“Ye Shall Know That I Am The Lord” Ezekiel “Ye Shall Know That I Am The Lord”

Ezekiel Lesson 3: Ezekiel 2 & 3 “Ezekiel’s Call & Commission” God’s spirit enters Ezekiel (2:1-2; 2 Peter 1:20-21) Ezekiel is charged with speaking the word of the Lord to stubborn and rebellious children (2:3-7) He is to declare, “thus says the Lord God” (2:4) When Ezekiel is through, “They will know that a prophet has been among them” (2:5) He is to declare God’s word in spite of the painful difficulties and defiance he will face (2:6-7)

Ezekiel Lesson 3: Ezekiel 2 & 3 “Ezekiel’s Call & Commission” Ezekiel eats the book (2:8—3:3) He is admonished to not be rebellious, but readily receive the words of God (2:8-10) He is caused to eat the scroll, taking God’s word within Him so that he might speak it to Israel (3:1-2) He finds it sweet to his taste (3:3; Psalm 19:10; 119:103; Jer. 15:16; Rev. 10:9-10) Psalms 19:10  More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psalms 119:103  How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Jeremiah 15:16  Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

Ezekiel Lesson 3: Ezekiel 2 & 3 “Ezekiel’s Call & Commission” Ezekiel is commissioned to speak God’s word in the face of opposition (3:4-15) Language will not be a barrier to Ezekiel’s work, but attitudes will be! (3:4-7) Strangers and foreigners would have been more receptive to God’s word than God’s own people. The Lord had made Ezekiel “adamant” and hard enough to confront Israel’s hard-hearted rebellion (3:8-9; compare Jeremiah 1:18) ADAMANT: “a legendary rock or mineral…formerly associated with diamond” “Unshakable or insistent especially in maintaining a position or opinion: unyielding (Webster’s online Dictionary) Jeremiah 1:18  For, behold, I have made thee this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

Ezekiel is to speak God’s word in the face of opposition (3:4-15) Ezekiel is told to receive God’s word and speak it to the captives whether they hear or not (3:10-11). Ezekiel is transported by the Spirit to the captives at Tel Abib “and remained there astonished among them seven days.” (3:12-15) Ezekiel Ezekiel is to speak God’s word in the face of opposition (3:4-15)

Ezekiel Ezekiel is to be a WATCHMAN (3:16-27) A watchman’s duty is to warn (3:16-17) He must warn both the wicked and the erring righteous; in doing so he saves his own soul (3:18-21; Acts 20:26-27; 1 Timothy 4:16) If he fails to do so, God will require of him the blood of those whom he failed to warn! A righteous man can turn to sin! Those who see it must warn him! (James 5:19-20) The “stumbling block” put before the righteous man may be a truth that he does not accept (1 Peter 2:7-8) Israel would limit Ezekiel’s work, but he would speak or not as God directed (3:22-27) Acts 20:26-27  Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.  27  For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 1 Timothy 4:16  Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. James 5:19-20  Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,  20  let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 2:7-8  Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,"  8  and "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.