Jesus here. Hundreds of years later, Jesus is held responsible for our sin. He takes the wrath of God on our behalf, paying the price for our own rebellion. What seems like an unfair proposition to Ezekiel becomes the reality for Jesus. And for us.
Questions
- How does God prepare Ezekiel for the rejection he will face (verse 8)?
- Where does God send Ezekiel for 7 days, and what does he do?
- What responsibility do you have to the nonbelievers in your life?
By the Way
Ezekiel eating the scroll that tastes like honey in his vision is reminiscent of Psalm 119:103:
“How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
5 thoughts on “Ezekiel 3”
Everyday we are presented a feast and invited to partake and digest God’s word. Do we really understand the gift we’ve been given? It is effective and full of living power, trains us in righteousness, and sweetens our lives as it penetrates our hearts. It also can overwhelm us as it exposes the depravity of humanity. We are called to step forward in obedience and raise his standard in the midst of our perverse generation even with trembling knees. Someone is waiting on the other side of our obedience. Whose souls will God hold us accountable for?
Ella, powerful words in your commentary.
I have a hum. Was it unfair? Did Ezekiel feel this was unfair or was he, like Jesus, willing to be and do what God had called him to? From the sound of the scriptures, it is quite the task, BUT GOD was equipping him with even literal sustenance of the WORD OF GOD, to eat, for him to be able to serve God. I do not feel that Jesus felt like God was being unfair with Him. He knew what glory was coming for all involved so He was willing. When we accept Christ and all that it entails, we become watchmen, to raise our voices because people are falling away from God. We are to tell people of the good news, it is their freedom of choice to choose to receive the word. If they decide to hear then we are to disciple them.
Ezekiel was the hope for a fallen world, at his time. But he was given definitive plans as to when to speak and how he was responsible. Was this unfair, I do not see that Ezekiel felt any grievances, he was a willing servant who endured much. Are we willing to be that kind of servant?
God show me how to be a better watchman. Help me open my mouth for Your sons and daughters of this world. Thank You for getting rid of the fear of man out of me so that I can with all boldness speak about YOU!!! in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!
Obedience! Ezekiel obeyed God. How often have I not obeyed because of the fear of mans response? How often have I disobeyed because I didn’t see any benefit for myself or it didn’t make any sense in my finite brain?
Or what about the times that I obey but only partially, not totally?
Almost obedience, partial obedience isn’t obedience at all. Luke 17:10 When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, we are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.
The first century church was powerful, healthy, and obedient. Why isn’t the church today even more awesome than the first century church?
Obedience???
I love that God quite literally fills us up with what we need to go into the situations He calls us to. Knowing that I can speak life to those who are unbelievers because I am filled with the one who is life is a beautiful thing. Understanding that, like Ezekiel, I may be misunderstood and rejected for telling people The Way, but so was Jesus.