Today’s passage: Ezekiel 2:1-3:15
Helpful thoughts:
- Today, we read the calling and commissioning of Ezekiel as a prophet. He was to be a prophet to a rebellious people. Ezekiel was responsible to rightly communicate the Word of God, but he was not responsible for the way the people responded.
- Ezekiel would need to be hardened in a different way to minister to those who were hard of heart (3:8-9).
- Ezekiel had no ability to stand before God without the ministry of the Spirit. The Spirit is still present when Ezekiel obeys and eats the scroll, which contrasts with the rebellion of Israel.
- Eating the scroll pictures the words of God being in Ezekiel’s mouth. His prophecy was not his own opinion, but the very words of God (2 Peter 1:20-21).
- The true words of God, even though they spoke of rebuke and rebellion, were sweet as honey.
Questions to consider:
- How does God calling Ezekiel, “Son of man” clarify their differences? Who is Ezekiel before his holy Creator and God? How does this name, “Son of man” better help us understand what Jesus was willing to do when He took on flesh to die in our place? (Daniel 7:13-14)
- How would you describe (Or contrast) the hardness of Israel with the hardness God had to give Ezekiel for his ministry? How would that translate to the ministry God has called us to proclaim to the world today?
- When Ezekiel was forced to leave the presence of the glory of God, and with the knowledge of the life and sinfulness to which he was returning, what was his countenance (Verses 14-15)? How did seeing and hearing from the Lord make him feel about sin in this life? How can this encourage us to “walk in a manner worthy?” (Ephesians 4:1)