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Journey Through the Bible

Ezekiel 3 Vision of Rebellion and Judgment

1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house 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 house of Israel and speak my words to them.

5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel—

6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.

7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is 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 house.”

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 countrymen 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—May the glory of the Lord be praised in his dwelling place!—

13 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 Lord upon me.

15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—overwhelmed.

16 Warning to Israel
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 house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

18 When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.

20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

22 The hand of the Lord was upon 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, though they are a rebellious house.

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 him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

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Analysis of Ezekiel Chapter 3

The Book of Ezekiel is a rich tapestry of prophetic vision, divine judgment, and hope for restoration. Chapter 3 continues to elaborate on Ezekiel’s role and responsibilities as a prophet to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. This chapter can be divided into several thematic sections, each packed with deep spiritual insights and lessons. In this analysis, we will explore the chapter by examining its segments, their symbolic meanings, and their implications.

For a more structured approach, the chapter can be broken down into the following parts:

  • A Scroll to Eat (Verses 1-3)
  • Ezekiel’s Commissioning (Verses 4-11)
  • The Spirit Lifts Ezekiel (Verses 12-15)
  • Ezekiel as a Watchman (Verses 16-21)
  • The Binding and Interaction with God (Verses 22-27)

A Scroll to Eat (Verses 1-3)

The chapter begins with the continuation of a vision from the previous chapter, where Ezekiel is commanded to eat a scroll given to him by God:

“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.’ So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. 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.” (Ezekiel 3:1-3)

Ingesting the scroll symbolizes internalizing God’s words and making His message a part of the prophet’s very being. The sweet taste might appear paradoxical given the grim content of the scroll, which reflects the divine truth and the purity of God’s message. The consumption of the scroll signifies an intimate connection between God’s messenger and His message, reminding us that to preach effectively, one must first fully embrace and internalize the Word of God.

Ezekiel’s Commissioning (Verses 4-11)

Next, Ezekiel is given his mission:

“He then said to me: ‘Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel—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. 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. But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 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 house.’ And he said to me, ‘Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 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.'” (Ezekiel 3:4-11)

The juxtaposition of mission and rejection highlights the difficulty of the prophetic mission. God fortifies Ezekiel, making him as resilient as the people are obstinate. This resilience is crucial because a prophet’s task is often not only to convey God’s message but to stand firm even in the face of opposition and hostility. Interestingly, God mentions that if Ezekiel were to speak to foreign nations, they might have heeded his warnings, underscoring the Israelites’ particular stubbornness. This highlights the tragic irony of God’s people being more resistant to His voice than those who are not His covenantal recipients.

The Spirit Lifts Ezekiel (Verses 12-15)

The narrative then transitions to a more mystical experience:

“Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard

Understanding the Key Messages in Ezekiel 3: Insights and Explanation

In Ezekiel chapter 3, God commissions Ezekiel as a watchman over Israel, sending him with a scroll in his hand to deliver messages of warning. Ezekiel is called to be courageous and obedient, despite the rebelliousness of his people. God warns Ezekiel that the people may not listen, but he must faithfully deliver God's messages of judgment. The chapter ends with Ezekiel being moved and empowered by the Spirit of God.

Notes

Ezekiel's call as a watchman reminds us of the responsibility and courage required in speaking God's truth, even when it is unpopular or rejected. This chapter emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.