Thursday, August 20
Read Ezekiel 2
Think About It:
Yahweh is seated in His chariot throne at the center of His domain—the entire cosmos. Ezekiel was now to receive his official commission as a prophet of the Lord God, so the Lord provided Ezekiel four important commandments to obey.
Stand and listen (Ezekiel 2:1-2) There is a time to fall down in humble adoration, and there’s a time to stand up and take orders (John 7:6). The commandment of the Word in the power of the Spirit enabled Ezekiel to stand to his feet, and the Spirit entered him and strengthened him. On many occasions, the Spirit would lift him up (Ezekiel 2:2, 8:3, 11:2, 11:24, 37:1, 43:5) and give him special power for his tasks (3:24, 11:5). The important thing was that Ezekiel stand obediently before the Lord and listen to his Word.
Go and speak (Ezekiel 2:3-5) At least 16 times in this book you find the Jews described as “rebellious.” They had revolted against the Lord and were obstinate in their refusal to submit to God’s will. Their refusal to obey the terms of the covenant had led to their defeat and capture by the Babylonian army. Even in their captivity, they were nursing false hopes that Egypt would come to their rescue or the Lord would do a great miracle.
So rebellious were the Jewish people that God called them “a rebellious nation” and used the Hebrew word goy, which is usually reserved for the Gentiles!
Don’t be afraid (Ezekiel 2:6-7) Ezekiel was to declare God’s word boldly no matter how his listeners responded. His own people might act like briars and thorns, and even like painful scorpions, but that was not to deter His servant.
Receive the word within (Ezekiel 2:8-3:3) Being a priest, Ezekiel knew that the Hebrew scriptures picture God’s Word as food to be received within the heart and digested inwardly.
An outstretched hand gave Ezekiel a scroll that didn’t have any good news written on it, because it was filled on both sides with “words of lament and mourning and woe”.
What if the Lord had given you a difficult word to deliver to your church? How hard would it be for you to do that? Had Ezekiel heard the description of the hardness of his people before he saw the vision of God’s Glory, he might have had a difficult time accepting his call. But having seen the glorious thrown of the sovereign Lord, Ezekiel knew that he had all the help he needed to obey the will of God.
Family Time:
- God gave Ezekiel a command. How did He give Ezekiel the power to obey or fulfill this command? (verse 2)
- What was God’s command to Ezekiel? (verses 3-4, 7)
