EZEKIEL LESSON 3
We will begin this lesson in Ezekiel 3:1 "Moreover he said unto
me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak
unto the house of Israel."
This is not physical food for his body. This is food for the mind
and the spirit of man. This is the Word of God that Ezekiel is to eat.
For a person to be able to bring the Word of God to the people, he
must first consume that Word for himself. The Word of God is a gift to
man from God. God provides the Word. Ezekiel must fill himself to
overflowing with that Word, and then when he opens his mouth, he will
speak the Word accurately. Notice, one more time, Ezekiel must consume
the roll, and then go speak the Word to the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 3:2 "So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that
roll."
This is just explaining that Ezekiel is obedient to God. He opens
his mouth and God fills his mouth with the Word.
Ezekiel 3:3 "And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to
eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I
eat [it]; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness."
To just hear the Word is not enough. This is explaining the
importance of the Word being down deep inside of us. Jesus explained
it by saying, they have ears to hear, and they do not hear. They heard
the Word that was spoken, but did not receive it within themselves. It
had not become part of them. The 24th chapter of Proverbs speaks of
wisdom from God as being sweet as honey in the mouth. Wisdom is like
the Word of God, they are both gifts from God. The Word of God is
spoken of as food in the following verse. Jeremiah 15:16 "Thy words
were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and
rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of
hosts." Revelation 10:10 "And I took the little book out of the
angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey:
and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter."
Ezekiel 3:4 "And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto
the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them."
Notice, in this, whose Words are to be spoken. The Word he speaks
must be God's Word. Just as God put His Words in Jeremiah's mouth, He
puts His Words into the innermost being of Ezekiel. When Ezekiel opens
his mouth, God's Words will pour out.
Ezekiel 3:5 "For thou [art] not sent to a people of a strange
speech and of an hard language, [but] to the house of Israel;"
Ezekiel will not need an interpreter. He is Hebrew, the same as
they are. They will be able to understand what Ezekiel brings to them
from God, if they will accept it.
Ezekiel 3:6 "Not to many people of a strange speech and of an
hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I
sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee."
We see from the following Scripture, that a prophet is more
acceptable to strangers, than by his own. Matthew 13:57 "And they were
offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without
honour, save in his own country, and in his own house."
Ezekiel 3:7 "But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee;
for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel [are]
impudent and hardhearted."
We know this is true. The very reason they are in captivity, is
because they had turned against the teachings of the law that God had
given them. They had worshipped false gods, which is breaking the very
first commandment. They will not listen, because they are proud,
arrogant people. They have hardened their hearts to the teachings of
God.
Ezekiel 3:8 "Behold, I have made thy face strong against their
faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads."
"Their foreheads" symbolizes their minds. Their minds are so
closed off, they will not accept the things Ezekiel brings them from
God. They are like goats that butt heads, neither one wanting to
yield.
Ezekiel 3:9 "As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy
forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though
they [be] a rebellious house."
"Adamant", in the verse above, is speaking of a stone. God has
girded Ezekiel's mind, so that it is harder than a stone. God keeps
reminding Ezekiel that He is his protection. Ezekiel must not let
their threats, or angry looks, stop him from bringing the message that
God sent to them. Fear is the opposite of faith. Ezekiel must place
his faith in God.
Ezekiel 3:10 "Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words
that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with
thine ears."
The fact that God calls Ezekiel, "son of man", is reminding
Ezekiel that he is a man, and not God. Ezekiel's strength comes from
God. This is the same as eating the Words of God. The Words of God
must be received into the innermost being of Ezekiel. This is the same
message in the following Scripture. Mark 13:11 'But when they shall
lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye
shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given
you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the
Holy Ghost." The Words God wants him to speak will come in his ear
and in his mouth.
Ezekiel 3:11 "And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the
children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith
the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear."
Just as Noah was to tell the people before the flood, Ezekiel was
to go to the people here. They did not listen to Noah in his time, and
they will not listen to Ezekiel in his time. He is to tell them
anyhow. Maybe, someone will listen and repent.
