EZEKIEL’S CALL Ezekiel 2:1-10 - Bible Study...

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EZEKIEL’S CALL

Ezekiel 2:1-10



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Ezekiel’s Call

Text:

Ezekiel 2:1-10,

1. He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak

to you.”

2. As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet,

and I heard him speaking to me.

3. He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a

rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers

have been in revolt against me to this very day.

4. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.

Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’

5. And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious

house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

6. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do

not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you

live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified

by them, though they are a rebellious house.

7. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to

listen, for they are rebellious.

8. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like

that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”



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9. Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a

scroll,

10. which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written

words of lament and mourning and woe. (NIV 1984)

Introduction:

I. Jesus frequently (eighty-six times to be exact) referenced himself as

“son of man” and Ezekiel is referenced in this one chapter four (4) times

as “son of man.”

A. The term “son of man” (ben adam) is used in the book of

Ezekiel over eighty-five (85) times. (Smith)

1. Fredenburg wrote, “The term (son of man) is used 93 times

in the book (Ezekiel).”

2. McGee wrote that the term “son of man” is found in the

book of Ezekiel exactly one hundred (100) times.

B. The sons of man (mortals) are to obey God totally and

immediately.

1. “Son of Man” came to me a messianic title.

a. Daniel 7:13, “In my vision at night I looked, and

there before me was one like a son of man, coming

with the clouds of heaven. He approached the

Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. (NIV

1984)

b. Daniel 8:14, He said to me, “It will take 2,300

evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be

reconsecrated.” (NIV 1984)



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II. God in this chapter alone refers to Israel as rebellious five (5) times

and otherwise calls them obstinate, stubborn, thorns, and scorpions.

III. In chapter 1, Ezekiel was impressed with the guidance of the Lord

and here he is commanded to preach God’s word to rebellious Israel

whether they listen or not. (Smith)

IV. Coffman quoted Dummelow as saying Ezekiel was called in three

stages and on three occasions; viz.,…

A. Stage 1: Ezekiel 2:1-10 and Ezekiel 3:1-13, He said to me,

“Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” As

he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and

I heard him speaking to me. He said: “Son of man, I am

sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has

rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt

against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending

you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the

Sovereign LORD says.’ And whether they listen or fail to

listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a

prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be

afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers

and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions.

Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though

they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them,

whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But

you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like

that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give

you.” Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In

it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it

were written words of lament and mourning and woe. And he

said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll;

then go and speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my

mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me,



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“Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your

stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in

my mouth. He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the

house of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being

sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to

the house of Israel— not to many peoples of obscure speech

and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand.

Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to

you. But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you

because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house

of Israel is hardened and obstinate. But I will make you as

unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your

forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be

afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a

rebellious house.” And he said to me, “Son of man, listen

carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go

now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to

them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’ whether they

listen or fail to listen.” Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I

heard behind me a loud rumbling sound—May the glory of the

LORD be praised in his dwelling place!— the sound of the

wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and

the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound.

(NIV 1984)

B. Stage 2 which came seven days later among the exiles at Tel-

abib: Ezekiel 3:14-21, The Spirit then lifted me up and took me

away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit,

with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. I came to the

exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there,

where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—

overwhelmed. At the end of seven days the word of the LORD

came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the

house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them

warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will



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surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade

him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked

man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his

blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn

from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his

sin; but you will have saved yourself. “Again, when a righteous

man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a

stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn

him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not

be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does

not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you

will have saved yourself.” (NIV 1984)

C. Stage 3: Ezekiel 3:22-27, The hand of the LORD was upon

me there, and he said to me, “Get up and go out to the plain,

and there I will speak to you.” So I got up and went out to the

plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the

glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. Then

the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to

me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. And you,

son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that

you cannot go out among the people. I will make your tongue

stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and

unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house. But

when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say

to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ Whoever will

listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for

they are a rebellious house. (NIV 1984)

Commentary:

Ezekiel 2:1, He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I

will speak to you.” (NIV 1984)



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I. He said to me, “Son of man (mortal one, NRSV), stand up on your feet

and I will speak to you.”

