Scripture
Ezekiel 2:1-7 (ESV)
1 And he said to me, “Son of man,[a] stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions.[b] Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
Devotional #94: Ezekiel - "Sent by God"
God appears to the Ezekiel upon his Chariot Throne and asks him to stand on his feet (2:1). The proper posture for anyone who sees the Lord is to lay flat on our face (prostrate). Whe he arises, God gives him his mission. He is “sending” Ezekiel to speak to the people of Israel. The role of the prophet is to be a messenger of God. He is to speak God’s words of judgment and grace.
Today, we are God’s messengers of the Gospel. We do not speak our own message, but we are a people “sent” by God to speak His. Let us share Christ with all!
Today, we are God’s messengers of the Gospel. We do not speak our own message, but we are a people “sent” by God to speak His. Let us share Christ with all!
Questions
- What is the role of the prophet?
- How are we like prophets today?
Scripture
Ezekiel 2:1-10 (ESV)
1 And he said to me, “Son of man,[a] stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions.[b] Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
Devotional #95: Ezekiel - "Difficult Message"
We may think being a prophet is an enviable position. But the lives of the Old Testament prophets tell us otherwise. Ezekiel was to proclaim to an “impudent and stubborn” (1:4) people a message of judgment. Not exactly the best Human Resources job. However, for the people of God to understand the good news of grace, the bad news of judgment must be heard as well.
When we share the gospel, we can’t simply say that God loves them without speaking of holiness, sin, and judgment. Although we may be wise in how we share the gospel, we should never shy away from the truths of judgment and grace.
When we share the gospel, we can’t simply say that God loves them without speaking of holiness, sin, and judgment. Although we may be wise in how we share the gospel, we should never shy away from the truths of judgment and grace.
Questions
- What was the message that Ezekiel was sent to speak?
- When you share the gospel, do you share just the good news?
Scripture
Ezekiel 2:8-3:3 (ESV)
8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.
1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.
Devotional #96: Ezekiel - "Eating God’s Word"
Ezekiel is told to eat God’s word! Now wouldn’t that be something if we could just eat the paper the Bible was written on and then we could understand everything!
However, as God’s people today, we are to eat God’s word. Like eating food, we take time to prepare the food. We chew the food. We swallow the food. We put more food in mouth and the food nourishes us. We feel it’s energy and we are strengthened! In the same, let us be careful to eat God’s Word daily. We are weak because we forget to eat. And indeed, the Lord’s Word is as sweet as honey!
However, as God’s people today, we are to eat God’s word. Like eating food, we take time to prepare the food. We chew the food. We swallow the food. We put more food in mouth and the food nourishes us. We feel it’s energy and we are strengthened! In the same, let us be careful to eat God’s Word daily. We are weak because we forget to eat. And indeed, the Lord’s Word is as sweet as honey!
Questions
- Why do you think God makes Ezekiel eat a scroll?
- How can we “eat” God’s word more intentionally to get the full nourishment?