EZEKIEL LESSON 2
We will begin this lesson in Ezekiel 2:1 "And he said unto me,
Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee."
In the last lesson, we saw Ezekiel lying face down in total
adoration of God. Now, we see that God speaks to Ezekiel, and tells
him to stand up. In the presence of God, the only time you would be
permitted to stand, would be at God's request. Son of man is a name
Ezekiel is called many times. God speaks to mankind through the mouth
of prophets many times. Jesus called Himself, Son of man on several
occasions. Jesus represented God the Father to mankind. God calls
Ezekiel, Son of man, here, because He will speak to mankind through
Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 2:2 "And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto
me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me."
The Spirit, which we saw in the living creatures, is now in
Ezekiel. We remember that this was speaking of the Spirit in the Word
of God. This Spirit brings understanding to Ezekiel. This Spirit gave
Ezekiel the power to stand and listen to the Word God speaks. He
listens, not only with his ears, but with his understanding, as well.
Ezekiel 2:3 "And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the
children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against
me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, [even] unto
this very day."
The fact that they are spoken of as Israel, here, could possibly
be speaking to all of God's family. This message is not just to Judah.
This is to those who rebelled against God. Nation is singular here.
Their punishment was not because their fathers sinned, but because
they sinned.
Ezekiel 2:4 "For [they are] impudent children and stiffhearted. I
do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the
Lord GOD."
"Impudent", in this particular case means cruel or hard hearted.
"Stiffhearted" is a strange word, which means strong, or violent. The
condition of our hearts is what we really are. We see, then, that
these people had a heart far away from God. Because of their evil
hearts God tells Ezekiel to say, "Thus saith the Lord GOD".
Ezekiel 2:5 "And they, whether they will hear, or whether they
will forbear, (for they [are] a rebellious house,) yet shall know that
there hath been a prophet among them."
These people are so hardhearted, they probably will not accept
the message that Ezekiel is bringing them. When the prophesy comes
about, they will know, beyond doubt, they had been warned by a prophet
of God. He tells Ezekiel, perhaps they will listen, and perhaps they
will not.
Ezekiel 2:6 "And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them,
neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns [be] with
thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their
words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they [be] a rebellious
house."
These briers and thorns, here, are this rebellious house of
Israel. Many times, prophets of God are in the midst of people who do
not believe. This was exactly the way it was with Ezekiel. They will
say ugly things to Ezekiel, but he is not to fear them. They may
threaten him, but God has a hedge around him, and they cannot harm
him. It appears, that even their looks were filled with hate. Their
angry words and looks were like scorpions.
Ezekiel 2:7 "And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether
they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they [are] most
rebellious."
All of their angry words and evil looks are not to stop Ezekiel
from bringing them the prophecy that God has given him for them.
Ezekiel is to speak every word, just as God has given it to him. It
really does not matter whether they listen, or not. This reminds me so
much of Noah, who preached the whole time he was building the ark, and
no one listened to his message. They heard it with their physical
ears, but did not take heed to the message. Rebellion was the very
next thing to witchcraft in God's sight. Ministers today may bring
the truth to their people, and still not be accepted. Just because
these people do not listen, does not take the burden of prophesying
away from Ezekiel. It is his obligation to bring God's message. It is
not his obligation to make them accept the message.
Ezekiel 2:8 "But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be
not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and
eat that I give thee."
The eating of the Word of God was important to Ezekiel. It was to
be deep within him. God is telling Ezekiel to receive this message
into his innermost being. He must not be like these rebellious
children of Israel, who will not accept God's message. We must, also,
{eat} the Word of God everyday. We must take God's Word into our
innermost being, and do what that Word says. We will see in the next
Scripture, that Jeremiah ate the Word of God, also. Jeremiah 15:16
"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me
the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O
LORD God of hosts." Ezekiel is to be strong in the Word of God in a
land where God's people have turned against the truth.
Ezekiel 2:9 "And when I looked, behold, an hand [was] sent unto
me; and, lo, a roll of a book [was] therein;"
This roll of a book is very much like our Bible of today. The
hand of God has sent this roll to Ezekiel. Actually, the Bible is sent
to each of us, as well. God is the Author of the Bible. II Peter 1:21
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost." We should
take of the Word of God more often than we do our daily bread. Matthew
4:4 "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of
God." Luke 4:4 "And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That
man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." You
see, it is the Word of God that gives us life. Acts 17:28 "For in him
we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own
poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
Ezekiel 2:10 "And he spread it before me; and it [was] written
within and without: and [there was] written therein lamentations, and
mourning, and woe."
This roll written on the front and back lets us know of the
fullness of the message from God that it contained. There was not room
enough on one side to write it all. This was similar to the message of
prophecy that Baruch wrote of the Words God had put in Jeremiah's
mouth. Both rolls contained sorrows of the prophecy, the two
messengers were to bring to the rebellious house of Israel. The
lamentations, mourning, and woe would come, because they would refuse
the message that Ezekiel brought them from God.
Ezekiel 2 Questions
1. What did God call Ezekiel in verse 1?
2. What did He tell Ezekiel to do?
3. When is the only time to stand in the presence of God?
4. How does God generally speak to mankind?
5. What entered Ezekiel, when God spoke?
6. What does this do for Ezekiel?
7. What is different about Ezekiel's hearing?
8. Who did God send him to?
9. Why were they punished?
10. What kind of children are the Israelites called in verse 4?
11. How is Ezekiel to begin his message to them?
12. What does "impudent" in verse 4 mean?
13. What does "stiffhearted" mean?
14. How will the people receive Ezekiel's message from God to them?
15. When will they know for sure that Ezekiel was a prophet?
16. What were the people called in verse 6?
17. Why should he not fear them?
18. Their angry words and looks were like _________.
19. What does the rejection of Ezekiel's message remind the author of?
20. What is the obligation of Ezekiel?
21. What unusual thing does God tell Ezekiel to do in verse 8?
22. What is He really telling him to do?
23. Quote Jeremiah chapter 15 verse 16.
24. What was in the hand God sent to Ezekiel?
25. What is it very much like today?
26. Who is the author of the Bible?
27. Quote 2nd Peter chapter 1 verse 21.
28. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by what?
29. Quote Acts chapter 17 verse 28.
30. What was written on the roll?
31. What other message was this similar to?
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