< Ezekiel 3 >

Ezekiel ate the scroll containing the word of God (Ezekiel 2:8-9)Waiting for response for Ezekiel 2:8-9 and was told to go immediately and speak the words to the people.vs.1-4Waiting for response for Ezekiel 3:1-4 He would have spoken to the Jews in his and their own language vs.5-7Waiting for response for Ezekiel 3:5-7 but one of the perversities of Israel was that they more readily accepted the wisdom of other nations than that of the word of God in their own tongue. They would, therefore, set their faces fiercely against Ezekiel when he delivered the message, but God would protect him.vs.8-9Waiting for response for Ezekiel 3:8-9 Ezekiel himself, however, was a faithful man and listened to God’s word, allowing it to enter deep into his heart,v.10Waiting for response for Ezekiel 3:10 and we should be like him not the faithless Israelites of his day. He was sent to the captive Jews in Babylon v.11Waiting for response for Ezekiel 3:11 to speak God’s words to them, whether they would listen or not, and as he went he was given a glimpse of the vision of glory he had seen in chapter one.vs.12-13Waiting for response for Ezekiel 3:12-13 These living creatures v.13Waiting for response for Ezekiel 3:13 are consistently used in the scriptures to represent the community of saints. The four creatures had the faces of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle 1:10, which are the faces of the cherubim above the ark in the Most Holy place of both the tabernacle and the Temple, they are the images upon the standards of the fourfold camp of Israel, and these creatures correspond with the aspects of Jesus depicted in the four gospels.

Ezekiel was sent to warn Israel, with great personal responsibility placed upon him.vs.16-21Waiting for response for Ezekiel 3:16-21 He was to warn the wicked to turn from their wickedness and the righteous not to depart to wickedness, otherwise they would die. If Ezekiel failed to deliver the warning and any died in their wickedness, their blood would be upon him. However, if he faithfully delivered the warning, and they refused to heed it, he would be free of responsibility.

Ezekiel was also required to make himself a spectacle to the people of Israel to reinforce God’s message. He remained in his house, bound in cords, and was made dumb, being unable to speak except when God moved him to declare his words.vs.22-27Waiting for response for Ezekiel 3:22-27 The message was to be impressed upon the Jews whether they would listen or not, and mostly they did not take much notice. God has also ensured that his word is available today throughout the world, with the Bible being the world’s best seller, so that people have the word of God presented to them, whether they will hear or not. The wise read it and listen to the LORD.