Ezekiel 2:1-9

The LORD Chooses Ezekiel

1 He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet. I will speak to you."
2 As he spoke, the Spirit of the LORD came into me. He raised me to my feet. I heard him speaking to me.
3 He said, "Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel. That nation has refused to obey me. They have turned against me. They and their people before them have been against me to this very day.
4 The people I am sending you to are very stubborn. Tell them, 'Here is what the LORD and King says.'
5 "They might listen, or they might not. After all, they refuse to obey me. But whether they listen or not, they will know that a prophet was among them.
6 "Son of man, do not be afraid of them or of what they say. Do not be afraid, even if thorns and bushes are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say. Do not be terrified by them. They always refuse to obey me.
7 "You must give them my message. They might listen, or they might not. After all, they refuse to obey me.
8 Son of man, listen to what I tell you. Do not be like those who refuse to obey me. Open your mouth. Eat what I give you."
9 Then I looked up. I saw a hand reach out to me. A scroll was in it.

Ezekiel 2:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 2

This chapter contains me prophet's call, commission, and instruction to prophesy. The preparation to it is in Eze 2:1,2; being fallen upon his face, he is bid to stand upon his feet, with a promise to speak to him; and the Spirit entering into him, he is set by him on his feet, and he hears what is spoken to him; then follows his mission to the children of Israel, who are described as rebellious, impudent, and stiff-hearted; and to whom he is sent, to render them inexcusable, Eze 2:3-5; and he is exhorted not to be afraid of their words, nor dismayed at their looks, however fierce and furious they might be; but faithfully declare his message, and not be discouraged, should it be without success, Eze 2:6,7; and he is instructed not to be rebellious, as they were; but open his mouth and eat what should be given him, Eze 2:8; when, in a visionary way, a hand was seen, and a roll in it, and this spread before him, written within and without, full of lamentation, mourning, and woes, as a symbol of the substance of his prophecy, Eze 2:9,10.

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