Ezekiel’s call to be a prophet

INTRO

If you have your Bible today you can open up to Ezekiel chapter 2. If you don’t have a Bible, feel free to use the ones around you or just follow on the screen. But it is always helpful to have your own Bible so you can go back to it and to see it with your own eyes that I’m not making this up!

We finished up Ezekiel 1 with Ezekiel’s wild vision and now we hear the Lord talk to Ezekiel. The one who was riding on this godmobile above the living creatures and eyeball wheels.

BODY

1 And he said to me, “Son of man, 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.

Point out an interesting progression that also has huge theological implications. Meaning, what is happening here, also happens many other places in how God acts. As God is speaking, the Spirit comes and enters/fills Ezekiel. This is the same spirit that filled up the eyeball wheels, it would have been a tangible experience for Ezekiel knowing that something just entered him. And after the Spirit enters him, he is set on his feet, or raised up. Maybe you could even use the word Ezekiel was resurrected. So the important thing I want to point out that you may already know, but it is always good to be reminded about, is this:

God’s word and God’s Spirit are are in unison. The Spirit then helps us/Ezekiel to hear what God wants to speak to us.

This is important because Ezekiel was known as the prophet of the Spirit. He is going to give us great insight into what it looks like to be filled with God’s Spirit. Which is important, because if you are a believer, you are filled with the Spirit. And while that might not feel like your reality all the time, it is important for us to continue to learn about how the Spirit works and how he works through people so that we can have an awareness of what he can do in our lives, right? His Spirit and His word are intricately connected. You can’t have one without the other. So what does God speak to Ezekiel?

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 ( Definition: not showing respect) 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.

God shares with Ezekiel who he is sending him to. His own people. His own family so to speak. The nation of rebells, their fathers and they have rebelled and transgressed against God. The are impudent, stubborn and they will most likely listen. If you know someone going into youth ministry, this would be a good verse to put on their ordination card. This is obviously an unfortunate calling, but there are two important words here that would be red flags for Ezekiel that I want to point out.

Red Flag word for Ezekiel: Rebellious and hard hearted : This would remind Ezekiel of two different people that have been called this in the past. The first would be Pharaoh who we are told throughout the Exodus account had a hard heart. The second group of people that Ezekiel would have thought of when hearing this description would be the generation that was brought our of Egypt but never brought into the promise land. This is not going to be obedient crowd Ezekiel. They are not going to listen to you and the message I give you. How do I know that? Because I have been trying to for hundreds of years and they won’t listen. But I will keep speaking. I know that there will be a few, a remnant that will listen. So with this unfortunate news, God encourages and strengthens Ezekiel in verse 6.

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. 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.”

God tells Ezekiel three times here to not be afraid. Why, probably because Ezekiel was scared! Even the words that God uses to drescribe where Ezekiels ministry would be is a poetic way to remind him that this is going to be difficult. These poetic words would also remind Ezekiel of why he needs to speak God’s words. Because they are not in Jerusalem and they are definitley not in the garden of Eden.

POETIC/SYMBOLIC WORDS FROM GOD TO EZEKIEL

Briers, thorns, and scorpions

So everyone say it with me, Ezekiel was supposed to be a priest. So he would hear these words from God and his brain would connect back to this verse that he would have read, memorized and internalized in Genesis 3:18 where God is telling Adam the consequences of his sinful actions. It reads:

cursed is the ground because of you;

in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

18  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;

and you shall eat the plants of the field.

Even though Ezekiel has not forgotten it, God is reminding him that he would be ministering to people in exile. People who have been kicked out of the garden. Rebellious people that are separated from God’s presence. So this is depressing, yes, but at the same time. What did God already promise Ezekiel back in chapter 1 verse 3? That His hand would be upon him. That he would strengthen him. That despite the lack of anyone actually repenting and changing,

Ezekiel is called to be faithful. But first, he must pass a test…

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.

