Introduction
In Ezekiel 2:1-3:3, we read about the call of Ezekiel to prophetic office.
1. The Spirit of the prophet and the people with whom he has to deal, Ezekiel 2:1-7.
2. Preparation for the task, Ezekiel 2:8-3:3.
Ezekiel is given his commission, and we will note the prophet’s reaction to his commission. We learn the message is one of judgement on Judah. These two chapters must be taken together. This is another example of where the chapter breaks are inconsistent with the flow of the book.
We find the prophet is told to whom he will be sent, and the type of people that he will be working with. God will show him the real people, not the outward, superficial holiness put up by them, Ezekiel 2:1-7.
GOD CALLS EZEKIEL
‘He said to me, ‘Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.’ As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.’ Ezekiel 2:1-2
Remember this is a continuation from the previous chapter. The term ‘son of man’, ‘Et passim’, is a term stressing the prophet’s humanity, although given celestial visions, he was still a human being.
The term later came to be used in a Messianic sense to describe the representative man. The son of man who would establish God’s rule over the earth and usher in the Messianic age, Daniel 7:9-13, this is not how it is used in Ezekiel.
Back in Ezekiel 1:28, we read that the prophet fell on his face at the sight of the glory of the LORD. Notice the effect the vision had upon him here, he fell flat on his face and stayed there.
The words, ‘I will speak with you’, show that this is the only way man can truly know God, know God’s will for him, etc, Ezekiel 1:3 / 1 Timothy 4:1 / 1 Peter 1:11.
Notice the Spirit, that is, the Holy Spirit came into him. It appears that God had to tell him to get up because God did not want him grovelling before Him but wanted to speak to Him face to face, as it were.
Wiersbe, in his commentary, says the following.
‘On many occasions, the Spirit would lift him up, Ezekiel 2:2 / Ezekiel 3:14 / Ezekiel 8:3 / Ezekiel 11:1 / Ezekiel 11:24 /Ezekiel 37:1 / Ezekiel 43:5, and give him special power for his tasks, Ezekiel 3:24 / Ezekiel 11:5. The important thing was that Ezekiel stand obediently before the Lord and listen to His Word.’
EZEKIEL’S MISSION TOLD
‘He said: ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.’ Ezekiel 2:3-8
Ezekiel is being sent to the sons of Israel, Ezekiel 2:3, not to a foreign nation, but to his own people.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘These were the two nations of northern Israel and southern Israel, here referred to collectively as ‘the children of Israel.’
God’s description of the people shows right from the beginning what will be the reason for the message of judgement, ‘they are a rebellious house,’ Ezekiel 2:3. This phrase is used seven times in thirty-seven verses of Ezekiel 2 and Ezekiel 3. Ezekiel 2:5-8 and Ezekiel 3:9 / Ezekiel 3:26-27.
God also calls them impudent and stubborn, Ezekiel 2:4. God is not fooling the prophet into thinking this is going to be fruitful and prime soil for the word of the Lord.
Rebellious, stubborn, unyielding, not docile, or amenable to control, would not listen to reason, wanting to do their own thing. As impudent, shameless, and unblushing, they would do anything. This is how God sums up the people of Israel.
The success of Ezekiel’s work is ‘I will send you,’ Ezekiel 2:4. He is further told that they will not react favourably to the message, but will act rebelliously, stubbornly, and impudently, Ezekiel 2:5-6 / Isaiah 30:9.
God wants those who preach His word to be faithful though people will not listen to Him. We need to sow the seed, while God gives the increase. The reason for Ezekiel going to the people was ‘that they might know there is a prophet among them,’ Ezekiel 2:5. He is to witness against the people and the people will not be able to say, ‘I did not know.’
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning God sending a prophet among them, Ezekiel 2:5.
‘By this they shall be assured of two things: 1. That God in his mercy had given them due warning. 2. That themselves were inexcusable, for not taking it.’
Jews are described as briers, thorns, and scorpions, briers, thorns, and scorpions scratch, bite, sting, and choke, Ezekiel 2:6, indicating the kind of people, he was to preach to. He is not to be afraid of them, Ezekiel 2:6. God wants the people to be told of their state, what they do with it will be up to them, Ezekiel 2:7. Ezekiel simply has to tell them, 2 Timothy 4:2.
Not an encouraging interview so far. Ezekiel is obviously not too keen on this job, but his responsibility is clearly outlined. Rebellion doesn’t look on you, says God, but on them, Ezekiel 2:8.
Get on with it God says, don’t rebel like that rebellious people, God says, open your mouth and eat what I give you, Daniel 2:8. And what is he to eat?
THE SCROLL
‘Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.’ Ezekiel 2:9-10
Ezekiel now sees God give him a scroll; this is what he is to eat.
Wright, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Jeremiah had God’s words put into his mouth, Jeremiah 1:9, and Ezekiel here is given a written scroll to digest. It is the objective Word of God which becomes part of himself.’
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘To eat the book signifies to be thoroughly possessed with its contents, Ezekiel 3:10 / Jeremiah 15:16.’
The scroll was written on completely, indicating that this was the whole message of God with nothing missing. These verses should be taken in the context of Ezekiel 2:9-3:3.
The prophet had to deliver the whole counsel of God to the people, not just the parts he liked, or they would like. The message was lamentation, mourning, and woe. We’ll see in the next chapter what he has to do with it.