A. “Servants always stood in the presence of their Masters,” Smith

wrote.

B. Ezekiel had fallen on his face before Almighty God.

1. Now he is summoned by the Lord to stand before Him and

hear his instructions. (Note: Clarke questioned the

appropriateness of this chapter break saying chapter one

should end after Ezekiel 1:28 or Ezekial 2:1 should be added

to chapter 1)

C. God was now making ready to give Ezekiel his mission, his

marching orders. (See Coffman.)

D. Israel continued to claim an affinity with the ancient faithful,

but they had so degenerated that they retained little resemblance to

worthy servants of God such as Abraham, Moses, and Joshua. (See

Coffman)

1. Amos 9:7, “Are not you Israelites the same to me as the

Cushites?” declares the LORD. “Did I not bring Israel up

from Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor and the

Arameans from Kir? (NIV 1984)

2. Hosea 12:7, The merchant uses dishonest scales; he

loves to defraud. (NIV 1984)

3. Christians can degenerate, digress as well!

a. Hebrews 12:14, Make every effort to live in peace

with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one

will see the Lord. (NIV 1984)



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E. Additional references to “son of man” include:

1. Numbers 23:19, God is not a man, that he should lie,

nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he

speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

(NIV 1984)

2. Psalm 8:4, what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him? (NIV 1984)

3. Job 25:6, how much less man, who is but a maggot— a

son of man, who is only a worm!” (NIV 1984)

4. Isaiah 56:2, Blessed is the man who does this, the man

who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without

desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

(NIV 1984)

5. Matthew 8:20, Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and

birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no

place to lay his head.” (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 2:2, As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to

my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. (NIV 1984)

I. As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I

heard him speaking to me.

A. The Holy Spirit raised Ezekiel to his feet to hear words from

the Lord

1. Ezekiel was totally overwhelmed by what he was

experiencing and needed help to stand before God and hear

his commands.



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B. McGee wrote, “The Spirit of God gave Ezekiel the power to do

the job.”

1. “When God calls a person to do a job, the Lord will give

him the power to do that job,” McGee wrote.

2. Ezekiel 3:24, Then the Spirit came into me and raised

me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut

yourself inside your house. (NIV 1984)

3. Ezekiel 43:3, 5, The vision I saw was like the vision I

had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the

visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell

facedown. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me

into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the

temple. (NIV 1984)

4. Daniel 8:18, While he was speaking to me, I was in a

deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched

me and raised me to my feet. (NIV 1984)

C. The Spirit empowered Ezekiel, enabling him to do as

commanded.

1. Numbers 24:2, the oracle of one who hears the words of

God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls

prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: (NIV 1984)

2. Judges 11:29, Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon

Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed

through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced

against the Ammonites. (NIV 1984)



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3. 1 Samuel 10:6, 10, The Spirit of the LORD will come

upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and

you will be changed into a different person. (NIV 1984)

4. Isaiah 11:2, The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of

counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the

fear of the LORD— (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 2:3, He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites,

to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their

fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. (NIV 1984)

I. He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a

rebellious nation that has rebelled against me;…

A. God warned Ezekiel that his work as a prophet would be very

difficult.

1. Today’s ministers must not think their lives will always be

pleasant and full of encouragement from all their fellow

Christians.

2. The lives of God’s servants are often difficult because the

devil is walking around seeking whom he can devour.

B. God commissioned Ezekiel to prophesy to the rebellious

Israelites.

