Chapter 2

I. Ezekiel is called to the office of Prophet (2:1-10): A. And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak with thee. And the Spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet; and I heard him that spake unto me (2:1-2). 1. Ezekiel had prostrated himself before the Lord at the end of chapter one due to his standing in the presence of the glory of Jehovah (1:28). 2. The Lords first words to Ezekiel were, Son of man. This phrase occurs many times throughout the book of Ezekiel (i.e., 93 times). Many believe that the phrase is used by the Lord as a distinctive term separating mans being from deity. 3. Defining inspiration: a) The Holy Spirit enters Ezekiel at the point the Lord spake unto the prophet. b) The apostle Peter states of prophecy, no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit (II Pet. 1:21). c) Now that the Holy Spirit has entered within Ezekiel, the Lord is now speaking to him and preparing him for his work of divine revelation to man.

B. And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to nations
that are rebellious, which have rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me even unto this very day. And the children are impudent and stiffhearted: I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah. 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 (2:3-5). 1. God gives Ezekiel instructions to go preach to His people and gives him a clear picture as to what his audience was like. 2. The people are rebellious. Joshua 22:18 seems to define this word best as a turning away from the Lord. The Holy Spirit here defines rebellion as having transgressed against the Lord. Clearly, Ezekiel was to go preach to a

people who had turned their backs to God and were not following His covenant Law. 3. Moreover, Gods people had become impudent (disrespectful) and stiffhearted (this word simply means strong. 54 times in the Old Testament the word is found. At times it has a positive meaning; i.e., the manner in which the Lord delivered Israel out of the hands of Pharaoh of Egypt, and at other times the word [as here in Ezek.] has a negative meaning). The word stiffhearted seems to sum up the character of Gods people. Israel had turned away from the Lord through disrespect and had transgressed His law. This turning away was not a casual indecisive act but a strong movement away from the Lord. 4. Gods instruction to Ezekiel is that whether these rebellious people, who are strongly opposed to God, will hear you or not you preach thus saith the Lord Jehovah (cf. II Tim. 4:2ff for modern day application). One thing for sure, when Ezekiel was finished the people would know that a true prophet was among them. a) A prophet is one who speaks for God and interprets his will to man... generally, an interpreter, declarer... one who possesses the gift of an inspired preacher and teacher.... the revealer of Gods counsel for the future, a prophet... a predictor of future events. b) How would the people know that a prophet had been among them? The only way this could have happened is if what the prophet has to say comes to pass (cf. Deut. 18:20-22). When these strongly opposed brethren saw that Ezekiels warnings of the consequences of their sinfulness comes to pass then they would surely know that Ezekiel had been sent by God. C. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious (2:6-7). 1. When men are so strongly opposed to a doctrine, they will have feelings of animosity toward those who would represent that teaching. One who walks in violation of Gods laws yet has no respect for Gods laws will be angered when told that they are in sin simply because they are opposed to truth and do not consider themselves subject to such ideas (cf. Jn. 7:7; 15:18ff). 2. Jehovah prepares Ezekiel for this type of confrontation. When Ezekiel exposed their sins, they would be angry, speak to him with threatening words, and give him death looks. The Lord encourages Ezekiel to continue to expose their sin even though the rebellious people would so act. Likewise, God told Isaiah (cf. Isa. 6:9ff) and Jeremiah (Jer. 2:1; 7:1-2; 11:1ff; 26:2) to preach to His people even though they would not hear. So Paul told Timothy to preach come what may (II Tim. 4:2ff) and to the Ephesians he commanded that they expose the sins of evil men (Eph. 5:11). D. 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 which I give thee. And when I looked, behold, a hand was put forth unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; And he spread it before me: and it was written within and without; and there were written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe (2:8-10). 1. Clearly Gods people were not hearing His words and so the Lord admonishes Ezekiel to not be like that.

2. God gave Ezekiel a book that had His will written on it for Judah on the front and back of the pages. Ezekiel is commanded to eat the book. This indicates the fact that Ezekiel was to take in the words of God and make them a part of his being. 3. More said on this book in chapter 3.

Synopsis of chapter 2 The spiritual state of Gods people had reached an alarming condition. They were rebellious, disrespectful to God, and strongly opposed His Laws. Such a condition of the heart would prove to be a hostile environment of briars and thorns for any who would expose their dark deeds. The Lord commissions Ezekiel to be the man of this hour. Ezekiel would go into a hostile environment and say, thus saith Jehovah. The consequences to the person of Ezekiel would be shunning, words of opposition, and looks that could kill. This being the case, God gives Ezekiel a work and encourages him to be not afraid (Ezek. 2:6). Let every one know the work he enters when becoming a Christian. When I follow Gods commands without turning to the left or right and demand that others do so as well I will not be liked by all (Jn. 15:18ff). So it was with Jesus (cf. Jn. 7:7; 15:18ff) and the apostles (cf. I Cor. 4:9ff). The apostle Paul tells us that said sufferings are the appointment for every faithful child of God (I Thess. 3:3ff; II Tim. 3:12). We too are encouraged to not fear the looks nor the ill words of the rebellious (II Tim. 1:7-8) but rather expose their sinful deeds (Eph. 5:11). Souls are at stake and I must ask myself the question, do I really love and care for the souls of men? If my answer is yes, I will preach without fear or favor of man.