Devotions

Speak to the House of Israel

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We live under a new covenant through Jesus Christ but there is still a great lesson for us from Ezekiel 3:1 “Eat this scroll, and go, speak”. We must first learn of the Lord as it says in 1 Peter 2:2 “like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation” until we are ready to speak for him in Ephesians 4:13 “until we all reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ”. And, there is armor for us that includes “the preparation of the good news of peace” in Ephesians 6:10-19. There is also though, an urgency even now in our generation to speak as watchmen as it says in Jude 23 “and save others by snatching them from the fire, and have mercy on others with fear, hating even the tunic stained by the flesh”. This command in Ezekiel 3:17 “When you hear a word from my mouth, then you must warn them from me”, I believe is also true today for us today who are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. We must tell them even if they don’t listen. 

Speak to the House of Israel

Ezekiel 3:1–7
The word of God is not naturally in us. We must learn as it says in

Ephesians 4:20–24 “But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard about him, and you were taught by him … be renewed in the spirit of your mind … and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth”.

In Ezekiel’s day, there weren’t the same writings we have today. Jesus Christ had not come yet. The Holy Spirit had not been poured out yet. So, the Lord had to give his words to Ezekiel as it says in

Ezekiel 3:1 ‘And he said to me, “Son of man, what you find, eat! Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”’

First, Ezekiel had to be prepared by filling himself with God’s word. He was called as a prophet. “The first time the word “prophet” appears in the OT it is used of Abraham as a man of prayer (Gn 20:7; cf. Jer 7:10; 11:14; 14:11), that is, a person brought into communion with God. Amos claimed such an experience of fellowship for prophets (Am 3:7, literally “He opens his fellowship to his servants the prophets”); Jeremiah uses the same word when he claims that true prophets stand in the “council” (or “counsel” or “fellowship”) of the Lord (Jer 23:18, 22)”.1 

The Hand of Yahweh Was Strong on Me

Ezekiel 3:8–15
The Lord holds us accountable for what we do and not for what others do. But we are human, we are emotional beings, we are social beings and we want to be accepted by others. So, the Lord prepared Ezekiel by hardening his face and forehead in Ezekiel 3:8-9 “your forehead hard … like a diamond, harder than flint”.

Now that Ezekiel is prepared to face the people, in

Ezekiel 3:10-11 ‘And he said to me, “Son of man, all of my words that I shall speak to you, receive into your heart and hear with your ears 11 and come, go to the exiles, to the children of your people, and you must speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh!’”.

The Lord calls Ezekiel “son of man”, a term also used of Jesus to describe one who understands our feelings, our weaknesses who is able to be a mediator between us and God. Then the Lord says receive everything I say. And, finally the Lord says tell “your people”. In Deuteronomy 26:17 they were to be the Lords people but here in Ezekiel 3:9 “they are a rebellious house”.

After Ezekiel has this vision and understands what the Lord had for him to say, he could not speak for seven days in Ezekiel 3:15. 

I Have Appointed You as a Watchman

Ezekiel 3:16–27
But the Lord isn’t finished with Ezekiel. There is an accountability that comes with being the spokesman for the Lord and he says in

Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, then you must warn them from me”.

If Ezekiel does not warn them, in Ezekiel 3:18 “from your hand I will seek his blood”. This is not simply a message to the nation, but it is an accountability to watch, to notice and to speak personally, individually, to the “wicked … turn from wickedness” and “when the righteous … does injustice … warn him”.

You Will Carry Their Guilt

Ezekiel 4:1–8

Thus Shall the Israelites Eat Their Unclean Food

Ezekiel 4:9–17

I Will Execute Judgment in the Midst of You

Ezekiel 5:1–9

Because You Have Defiled My Sanctuary

Ezekiel 5:10–17

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Ezekiel 3:1-27
  • Ezekiel 4:1-17
  • Ezekiel 5:1-17

References

  • 1. Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Prophet, Prophetess. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 1782). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.