1. Ezekiel, Fredenburg observed, did not evidence great

enthusiasm for the job, a response which was also true of

other prophets such as Jonah, Moses, and Jeremiah.

a. Exodus 3:11-14, But Moses said to God, “Who am

I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the



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Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be

with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I

who have sent you: When you have brought the

people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this

mountain.” Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the

Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers

has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his

name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to

Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to

say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

(NIV 1984)

b. Exodus 4:1-17, Moses answered, “What if they do

not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD

did not appear to you’?” Then the LORD said to

him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he

replied. The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake,

and he ran from it. Then the LORD said to him,

“Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So

Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it

turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” said the

LORD, “is so that they may believe that the LORD,

the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the

God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared

to you.” Then the LORD said, “Put your hand inside

your cloak.” So Moses put his hand into his cloak,

and when he took it out, it was leprous, like snow.

“Now put it back into your cloak,” he said. So Moses

put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it

out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh. Then

the LORD said, “If they do not believe you or pay

attention to the first miraculous sign, they may

believe the second. But if they do not believe these

two signs or listen to you, take some water from the



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Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you

take from the river will become blood on the

ground.” Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I have

never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since

you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of

speech and tongue.” The LORD said to him, “Who

gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute?

Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I,

the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will

teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “O Lord,

please send someone else to do it.” Then the LORD’s

anger burned against Moses and he said, “What

about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he

can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you,

and his heart will be glad when he sees you. You

shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will

help both of you speak and will teach you what to

do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be

as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to

him. But take this staff in your hand so you can

perform miraculous signs with it.” (NIV 1984)

c. Jeremiah 1:6, “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I

do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” (NIV

1984)

C. “Rebellious nation” here is the expression that God used to

speak of the Gentiles, the pagans, the heathens.” (McGee)

1. Israel had sunk to the level of their surrounding heathen

neighbors.

2. Hosea 1:9, Then the LORD said, “Call him Lo-Ammi,

for you are not my people, and I am not your God. (NIV

1984)



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3. Ezekiel 37:22, I will make them one nation in the land,

on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all

of them and they will never again be two nations or be

divided into two kingdoms. (NIV 1984)

D. The term “son of man” was first applied to Ezekiel, then to

Daniel and ultimately to Jesus Christ, Clarke wrote.

II. they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day.

A. Like Isaiah, Hamilton wrote, Ezekiel was sent to a rebellious

people, obstinate and stubborn, who had lowered themselves to the

level of heathen, pagan, morally corrupt, idol worshiping gentiles.

B. Preaching to rebellious exiles who were in Babylon because of

their refusal to obey God was a most difficult task.

C. The people to whom Ezekiel was to preach had themselves

grievously sinned.

1. Their father had also sinned grievously.

a. Numbers 14:9, Only do not rebel against the

LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the

land, because we will swallow them up. Their

protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not

be afraid of them.” (NIV 1984)

b. Joshua 22:18, And are you now turning away

from the LORD? “‘If you rebel against the LORD

today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole

community of Israel. (NIV 1984)



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Ezekiel 2:4, The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and

stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’

(NIV 1984)

I. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.

A. These people were callous, impudent, past feeling, stiffened in

heart and ears.

1. Ezekiel 3:11, 27, Go now to your countrymen in exile

and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the

Sovereign LORD says,’ whether they listen or fail to

listen.” But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth

and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign

LORD says.’ Whoever will listen let him listen, and

whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a

rebellious house. (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel 13:8, “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign

LORD says: Because of your false words and lying

visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign LORD.

(NIV 1984)

3. Ezekiel 22:28, Her prophets whitewash these deeds for

them by false visions and lying divinations. They say,

‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says’—when the

LORD has not spoken. (NIV 1984)

4. 2 Samuel 7:18-20, 29, Then King David went in and sat

before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, O Sovereign

LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me

this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O

Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future

of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of

dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD? “What more can



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David say to you? For you know your servant, O

Sovereign LORD. (NIV 1984)

II. Say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says.’

A. This is exactly what Ezekiel and we are to preach, nothing

more, nothing less, nothing else!

B. This double name, Sovereign Lord or Lord Jehovah, is used no

less than 200 times in the book of Ezekiel, Coffman wrote.

