Eze 3:24 | KingComments | STEP | The hand of God is on Ezekiel when he is in Tel-abib ( ). That God’s hand is on him means that God is seizing him and working with him. It also means that He protects and guides him. Then He instructs him to go out to the plain or the valley, where He will speak to him. A plain or valley is a low place. It suggests that we must be in a place of humility to hear the words of the Lord. In that place, before he begins his ministry, Ezekiel sees the glory of the LORD one more time ( ; ). It does not appear to him as in Ezekiel 1, but is already standing there. Again he falls on his face. Again, the Spirit makes him stand on his feet ( ; ). The Spirit gives the strength to see the glory of God and continue in the service. Ezekiel is to shut himself up in his house. That seems a strange command for someone who is to warn the people. But God determines for each of His servants individually how to deliver His message. Each prophet brings His message in a way that speaks to the people in a special way and suits their condition in a special way. People who want to hear God’s Word should come to Ezekiel. The ropes spoken of here will be put on him, so that he cannot go out among the people ( ). The LORD Himself will bind him and thus isolate him even further ( ). His entire separation is compounded by the muteness that the LORD imposes on him ( ; cf. ; ). Such a performance underscores the seriousness of Ezekiel’s message to a rebellious house. His muteness will not be permanent ( ). Also, his muteness will be interrupted by periods when he can speak ( ). Ezekiel cannot leave his house during this speaking. After the destruction of Jerusalem, this changes at God’s command and he speaks again ( ). In the same way, our service can change. It is important to let the Spirit lead us. When Ezekiel is to speak again, he is to say again: “Thus says the Lord GOD.” His listeners he addresses personally: “He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse”, while the people as a whole “are a rebellious house”.

‏ Ezekiel 3:24

The LORD Appears Again

The hand of God is on Ezekiel when he is in Tel-abib (Eze 3:22). That God’s hand is on him means that God is seizing him and working with him. It also means that He protects and guides him. Then He instructs him to go out to the plain or the valley, where He will speak to him. A plain or valley is a low place. It suggests that we must be in a place of humility to hear the words of the Lord. In that place, before he begins his ministry, Ezekiel sees the glory of the LORD one more time (Eze 3:23; Eze 1:28). It does not appear to him as in Ezekiel 1, but is already standing there. Again he falls on his face.

Again, the Spirit makes him stand on his feet (Eze 3:24; Eze 2:2). The Spirit gives the strength to see the glory of God and continue in the service. Ezekiel is to shut himself up in his house. That seems a strange command for someone who is to warn the people. But God determines for each of His servants individually how to deliver His message. Each prophet brings His message in a way that speaks to the people in a special way and suits their condition in a special way. People who want to hear God’s Word should come to Ezekiel.

The ropes spoken of here will be put on him, so that he cannot go out among the people (Eze 3:25). The LORD Himself will bind him and thus isolate him even further (Eze 4:8). His entire separation is compounded by the muteness that the LORD imposes on him (Eze 3:26; cf. Job 29:10; Psa 22:15 ; Psa 137:6). Such a performance underscores the seriousness of Ezekiel’s message to a rebellious house.

His muteness will not be permanent (Eze 3:27). Also, his muteness will be interrupted by periods when he can speak (Eze 8:1 ; Eze 11:25). Ezekiel cannot leave his house during this speaking. After the destruction of Jerusalem, this changes at God’s command and he speaks again (Eze 24:25-27 ; Eze 33:21-22). In the same way, our service can change. It is important to let the Spirit lead us. When Ezekiel is to speak again, he is to say again: “Thus says the Lord GOD.” His listeners he addresses personally: “He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse”, while the people as a whole “are a rebellious house”.