Ezekiel Chapter 2
Eze 2:1 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.
Eze 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.
Ezekiel was so moved by the vision in the first chapter that he was literally blown over. It required God’s Spirit to put him back on his feet.
The next few verses are very harsh in their judgment against Israel
Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 2:7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.
Lets list the allegations against them
1) Rebellious nation—they rebel against God and their father’s transgressed against Him.
2) Impudent children—(stubborn, hard faced)
3) Stiffhearted
4) Rebellious house
5) Briers and thorns, scorpions
6) Rebellious house
7) Most rebellious
God is pumping Ezekiel up for the very stern message he has to give to these rebellious people. He is also warning him that they are not going to listen, but that doesn't matter—don’t pay any attention to them—say what you have to say—in time it will register with them.
Ezekiel was a prophet of the captivity. Those who would hear it first were those in captivity with him. The nation was subject to captivity for being rebellious—so far that captivity has not humbled them.
Jeremiah who was still in Israel was not having any easier time with that rebellious house either. One was going around telling everyone the captivity would only last 2 years—so don’t listen to Jeremiah. He even broke the yoke off of Jeremiah’s neck. He lived long enough for the nation to realize his lie as Jeremiah predicted.
The nation of Israel pictures the Christian in the flesh. We have the same tendencies. Let us be of the Ezekiel and Jeremiah class and not of the rebellion.
There are hard messages that need to be said. Let us not fear what our brothers or sisters might say or think, but fear God and do the hard thing. If we are not of the class giving these hard messages, then let us be of the class who obeys them.
Eze 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.
Eze 2:9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
Eze 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.
Ezekiel was told to eat the book that contained these hard sayings. These principles of righteousness need to be ingrained in our very fiber. Our righteousness needs to come from within, needs to be who we are and not done as show. If they are not a part of us, we will fear the sour look of our rebellious brethren and fear them more than God.
Eze 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.
Ezekiel was so moved by the vision in the first chapter that he was literally blown over. It required God’s Spirit to put him back on his feet.
The next few verses are very harsh in their judgment against Israel
Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 2:7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.
Lets list the allegations against them
1) Rebellious nation—they rebel against God and their father’s transgressed against Him.
2) Impudent children—(stubborn, hard faced)
3) Stiffhearted
4) Rebellious house
5) Briers and thorns, scorpions
6) Rebellious house
7) Most rebellious
God is pumping Ezekiel up for the very stern message he has to give to these rebellious people. He is also warning him that they are not going to listen, but that doesn't matter—don’t pay any attention to them—say what you have to say—in time it will register with them.
Ezekiel was a prophet of the captivity. Those who would hear it first were those in captivity with him. The nation was subject to captivity for being rebellious—so far that captivity has not humbled them.
Jeremiah who was still in Israel was not having any easier time with that rebellious house either. One was going around telling everyone the captivity would only last 2 years—so don’t listen to Jeremiah. He even broke the yoke off of Jeremiah’s neck. He lived long enough for the nation to realize his lie as Jeremiah predicted.
The nation of Israel pictures the Christian in the flesh. We have the same tendencies. Let us be of the Ezekiel and Jeremiah class and not of the rebellion.
There are hard messages that need to be said. Let us not fear what our brothers or sisters might say or think, but fear God and do the hard thing. If we are not of the class giving these hard messages, then let us be of the class who obeys them.
Eze 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.
Eze 2:9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
Eze 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.
Ezekiel was told to eat the book that contained these hard sayings. These principles of righteousness need to be ingrained in our very fiber. Our righteousness needs to come from within, needs to be who we are and not done as show. If they are not a part of us, we will fear the sour look of our rebellious brethren and fear them more than God.
