Eze 2:8-10 | KingComments | STEP | Before Ezekiel carries out the command, God tells him to listen to what He speaks to him ( ). First listen and then speak. How will we know what to speak if we do not listen first? God warns Ezekiel not to have the same rebellious mind as the people. If he does, he will not be able to perform the service assigned to him. He must be careful not to react in the same way as the people. Therefore, in obedience, he must open his mouth and eat what God gives him. Eating indicates identification with the message. God’s message to the people must first pass through Ezekiel’s inner being. He must undergo the Word himself, it must become a part of him before he can pass on the message. Those who pass on a message from the Word of God must first have fed on that Word. A servant is not a speaker who passes on words that do not touch him. The Word must first have an effect in the servant. The servant must learn that he does not live by bread alone, “BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD” ( ). Then Ezekiel sees a hand extended to him containing a scroll ( ; cf. ). It is the hand of the LORD that gives him the scroll to eat. The LORD Himself spreads the scroll before Ezekiel ( ). He is preparing him for his service. The scroll is written on both sides, on the front and back. It indicates the fullness of the Word and also its balance. What is written on it are “lamentations, mourning and woe”. The balance is that the judgment is perfectly balanced with the unfaithfulness of God’s people. Ezekiel sees here the sad and ominous content of his preaching. God shows him the most difficult part of his work here.

‏ Ezekiel 2:8-10

The Scroll

Before Ezekiel carries out the command, God tells him to listen to what He speaks to him (Eze 2:8). First listen and then speak. How will we know what to speak if we do not listen first? God warns Ezekiel not to have the same rebellious mind as the people. If he does, he will not be able to perform the service assigned to him. He must be careful not to react in the same way as the people. Therefore, in obedience, he must open his mouth and eat what God gives him.

Eating indicates identification with the message. God’s message to the people must first pass through Ezekiel’s inner being. He must undergo the Word himself, it must become a part of him before he can pass on the message. Those who pass on a message from the Word of God must first have fed on that Word. A servant is not a speaker who passes on words that do not touch him. The Word must first have an effect in the servant. The servant must learn that he does not live by bread alone, “BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD” (Mt 4:4).

Then Ezekiel sees a hand extended to him containing a scroll (Eze 2:9; cf. Rev 5:1). It is the hand of the LORD that gives him the scroll to eat. The LORD Himself spreads the scroll before Ezekiel (Eze 2:10). He is preparing him for his service.

The scroll is written on both sides, on the front and back. It indicates the fullness of the Word and also its balance. What is written on it are “lamentations, mourning and woe”. The balance is that the judgment is perfectly balanced with the unfaithfulness of God’s people. Ezekiel sees here the sad and ominous content of his preaching. God shows him the most difficult part of his work here.