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Ezekiel: Preaching The Word Of God
Maybe we have nothing to say if we have not first listened, received, and consumed the Word of God. Ezekiel was told by God to eat this scroll. The word eat means to devour or consume, while the word scroll means a book or roll. The scroll obviously contained the message of God for his people. The phrase eat this scroll oc- curs twice in these three verses and is similar to what John ex- perienced (Revelation 10:9- 11).
The scroll tasted good— sweet as honey. God’s words are likened to honey (Psalm 19:10) and always bless (Rev- elation 1:3). But because they deal with truth, there can be a sour taste as well (10:10). There is a tradition that de- scribes what rabbis do in teaching their students. As the lesson begins, the rabbis put a drop of honey on the students’ tongues—to remind them of the sweetness of studying the Word of God.
Speak Out And Glorify God
Ezekiel 3:4-9
Once Ezekiel internalized the message of God, he was
told to go and speak to Israel. One would think that since it is God’s Word and these are God’s people then there would be a guaranteed positive re- sponse. Actually, it was just the opposite. God even warned Ezekiel ahead of time that his message would be met with tremendous resistance. In fact, Ezekiel would get a better re- sponse by total foreigners (those of obscure speech and strange language) than with Israel. Ezekiel did not have a speaking problem since he had internalized the Word of God. But Israel did have a listening problem.
God reminded Ezekiel that Israel’s listening problem was not with him as their prophet, but with God himself. To counter their resistance to the message, God would toughen Ezekiel. God promised to make Ezekiel as unyielding and hardened as they are. God said, (I will make your fore- head like the hardest stone, harder than flint).
Ezekiel was told not to fear the people nor be terrified by them. This word means to be discouraged, dismayed, or “to
break into pieces.” Even though Israel was rebellious, Ezekiel had to be ready to speak out.
Prophets did not speak be- cause people listened. Prophets spoke because it glo- rified God.
Sink In and Show Through Action God’s Word
Ezekiel 3:10, 11
Now the word that was used earlier to Israel is used for the prophet himself—listen. Ezekiel was to take to heart (receive or welcome into his heart) God’s Word. A prophet is not worth his salt if he (or she) is not tuned in to God.
For the second time God said to Ezekiel, Go now. This prophetic call came in waves or layers in these opening chapters. Ezekiel was to speak to the exiles and remind them of what the Sovereign Lord says. Listening was the peo- ple’s job. Speaking was the prophet’s job. Glorifying his own name through the mes- sage is God’s job.
Each person’s response to God determines his or her eternal destiny.
Ezekiel was a man who chose to obey God. Although he was a priest (1:3), he served as a Jewish ‘street preacher’ in Babylon for 22 years, telling everyone about God’s judgement and salva- tion, and calling them to re- pentance and obedience.
Ezekiel was a priest by train- ing, a prophet by God’s call. Ezekiel lived what he preached.
As every parent knows, chil- dren are not so easily taught. People have wills and must choose to submit, to follow the instructions of their parents, leaders and others in author- ity. Discipline is a part of the process —- boys and girls MUST understand the conse- quences of disobedience — and there is a choice to be made. God’s children must learn to obey their heavenly Father.
The call of Ezekiel was in- volved, and encompassed most
of his physical senses. In Ezekiel 1 his call involved seeing the glory of the Lord ev- ident in the four living crea- tures and the famous wheel within a wheel. In chapter 2 his call involved standing and hearing the voice of the Lord. In chapter 3 his call involved eating a scroll and speaking out of that meal.
Ezekiel rightly follows Jere- miah’s writings in the bible. Jeremiah predicted the Baby- lonian exile, and Ezekiel was part of it. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel was a priest who would also function as a prophet. Je- remiah’s call came in his mother’s womb while Ezekiel’s call came by the Kebar River in Babylon. Jeremiah wrote a let- ter to the exiles (Jeremiah 29) while Ezekiel lived among them.
Eat Up And Consume The Word Of God Ezekiel 3:1-3
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