C. Ezekiel now had to decide. Would he faithfully obey or rebel?

D. Ezekiel and today’s followers of the Lord are to preach exactly

what the Sovereign Lord says, all of what he says, and nothing but

what God says.

Ezekiel 2:5, And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a

rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among

them. (NIV 1984)

I. And whether they listen or fail to listen – for they are a rebellious

house – they will know that a prophet has been among them.

A. Ezekiel was to boldly and accurately proclaim God’s word

whether or not Israel favorably responded.

1. Ezekiel was to do his part in faithfully proclaiming God’s

word.

2. He was not responsible for Israel’s response to the

message, a thing not within his control.



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a. Ezekiel 33:33, “When all this comes true—and it

surely will—then they will know that a prophet has

been among them.” (NIV 1984)

b. Jeremiah 28:9, But the prophet who prophesies

peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the

LORD only if his prediction comes true.” (NIV

1984)

B. When Ezekiel had finished preaching to Israel, they would

certainly know that a prophet had been among them, that God in

his mercy had given them due warning and that they had no excuse

for their sins, whether or not they obeyed God’s word as preached

by Ezekiel , Clarke wrote.

Ezekiel 2:6, And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their

words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around

you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say

or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. (NIV 1984)

I. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words.

A. Ezekiel was warned three (3) times not to be afraid or terrified

by his audience’s response. (Fredenburg)

B. Ezekiel was not to fear because God was going to be with him

every step of the way.

1. As long as we, you and I, are with God, he will be with us!

2. Acts 16:22-34, The crowd joined in the attack against

Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be

stripped and beaten. After they had been severely

flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was

commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such



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orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their

feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were

praying and singing hymns to God, and the other

prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such

a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison

were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and

everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and

when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword

and was about to kill himself because he thought the

prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm

yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights,

rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He

then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do

to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus,

and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then

they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the

others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer

took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he

and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them

into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled

with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and

his whole family. (NIV 1984)

II. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you

live among scorpions.

A. When preaching to the exiles Ezekiel would meet opposition as

from briers, thorns, and scorpions.

B. Briers, thorns, and scorpions are used here to describe the

characters of the people to whom Ezekiel was being sent to preach.

1. Luke 10:19, I have given you authority to trample on

snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of

the enemy; nothing will harm you. (NIV 1984)



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2. Ezekiel 28:24, “‘No longer will the people of Israel have

malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp

thorns. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign

LORD. (NIV 1984)

3. 1 Kings 12:11, My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I

will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with

whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’” (NIV 1984)

C. Ezekiel was told not to be afraid.

1. Jeremiah 1:17, “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say

to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by

them, or I will terrify you before them. (NIV 1984)

2. Matthew 10:28, Do not be afraid of those who kill the

body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One

who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (NIV 1984)

3. Matthew 28:5, The angel said to the women, “Do not be

afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was

crucified. (NIV 1984)

4. Luke 5:10, and so were James and John, the sons of

Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon,

“Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” (NIV

1984)

III. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they

are a rebellious house.

A. Don’t fear what the exiles say or do!

B. This is a difficult saying as martyrs past and present will affirm.



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Ezekiel 2:7, You must speak my words to them, whether they listen

or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. (NIV 1984)

I. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen,

for they are rebellious.

A. This is something Ezekiel had to do, must do.

1. He had no choice what he was to preach nor of the people

to whom he was to preach.

B. Ezekiel was to comply immediately without any hesitation or

delay.

1. Jeremiah 1:6-10, “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do

not know how to speak; I am only a child.” But the

LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You

must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I

command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with

you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. Then the

LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and

said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.

See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to

uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build

and to plant.” (NIV 1984)

2. Jonah 1:3, But Jonah ran away from the LORD and

headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he

found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare,

he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the

LORD. (NIV 1984)

C. God’s word was to be preached regardless of whether the exiles

accepted or rejected the message.



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1. In this way, Clarke wrote, the hearers would be without

excuse.