3 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.

Maybe you didn’t see the test here, but this test has been throughout scripture. A test either to eat or not to eat something. Think back to the garden where they are told to eat and not eat things. This to Israel told what to eat and what not to eat so they could be different people. Think even about Daniel, who also was in exile, his test in chapter 1 was eating. And fast forward to Jesus in the dessert, the first thing he is tempted with by the devil is…eating! Now, don’t get wrapped up in thinking this is about a diet of some sorts. It is about trust. Will you Ezekiel, trust me that what I am giving to you to eat is good. Even though it is filled with words of lamentations, morning, and woe, will you trust me to eat this? And Ezekiel does. I picture it as an egg roll for some reason. But that is not important. What is important is that Ezekiel eats it and it was sweet as honey. Interesting! It is good to the taste and to the stomach, this scroll of lamentation and woe. Let’s finish up the rest of the story and then we will talk a little more about the scroll.

A little side note, this next section is going to sound very familiar, but repetition is a good teacher right? So God is a good teacher to Ezekiel on what he is needing to do. To not be a priest, but a prophet to his own people.

4 And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. 7 But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. 8 Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. 9 Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” 10 Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. 11 And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.”

12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!” 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake. 14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me. 15 And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.

EMOTIONAL EZEKIEL SIGNIFICANCE

BITTERNESS/HEAT OF MY SPIRIT MEANS HE SEES THINGS FROM GOD’S SITUATION

There is surprisingly a lot of debate about these words and whether Ezekiel was angry because God showed up like this or angry for another reason. But being filled with God’s Spirit, eating God’s message for God’s people, I believe Ezekiel is like Jesus, flipping over tables in the temple and having righteous anger, toward the people in Exile. The people are put in exile and they are still not following God’s ways. They are still hard hearted, still stiff necked people. And Ezekiel sees all of this from the perspective of how God is view it. He loves these people, that’s why he is talking with with them through the prophets, but he is also angry at their actions.

EZEKIEL WAS OVERWHELMED FOR SEVEN DAYS JUST LIKE A PRIEST’S ORDINATION WAS FOR SEVEN DAYS

Was Ezekiel overwhelmed, but was this because of the vision of God he just had or the commissioning from God to go talk to his people? I’m going to say, yes. Both were overwhelming. But I thought it was important that the seven days was not just a random number but another way God was speaking through Ezekiel in a way that he would understand. Even though he was going to be a prophet and not a priest, he still had a seven day ordination service of that would have helped him to see the significance of this calling and also the beauty? of it too.

APPLICATION

What I hope you were able to see through this calling of Ezekiel is a connection to how, if you are a believer and a follower of Jesus, God has similarly called us. Sure you may not be a prophet, but you have been called and commissioned by God to be filled with His Spirit and to share His word with other. So I thought I would remind you of this calling and what we have to build you up, encourage you to keep being faithful of what God calls you to.

REMEMBERING YOUR CALLING AND LIVING IT OUT

This is not a formula, because God is not formulaic. But there are things that we should always remember when it comes to our calling to stay humbled, encouraged and strengthened in it.

God spoke over you and filled you with His Spirit

God spoke to Ezekiel and filled Him with His spirit. This sounds simple, but we need to get this, you didn’t call you, God called you. He was the one when you were in darkness and in the grave he called you by name and said “you are mine.” And while God is speaking, His Spirit is flowing into you, filling you with life and breath that comes from the one speaking. That makes sense, because you can’t talk if you don’t have breath. But when God talks, his spirit is right there. You can’t do what God commanded you to if you are not filled with his Spirit. I don’t care if you have memorized the whole Bible and have lead a Bible Study for 20 years, without God’s spirit in your life, you are void. Jesus told his disciples, he do go anywhere (calling) until I have clothed you with power from on high. Are you clothed with power from on high? Is that a reality for you? If not, wait for him and keep asking. What were the disciples doing in the upperoom? Playing four square? No! They were praying! They were seeking God. God has called you through His son Jesus and He gives us His Spirit. If we are not aware of this, then we will no follow through in what God has called us to.