Ezekiel 3:12 "Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a
voice of a great rushing, [saying], Blessed [be] the glory of the LORD
from his place."
It is time now for Ezekiel to go and do the things God has told
him to do. The Words of God are deep within him. He is ready.
Sometimes it takes a little nudge from God to get going. The Spirit of
God lifts him up, and gets him going. This voice behind him could have
been like the angels who constantly worship and adore God. Ezekiel's
only reluctance is the fact that he might be rejected by his
countryman. He is helped along by the Spirit which has lifted him .
Ezekiel 3:13 "[I heard] also the noise of the wings of the living
creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over
against them, and a noise of a great rushing."
This is the same rushing wind that was heard on day of Pentecost.
The Spirit in the Word of God, is what he hears. The wings, you
remember, lift heavenward.
Ezekiel 3:14 "So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I
went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD
was strong upon me."
The bitterness that he felt was the bitterness of knowing the
rejection of his people. He is like many ministers, who feel they can
do no good, but go anyhow. Remember, the hand of God upon him, is
bringing power to him to minister. His pain came from the fact that
his own people would not accept the message he brought.
Ezekiel 3:15 "Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib,
that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and
remained there astonished among them seven days."
We see that God sent Ezekiel back to his home to minister to the
people. Just as the priests were to wait 7 days before they went into
the temple to minister, Ezekiel waited 7 days before bringing the
message of God. You may read bout this in Leviticus chapter 8.
Ezekiel's astonishment was at the people for their lifestyle which was
so far away from God. He was, also, astonished that God would have him
bring this message to these rebellious people. Seven, in the Bible,
symbolizes spiritual completeness. This, perhaps, is why he sat for
7 days waiting. There are several other times of waiting 7 days, such
as the time Job's friends waited, and also the time when Noah was in
the ark waiting for the rain to come. Genesis 7:4 "For yet seven days,
and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty
nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy
from off the face of the earth."
Ezekiel 3:16 "And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that
the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
It is interesting, to me, that Ezekiel waited patiently, until
the LORD gives him instructions to proceed.
Ezekiel 3:17 "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the
house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them
warning from me."
Part of the 7 days of waiting by Ezekiel, was to allow him to see
the sins of the people. A watchman, such as Ezekiel here, is to watch
over the spiritual growth, or neglect, of the people. Not only will he
warn them, but will be able to give them specifics of what they are
doing wrong. The warning is not from Ezekiel, but from God through
Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 3:18 "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die;
and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from
his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked [man] shall die in
his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand."
This is a solemn warning to Ezekiel of how serious it would be to
know of the sins of the people, and not warn them of God's anger about
this. It goes so far as to say, if Ezekiel does not tell them, he will
be guilty of their sins. We will deal with this same thing again in
the 33rd chapter of Ezekiel. Ezekiel must bring the warning to the
people exactly as God gives it to him.
Ezekiel 3:19 "Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from
his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity;
but thou hast delivered thy soul."
It is the obligation of Ezekiel to bring the warning. It is not
his obligation for them to heed that warning. They are guilty
themselves, if they do not heed the warning God has sent them through
Ezekiel. He cannot force them to repent. They will have to do that on
their own.
Ezekiel 3:20 "Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from his
righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before
him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall
die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be
remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand."
This is a very serious thing. This man has sinned with full
knowledge. He has been walking with God in righteousness and then
fallen away. The stumbling block is like a chastisement from God to
cause him to repent and turn to God. Hebrews chapter 6 speaks of the
seriousness of being saved, and then turning back into sin. Hebrews
6:4 "For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and
have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy
Ghost," Hebrews 6:5 "And have tasted the good word of God, and the
powers of the world to come," Hebrews 6:6 "If they shall fall away,
to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves
the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame." The sad thing
in the verse, here, in Ezekiel, is the seriousness of the watchman not
telling them of their sins. He is guilty of their sins, if he does not
warn them.
Ezekiel 3:21 "Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous [man], that
the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live,
because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul."
