Eze 3 | MHM | STEP | The Prophet Eats the Scroll This section describes how God prepares Ezekiel to be a prophet to the people of Israel. God gives Ezekiel a scroll with words of warning and lamentation and tells him to eat it. This act shows that Ezekiel must fully accept God’s message and make it part of himself before he can speak to others. God also explains that Ezekiel’s job will be difficult, because the people are stubborn and will not want to listen. Still, Ezekiel must be faithful and deliver God’s words, whether the people listen or not. v. 1 : God tells Ezekiel, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and then go speak to the house of Israel” ( Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel ,. This means Ezekiel must take in God’s message completely, making it part of himself before he can share it with others. The scroll contains God’s words of warning and judgment.

‏ Ezekiel 3

The Prophet Eats the Scroll

This section describes how God prepares Ezekiel to be a prophet to the people of Israel. God gives Ezekiel a scroll with words of warning and lamentation and tells him to eat it. This act shows that Ezekiel must fully accept God’s message and make it part of himself before he can speak to others. God also explains that Ezekiel’s job will be difficult, because the people are stubborn and will not want to listen. Still, Ezekiel must be faithful and deliver God’s words, whether the people listen or not.

v. 1: God tells Ezekiel, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and then go speak to the house of Israel” (Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel,. This means Ezekiel must take in God’s message completely, making it part of himself before he can share it with others. The scroll contains God’s words of warning and judgment.

v. 2: Ezekiel opens his mouth, and God makes him eat the scroll. This shows Ezekiel’s willingness to obey God, even when the task is strange or difficult .

v. 3: God tells Ezekiel that the scroll will taste as sweet as honey in his mouth. Even though the message is about judgment and sorrow, God’s words are always good and right. Ezekiel finds that obeying God brings a kind of sweetness, even when the message is hard (Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness,.

v. 4: God tells Ezekiel to go to the people of Israel and speak His words to them. Ezekiel is not to speak his own ideas, but only what God has given him .

v. 5: God explains that Ezekiel is not being sent to a people with a strange language, but to his own people, the Israelites. They speak the same language, so there is no barrier of understanding .

v. 6: God says that if Ezekiel were sent to a foreign nation with a difficult language, those people would listen to him. But the Israelites are stubborn and will not listen, even though they understand the words .

v. 7: God tells Ezekiel that the people of Israel will not listen to him, because they do not want to listen to God. Their hearts are hard and rebellious .

v. 8: God promises to make Ezekiel just as strong and determined as the people are stubborn. God will give him the courage and strength he needs to do his job .

v. 9: God says He will make Ezekiel’s forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. This means Ezekiel will not be afraid or discouraged by the people’s rejection .

v. 10: God tells Ezekiel to listen carefully and take all of God’s words into his heart. He must pay close attention and remember everything God says .

v. 11: God commands Ezekiel to go to the exiles, the people of Israel, and speak to them. Whether they listen or not, Ezekiel must deliver God’s message (Ezekiel 3:11 ^a).

In summary, God prepares Ezekiel for his mission by making him eat the scroll, symbolizing that God’s message must become part of him. Ezekiel is warned that his task will be hard, because the people are stubborn and rebellious. Still, God promises to give Ezekiel the strength and courage he needs, and commands him to speak God’s words faithfully, no matter how the people respond.

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The Watchman's Office

After seven days, God gives Ezekiel further instructions about his duty as a prophet. This probably happened on the Sabbath, when the people gathered for worship even in captivity. God explains that Ezekiel’s role is like a watchman’s—someone who warns others of danger. The people need to understand what God expects from their leaders, and leaders must understand the seriousness of their responsibility. Ezekiel is told clearly what his job is and how he must carry it out.

v. 16: God speaks to Ezekiel at the end of seven days, giving him his new instructions. This shows that even though special visions are rare, God often works through plain words and regular teaching.

v. 17: God calls Ezekiel a watchman for the house of Israel. Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel . Like a guard who warns of danger, Ezekiel must listen for God’s message and warn the people. God’s messengers must first hear from God before they speak to others (Isaiah 62:6 ^b).

v. 18: If Ezekiel does not warn a wicked person about his sin, and that person dies in his sin, God will hold Ezekiel responsible. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning... . Ministers have a duty to warn of the danger of sin. If they fail, they share in the guilt of those who perish.

v. 19: If Ezekiel warns the wicked person and he does not turn from his sin, that person will die for his own sin, but Ezekiel will have saved himself. If thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness... . Faithful warning frees God’s messenger from guilt, even if people do not listen.

v. 20: If a righteous person turns away from doing what is right and starts to sin, and Ezekiel does not warn him, he will die for his sin. When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity... . Even good people need to be warned about the danger of falling into sin.

v. 21: But if Ezekiel warns the righteous person and he listens, that person will be saved, and Ezekiel will have done his duty. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man... . A wise person will listen to correction, and both the messenger and the listener will benefit. This is the goal of faithful ministry—to save both yourself and those who hear you (1 Timothy 4:16 ^c).

The People's Contumacy Predicted

After God’s great revelation to Ezekiel and the clear instructions He gave, we might expect Ezekiel to start preaching right away. But instead, God leads him into a time of waiting and preparation. Ezekiel is called to spend time alone with God before he speaks to the people. This shows that sometimes God’s servants need to be alone with Him to learn and be strengthened before they can serve others. God also prepares Ezekiel for the fact that the people will be stubborn and may not listen to him.

v. 22: God calls Ezekiel to go out into the plain, promising to speak with him there. 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 . God’s presence and guidance are not limited to any one place. When we obey and seek God, He will meet us wherever we are.

v. 23: Ezekiel goes to the plain and sees the same vision of God’s glory that he saw by the river Chebar. 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 . Being alone with God brings comfort and awe, and Ezekiel responds with deep respect and humility.

v. 24: The Spirit enters Ezekiel and sets him on his feet. God tells him to go home and stay inside his house. 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 . Sometimes God calls His servants to wait and prepare in private before acting in public.

v. 25: God warns Ezekiel that the people will try to bind him, as if he were a criminal or a madman. 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 . This shows that God’s messengers are sometimes misunderstood or rejected by others.

v. 26: God says He will make Ezekiel unable to speak for a time. 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 . When people refuse to listen, God may withhold His message for a while as a sign of judgment.

v. 27: But when God is ready to speak through Ezekiel again, He will open his mouth. But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord (Ezekiel 3:27 ^d). Whether people listen or not, Ezekiel must deliver God’s message. Those who listen will benefit, but those who refuse will bear the consequences themselves.