2. Jeremiah 1:7, 17, But the LORD said to me, “Do not

say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send

you to and say whatever I command you. “Get yourself

ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command

you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you

before them. (NIV 1984)

3. Matthew 10:19-20, But when they arrest you, do not

worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you

will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking,

but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (NIV

1984)

4. Ezekiel 13:7, Have you not seen false visions and

uttered lying divinations when you say, “The LORD

declares,” though I have not spoken? (NIV 1984)

5. Ezekiel 22:28, Her prophets whitewash these deeds for

them by false visions and lying divinations. They say,

‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says’—when the

LORD has not spoken. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 2:8, But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not

rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I

give you.” (NIV 1984)

I. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you.

A. The prime responsibility of a man of God is absolute obedience

to God! (See Smith.)



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II. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what

I give you.”

A. The mouth is often mentioned in prophetic calls. (See

Fredenburg.)

1. Exodus 4:10-12, Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I

have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since

you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and

tongue.” The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his

mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him

sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go;

I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

(NIV 1984)

2. Isaiah 6:5-8, “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I

am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of

unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD

Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live

coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the

altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this

has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your

sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord

saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (NIV 1984)

3. Jeremiah 1:6-9, “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do

not know how to speak; I am only a child.” But the

LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You

must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I

command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with

you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. Then the

LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and

said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.

(NIV 1984)



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4. Ezekiel 2:9-10, Then I looked, and I saw a hand

stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, which he unrolled

before me. On both sides of it were written words of

lament and mourning and woe. (NIV 1984)

5. Ezekiel 3:1-3, And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what

is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the

house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me

the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this

scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I

ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. (NIV

1984)

B. Ezekiel was to eat the scroll, which is similar to what is said in

Revelation.

1. Revelation 10:8-11, Then the voice that I had heard

from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll

that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on

the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and asked

him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it

and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your

mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” I took the little scroll

from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as

honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach

turned sour. Then I was told, “You must prophesy again

about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” (NIV

1984)

2. Deuteronomy 6:3, Hear, O Israel, and be careful to

obey so that it may go well with you and that you may

increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey,

just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.

(NIV 1984)



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3. Ezekiel was to read and digest the contents of the scrolls,

to make God’s word a part of his very being. (See Clarke.)

C. Ezekiel was warned not to waver, not to walk in the evil paths

of rebellious Israel, but to faithfully obey God !

1. Ezekiel was subject to human weakness, as were other

great servants of God, but he was not to yield to this

weakness.

a. Exodus 3:11, But Moses said to God, “Who am I,

that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites

out of Egypt?” (NIV 1984)

b. Exodus 4:10-13, Moses said to the LORD, “O

Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past

nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am

slow of speech and tongue.” The LORD said to him,

“Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or

mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is

it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak

and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “O

Lord, please send someone else to do it.” (NIV 1984)

c. Isaiah 6:5, “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined!

For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a

people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the

King, the LORD Almighty.” (NIV 1984)

d. Jeremiah 1:6, “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I

do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” (NIV

1984)



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Ezekiel 2:9-10, Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me.

In it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it

were written words of lament and mourning and woe. (NIV 1984)

I. Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me.

A. The hand, Clarke wrote, conveyed the scroll to Ezekiel and was

an emblem of Divine power.

1. The Pulpit Commentary pictures this hand as suddenly

appearing and being by itself without an attached body.

II. In it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me.

A. “All ancient books were written so as to be rolled up; hence

volumen, a volume, from Volvo, I roll,” Clarke wrote.

1. Psalm 40:7, Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is

written about me in the scroll. (NIV 1984)

2. Jeremiah 36:2, “Take a scroll and write on it all the

words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and

all the other nations from the time I began speaking to

you in the reign of Josiah till now. (NIV 1984)

3. Zechariah 5:1, I looked again—and there before me

was a flying scroll! (NIV 1984)

III. On both sides of it were written words of laments and mourning and

woe.