The warning, if it is received, benefits the righteous man and
the watchman. Ezekiel will save the life of the one he warned, and
save his own life, as well.
Ezekiel 3:22 "And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he
said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk
with thee."
One of the most important things for Ezekiel, or any other
minister of God, is to go only where God sends him. The quickest way
to fail is to go on his own, without God sending him. The hand of the
LORD, brings him power to do what he is to do. In this case, God is
sending him to a private place, where He can speak with him.
Ezekiel 3:23 "Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and,
behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by
the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face."
The presence that Ezekiel sees is the same that he saw in the
wheel in chapter 1. The Spirit of God in the wheel is what Ezekiel
saw. It was too much for Ezekiel. He fell on his face in total
adoration and worship.
Ezekiel 3:24 "Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my
feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within
thine house."
Only those who have totally humbled themselves before God can
receive this power of the Spirit within themselves. This strengthened
Ezekiel from within for the task ahead. He gives Ezekiel direct
instruction on what to do. Ezekiel must shut himself up in his own
house.
Ezekiel 3:25 "But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put
bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go
out among them:"
These bands are, probably, not physical bindings. This just means
that they will not allow Ezekiel to speak to them.
Ezekiel 3:26 "And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of
thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a
reprover: for they [are] a rebellious house."
This is almost as if Ezekiel will be tongue-tied, and not able to
speak to them. They are rebellious against God, and will not receive
any correction. The word "reprover" means, argue. Ezekiel will not be
able to argue with them about their attitude about God.
Ezekiel 3:27 "But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth,
and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that
heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for
they [are] a rebellious house."
The Words that come from Ezekiel's mouth will be the Words that
God placed in his inner-most being, when Ezekiel ate the roll. It is
God speaking to the people through the heart of the prophet. Ezekiel
will be speaking as an oracle of God. It is God's message in the mouth
of Ezekiel. Ezekiel must speak the Words. The people will either
receive the message, or reject it. Their sins will be their own,
because Ezekiel warned them. They are rebellious and may not receive
the message, but that is not Ezekiel's responsibility. Their sins will
be their own responsibility.
Ezekiel 3 Questions
1. What did God instruct Ezekiel to eat in verse 1?
2. What is this for?
3. For a person to bring the Word of God, he must first do what?
4. Did Ezekiel obey God?
5. What did God call Ezekiel in verse 3?
6. In the 24th chapter of Proverbs, how is wisdom spoken of?
7. Quote Jeremiah chapter 15 verse 16.
8. Quote Revelation chapter 10 verse 10.
9. Whose Words are to be spoken by Ezekiel?
10. What will happen, when Ezekiel opens his mouth?
11. Why will Ezekiel not need an interpreter?
12. Quote Matthew chapter 13 verse 57.
13. Why will they not hear what Ezekiel says?
14. What does the forehead symbolize?
15. They are like _______ that butt heads?
16. What does adamant mean?
17. ________ is the opposite of faith.
18. Why is God calling Ezekiel "son of man"?
19. Quote Mark chapter 13 verse 11.
20. Is Ezekiel to speak to them, even if he knows they will not
listen?
21. What is verse 12 telling Ezekiel?
22. What lifts Ezekiel up?
23. Ezekiel's only reluctance is because of what?
24. What is the rushing, in verse 13, like?
25. Ezekiel went in ____________.
26. What brings him the power to minister?
27. What city was he taken to?
28. How long did he sit in astonishment?
29. Name some others that waited this same length of time?
30. What was his astonishment of?
31. Ezekiel was made a ___________.
32. What will happen to Ezekiel, if he does not warn the people?
33. It is the obligation of Ezekiel to bring the __________.
34. When a righteous man turns from his righteousness, what happens?
35. Who does the warning benefit, if it is heeded?
36. What was the presence of God, that Ezekiel sees this time?
37. When the Spirit entered Ezekiel, what did He tell him to do?
38. How is Ezekiel's tongue spoken of in verse 26?
39. Who opens Ezekiel's mouth?
40. What will Ezekiel say to the people?
Home