Ezekiel's Call to Preach

Text: Ezekiel 2:1-3:27

 

I.         The Spirit enters Ezekiel, causing him to stand before God

            A.        The Spirit carried Ezekiel - Ezekiel 3:12, 14

            B.        It is the Spirit of the Lord - Ezekiel 37:1

            C.        Other references

                        1.         Spirit of the Lord came upon David - I Samuel 16:13

                        2.         John speaks of being in the spirit - Revelation 1:10; 4:2

                        3.         John speaks of being carried in the spirit - Revelation 17:3; 21:10

            D.        Spirit gives power to prophesy - Numbers 11:25-26

                        1.         God’s Spirit through the prophets - Nehemiah 9:30

                        2.         Joel 2:28-29 - God would pour out His Spirit

II.        Ezekiel’s commission

            A.        Being sent to a rebellious people

                        1.         They have always sinned - Jeremiah 3:25

                        2.         Repeated in Ezekiel 20:18, 21

                        3.         It was the reason for their exile - II Kings 17:17-20; Ezra 9:7

            B.        The goal is to warn, but not to make them listen - Ezekiel 2:4-5, 7

                        1.         Like Isaiah’s commission - Isaiah 6:1-13

                        2.         The receiver’s unbelief doesn’t effect God - Romans 3:3

                        3.         Rejection makes their sin firm - John 15:22

                        4.         Much the same in the New Testament - Matthew 10:12-15; Acts 13:46

            C.        Do not be afraid of men

                        1.         Isaiah 51:12 - Man dies

                        2.         Micah’s boldness - Micah 3:8; II Timothy 1:7

                        3.         Proper fear - Matthew 10:28

                        4.         Lack of fear makes an impression - Acts 4:13; Philippians 1:28

            D.        They will strike back with stinging words - Ezekiel 2:6

                        1.         The wicked are referred to as briers and thorns (worthless, but a pain) - II Samuel 23:6; Micah 7:4; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

III.       Ezekiel’s education

            A.        Must listen carefully - Ezekiel 2:8; 3:10

            B.        Must not be rebellious like those he will speak to

            C.        Given a scroll to eat - Ezekiel 2:9-3:3

                        1.         Jeremiah 1:9; 15:16

                        2.         I Timothy 4:14-16

                        3.         Like Revelation 10:8-11 - To be able to prophesy

                        4.         Filled with words to speak - Job 32:18-19; Jeremiah 6:11; 20:9

            D.        Scroll contains lamentations, mourning, and woes

                        1.         Written on both sides - Much is said on the matter, can’t be avoided.

                        2.         Similar to Revelation 5:1

            E.        Tasted like honey

                        1.         Psalm 19:7-10

                        2.         Psalm 119:103

                        3.         Revelation 10:9

IV.      Ezekiel sent

            A.        Ezekiel’s duty is to speak God’s words to Judah - Ezekiel 3:4

            B.        The difficulty will not be in getting them to understand what Ezekiel is saying, but in their willingness to listen - Ezekiel 3:5-7

            C.        Ezekiel must be more stubborn than this stubborn people - Ezekiel 3:8-9

                        1.         Isaiah 48:4

                        2.         Jeremiah 5:3

                        3.         With God’s aid, Isaiah will be stone faced - Isaiah 50:7

                        4.         Jeremiah 1:17-18; 15:20

            D.        Ezekiel is brought by the cherubim to Telabib - Ezekiel 3:13-15

            E.        Though enraged, Ezekiel sits silently among the exiles

                        1.         Suggested that seven days is the typical period of mourning - Genesis 50:10; Job 2:13

                        2.         God’s word fills him, but he is not allowed to speak - Jeremiah 20:7-9

                        3.         He is angry at his fellow countrymen, but at the same time bitter about the message he must deliver. Like Paul - Romans 9:1-3. Or David Psalm 119:136

                        4.         Perhaps mentioned in Psalm 137:1

            F.        Ezekiel’s silent anger causes people concern. They think they have a mad man on their hands.

V.        Ezekiel’s duty is to be a watchman

            A.        His purpose is to bring warning - Isaiah 62:6

            B.        God’s word is to warn - Psalm 19:11

            C.        When warning the wicked,

                        1.         If not warned, he will die, and so will Ezekiel

                        2.         If warned, he will not listen, but Ezekiel has done his duty

            D.        When warning the righteous,

                        1.         If not warned, he will die, and so will Ezekiel

                        2.         If warned he will turn, and Ezekiel has done his duty

            E.        What does this mean for us?

VI.      Ezekiel’s first assignment

            A.        He is to shut himself up in his home - Ezekiel 3:24

            B.        The people will bind him with ropes - Ezekiel 3:25

                        1.         As Jesus was treated - Mark 3:21

            C.        Ezekiel will not be allowed to protest - Ezekiel 3:26

            D.        But he will speak God’s words - Ezekiel 3:27

            E.        The sign signifies the siege of Jerusalem - Ezekiel 4:8