Ezekiel 3
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CHAPTER 3
Ezekiel Eats the Scroll (3:1–15)
1–3 The Lord told Ezekiel to eat the scroll on which were written words of woe and judgment against Judah (Ezekiel 2:9–10); then Ezekiel was to go and speak to the house of Israel (verse 1)—that is, to the exiles in Babylonia.8 The scroll tasted sweet (verse 3), like a similar scroll the Apostle John was asked to eat in one of his visions (Revelation 10:9–11).
4–9 Since the Lord knew that the Israelites would resist Ezekiel’s words, He made Ezekiel as unyielding and hardened as they were (verse 8); figuratively, the Lord made Ezekiel’s forehead like the hardest stone (verse 9)—that is, He made him courageous and determined. The Lord always equips His servants for whatever task He gives them.
10–15 Up to this point, Ezekiel, under the Holy Spirit’s control, had been experiencing a divine revelation; he had been seeing a vision. Now in the vision, the Spirit lifts him up and “takes him away”—back to earthly reality (verse 14). Ezekiel finds himself back with the exiles near the Kebar River (Ezekiel 1:3). He experiences bitterness and anger because of the difficult task he has been given: he must deliver an unpleasant message to an unreceptive people. It takes Ezekiel seven days to pull himself together and get control of his feelings (verse 15).
Warning to Israel (3:16–27)
16–17 At the end of the seven days the Lord assigned Ezekiel to be a watchman for Israel (verse 17); the prophets were often called “watchmen” because they heard God’s warnings and then relayed them to the people (Jeremiah 6:17). Like the watchman on a city wall, the prophet’s job was to warn the people of approaching danger; his work was crucial to the safety and well–being of the people.
18–19 The watchman (prophet) had a heavy responsibility. If he failed to warn a wicked man, the watchman would be responsible for that man’s fate. Indeed, the watchman would receive the same punishment the wicked man received—death;9 the wicked man’s blood—his lifeblood (Genesis 9:5)—would be on the watchman’s (the prophet’s) head. This sounds very harsh to us, but it highlights Jesus’ teaching that from him who has been given much, much will be demanded (Luke 12:47–48). Prophets, like teachers, will be judged more strictly (James 3:1).
20–21 Here the Lord gives the example of a righteous man who has turned from his RIGHTEOUSNESS. The Lord has put a stumbling block in his path in order to confront him and give him the chance to repent (verse 20). The watchman (prophet) must warn such a man and urge him to repent, or both the man and the prophet will suffer physical death.10
These words concerning the “watchman” are very important for Christians today. All Christians are called to be “watchmen” in the most basic sense. If we see a loved one or a colleague who does not know the way ofSALVATION, we are obliged to “warn” that person—to show that person the way to ETERNAL LIFE. If we do not, then we are in some measure responsible for that person’s fate. We ourselves will not lose our salvation (assuming our faith is genuine), but we will lose some of the reward that is being stored up for us in heaven. God expects all Christians to be “evangelists”— “witnesses”—to those whom He places in our path.
22–27 Here Ezekiel is given a second vision. In the vision, the Lord commanded him to go home and shut himself up inside his house (verse 25). Then the Lord told him what would happen: he would be bound so that he could not go outside (verse 25), and he would be made mute:his tongue would stick to the roof of his mouth (verse 26). Ezekiel would be able to speak only when the Lord opened his mouth (verse 27).
Although all this came to Ezekiel in a vision, he obeyed what the Lord said. He returned home, stayed in his house, and remained mute for seven years (except when the Lord opened his mouth). This situation lasted until news of Jerusalem’s fall reached Babylonia. How did Ezekiel deliver his messages? Instead of the prophet going out to the exiles, the exiles, as we shall see, began coming to him.