Welcome back to Ezekiel! Chapter two today. It’s a short one. God is doing most of the talking. Assurance and comfort despite the news of what he’s told he’s going to have to do. That’s what God can do for you too. Assure you and comfort you. Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, thank You for this chapter, and for your words that come across as warning but full of love and grace toward the one being tasked with reporting them. You are so gracious and kind to us, Lord. Help us to pay attention and to really see what it is you have for us in this chapter and this book. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
Please read Ezekiel 2:1-2
The Prophet’s Call
1 Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2 Then as He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.
Hold on, did you hear that? The Spirit entered Ezekiel and set him on his feet. Think about that.
Assurance
Please read Ezekiel 2:3-7
3 And He said to me, “I am sending you, son of man, to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people [in both the north and the south] that have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have sinned and revolted against Me to this very day. 4 I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord [a]God.’ 5 As for them, whether they listen or refuse [to listen]—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know and be fully aware of the fact that there has been a prophet among them. 6 And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words; though briars and thorns are all around you and you sit among scorpions, neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. 7 But you shall speak My words to them whether they will listen or refuse [to listen], for they are [most] rebellious.”
Love the warning, love the assurance. Love the kindness in God’s warning and assurance. Do this so that they will know and be fully aware of the fact that there has been a prophet among them. Praise God who can make us totally confident and unafraid. Because He never leaves us, praise God. Praise God who tells Ezekiel in advance what to expect. What a great God we have.
Comfort
Please read Ezekiel 2:8-10
8 “As for you, son of man, listen to what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” 9 Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out toward me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And He spread it before me, and it was written on the front and on the back, and written on it were [words of] lamentation (funeral songs) and mourning and woe.
Listen to Him. Eat these words, even though they are words of lamentation and mourning and woe. They are words intended for the audience he’s being sent to – the rebellious and stubborn and obstinate people of both the north and the south of Israel. But let them speak to you too. His word is important whatever it says, whatever He speaks. Listen.
Take me back to the links page, I want to read more!
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 2:4 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord and so throughout.