A. “The scroll came from God and it was not very pleasant,” Smith

wrote, and this was the message Ezekiel was to proclaim.



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1. Ezekiel’s first sermons were “largely negative and

condemnatory,” Smith wrote.

2. The fact that the scroll was written on both sides indicates

God had much to say to his people, Smith advised.

a. Psalm 19:7-11, The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are

trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts

of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The

commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to

the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring

forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and

altogether righteous. They are more precious than

gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than

honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your

servant warned; in keeping them there is great

reward. (NIV 1984)

b. Ezekiel 19:1, 14, “Take up a lament concerning

the princes of Israel. Fire spread from one of its

main branches and consumed its fruit. No strong

branch is left on it fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a

lament and is to be used as a lament.” (NIV 1984)

c. Ezekiel 26:17, Then they will take up a lament

concerning you and say to you: “‘How you are

destroyed, O city of renown, peopled by men of the

sea! You were a power on the seas, you and your

citizens; you put your terror on all who lived there.

(NIV 1984)

d. Ezekiel 27:2, 32, “Son of man, take up a lament

concerning Tyre. As they wail and mourn over you,

they will take up a lament concerning you: “Who



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was ever silenced like Tyre, surrounded by the sea?”

(NIV 1984)

e. Ezekiel 28:12, “Son of man, take up a lament

concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is

what the Sovereign LORD says: “‘You were the

model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in

beauty. (NIV 1984)

f. Ezekiel 32:2, 16, 19, “Son of man, take up a lament

concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:

“‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like

a monster in the seas thrashing about in your

streams, churning the water with your feet and

muddying the streams. “This is the lament they will

chant for her. The daughters of the nations will

chant it; for Egypt and all her hordes they will chant

it, declares the Sovereign LORD.” Say to them, ‘Are

you more favored than others? Go down and be laid

among the uncircumcised.’ (NIV 1984)

3. There was no room on the scroll for Ezekiel’s comments

or opinions.

B. After having preached the message on the scroll, Ezekiel’s

message was later expanded. (Fredenburg)

1. Ezekiel 24:27, At that time your mouth will be opened;

you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So

you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am

the LORD.” (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel 33:22, Now the evening before the man arrived,

the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he opened my



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mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my

mouth was opened and I was no longer silent. (NIV 1984)

C. It was customary for scrolls to be written on one side, the inside.

1. For a scroll to be written on both sides was special, very

unusual.

D. What a marked contrast exists between the lament, mourning

and woe Ezekiel was to preach and the rejoicings, thanksgiving,

and exaltation that are part and parcel of the Gospel of Jesus our

Lord! (See Clarke.)

Conclusion:

I. Sinners then and now need to hear what God says!

II. Some then and now who think they are God’s people are apostates.

III. Hamilton wrote that “the primary task of Yahweh’s prophets was to

call the people back to a full, sincere observance of the Mosaic

covenant.”

A. Deuteronomy 6:4-6, Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God,

the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your

heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These

commandments that I give you today are to be upon your

hearts. (NIV 1984)

B. Exodus 20:2-17, “I am the LORD your God, who brought

you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no

other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol

in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth

beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to

them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a



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jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to

the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but

showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me

and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name

of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone

guiltless who misuses his name. “Remember the Sabbath day

by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your

work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.

On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or

daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your

animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the

LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is

in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD

blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. “Honor your father

and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the

LORD your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You

shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not

give false testimony against your neighbor. “You shall not

covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your

neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or

donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (NIV

1984)

C. Deuteronomy 5:6-21, “I am the LORD your God, who

brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall

have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself

an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth

beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to

them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a

jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to

the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but

showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me

and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name

of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone

guiltless who misuses his name. “Observe the Sabbath day by



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keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you.