Know where/who God has called you to

Ezekiel was told to who and were he would be speaking to. The exiles, to the stubborn and disobedient family of Israel. His people. Not a missionary to a far off land, but to the people of Israel in his backyard and family gatherings. This is not a hard thing to see for us. You sphere of influence is who God has called you to. Your family, your job, your school, your neighborhood, are place that God has put you in so that you can live as light and share what he has given you. We overcomplicate this and say, so am I supposed to be witnessing to my neighbors every day? Won’t that get annoying? That is not what God has called you to, he has called you to live and talk faithfully as a believer. And when they see the hope that you have they may ask the questions rather than you asking the questions. Or you may be so filled with the Spirit that you get a prophetic word for them. Or you just shine in a way that causes them to be convicted. There is no formula! But if we don’t realize that God is calling us to the people that we have put into our lives, we will keep thinking that our mission field is elsewhere. Thus, missing what God has placed right in front of us. So what are we to speak to them?

EAT THE SCROLL! READ THE WORD!

Maybe if I say this enough it will connect? Ezekiel was called to eat this thing. What happens when you eat something, or at least when you want to enjoy a meal? You sit down, you slow down. You stop what you are doing and appreciate this meal with ever savory bite.

Now I will address the elephant in the room. Sometimes you read the word and you get confused, or maybe you are not sure where to read if you are just starting off. This is why I started off with God’s Spirit and him calling you first, not with the Word. That’s not demeaning, it should be helpful to see that if he called you and filled you with the Spirit HE WILL HELP YOU. Spend time in the Psalms, the proverbs, read the book of James. Grab a study Bible that has notes on it. Even better, read the word with others to help you understand it. This thing is worth eating and seeing how sweet it is! Because if we don’t know it, how will we have the message so ready to give to others. Not that we are just quoting scripture, but as Charles SPurgeon said, thinking and speaking bibline. It is the filter of how you think, talking and act out of because it is the thing you are consuming more than any other things.

DON’T BE AFRAID

Remember that Ezekiel back in chapter 2 verse 6 is told three times not to worry. Don’t be afraid. Because I will strengthen you. I will harden you. I will equip you with the message and the character to do it Ezekiel. The same goes for us. I know the idea of being commissioned and called to share the Gospel with others is a terrifying thought for many people. But God does not call the equipped, he equips the called. He looks for those who are humble and who tremble at His word. He looks for the ones who are willing to spend time in his word so their emotions change to what he feels. He is looking for those who are wanting to become one with him in every area of life.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT?

If you are not a believer and feel like you have no purpose here today, this is it. You are called by the living God to walk as his image bearer with His Spirit in you. You are able to live for something bigger than yourself and to live in a way that has an eternal impact. All you have to do is believe in Jesus, to say yes to Him and follow him.

If you are a believer here, is this what you want? Or do you want to continue to live in a way where you got your passport to heaven and live the way you want to live? Because like Ezekiel, I believe the Lord has a test for us today if we want this. A test of trust. I believe that just like ezekiel was tested with eating the scroll, we are tested with this word by our commitment to it. This does not change how much God loves you, or how much he cares about you because that is sealed in stone. But if you are wanting to live our your calling are you willing to pass the test today and say yes to this book? Will you commit to it like Psalm 1 says to meditate on it day and night? What do I mean by this? No need to sign up for this. I believe if you want it, you will do it. But for 21 days (the length it takes to start a new habit) take time reading the Bible. You have been called. You have been filled. Now lets devour His word so we can walk in this calling.

EAT THE SCROLL CHALLENGE

-Spend 15-20 minutes 2-3 times a day “eat” the word. (Read, listen, write, pray)

-Do this on your own or with others.

-Do it with no distractions