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh

day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do

any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your

manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any

of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your

manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. Remember

that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God

brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an

outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has

commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. “Honor your

father and your mother, as the LORD your God has

commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go

well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

“You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You

shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your

neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall

not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his

manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that

belongs to your neighbor.” (NIV 1984)

D. God promised to bless those who faithfully obeyed the Lord and

to punish the disobedient.

1. It remains that way today!



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Questions

on

Ezekiel 2:1-10

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. What is the meaning of the term “son of man?” List all the

people in the Bible who are called “son of man.” In what

particular ways is Jesus known as “son of man?” ____________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2. What words are used to describe the exiles to whom Ezekiel

was to prophecy? _____________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3. In chapter 1 __________ impressed with the __________ of

the __________ and here he is __________ to __________

__________’s __________ to __________ __________ whether

they __________ or __________.



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4. Name and discuss the three stages and the three occasions of

Ezekiel’s call to prophetic ministry. ______________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

5. Ezekiel was told, “…____________________ on your

__________ and I will __________ to __________.”

__________ always in the __________ of their __________.

(Smith) __________ was now making ready to give

__________ his __________, his __________ __________.

6. __________ continued to __________ an __________ with

the __________ __________, but they had so __________ that

they __________ little __________ to __________ __________

of __________ such as __________, __________ and

__________, __________ can __________, __________ as

well!

7. The __________ __________ __________ __________ to his

__________ to hear __________ from the __________. The

__________ __________ __________, __________ him to do

as __________.

8. Where was God sending Ezekiel? How difficult was this task

going to be? Do today’s ministers have an easy job? _________

____________________________________________________



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____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

9. Was Ezekiel enthused about his mission? Were Moses and

Jeremiah enthused about the commands God gave them? Does a

person have to be enthused to serve God in an acceptable

manner? Explain your answer. ___________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

10. How badly had the Israelites sinned? To what level had they

sunk? How long had the Israelites been rebellious? __________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

11. Ezekiel was to tell the Israelites, “__________ __________

__________ __________ __________ __________

__________.” This is exactly what Ezekiel and today’s

ministers are to preach; that is, __________ what the



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__________ says, __________ more, __________ __________,

__________ __________!

12. When __________ had __________ __________ to

__________, they would certainly know that a __________ had

been among them, that __________ in his __________ had

given them due __________ and that they had no __________

for their __________, whether or not they __________

__________’s __________ as __________ by __________.

(Clarke)

13. In today’s world how dangerous is it for Christian

missionaries to preach the gospel in some parts of the world? __

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

14. What can ministers and missionaries do to keep from being

afraid when facing danger? _____________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

15. What psychological dangers do ministers face in the course

of their duties? _______________________________________



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____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

16. In what ways were the exiles to whom Ezekiel was to preach

like briers, thorns, and scorpions? ________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

17. Is a preacher responsible for the results of his preaching or

only for what he preaches and the attitude with which he

preaches? Illustrate your answer with facts from the life of

Ezekiel. _____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

18. How much time did God give Ezekiel to decide whether or

not he was going to obey the Lord? How much time does God

give us to decide whether or not we are going to obey him? ____

____________________________________________________



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____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

19. What is the prime responsibility of a man of God? ________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

20. Relate how the “mouth” figured in the prophetic call of

several Old Testament men of God. ______________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

21. What does “eat the scroll” mean? _____________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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22. What does the book of Revelation say about eating a scroll?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

23. __________ was __________ not to __________, not to

__________ in the __________ __________ of __________

__________, but to __________ __________ __________.

24. What human weaknesses did Ezekiel have? How was

Ezekiel to handle his weaknesses? How are we to handle our

weaknesses? _________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

25. How was the scroll conveyed to Ezekiel? Who unrolled the

scroll? What does “volvo” mean? ________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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26. Was the scroll written on one or both sides? What was

unusual about this? ____________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

27. On the scroll was written words __________ of and

__________ and __________. Why was this the content of the

scroll? ______________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

EZEKIEL’S CALL Ezekiel 2:1-10 - Bible Study...

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