After the astounding vision of the angle chariot and fiery, human figure, now God speaks to Ezekiel.
God calls Ezekiel "Son of man" and tells Ezekiel to stand so that the Lord can speak to him.
Ryrie footnote states that "Son of man" is an emphatic form of "man" and is used 93 times in this book. They take it to mean a reminder from God that He is the majestic God while Ezekiel is a mere mortal. I'll be interested to read what the commentaries make of son of man, seeing as the first century Jews that it was blasphemy for Jesus to call himself that. MacArthur states that this term emphasizes his humanness. Wiersbe also believes this terms reminds Ezekiel of his humanness and mortality.
Verse 2 tells us that once God started speaking, His Spirit entered Ezekiel and stood him on his feet. What a shocking and miraculous event.
In verse 3 He calls Ezekiel son of man again and tells him that He is sending him to the sons of Israel because they have been rebellious and are still being rebellious. You'd think that being taken into captivity would humble them and they would rethink their lives; but that doesn't seem to be how humans work in a fallen world.
In verse 4 he calls them stubborn and obstinate. And, He starts a "thus says the Lord" message.
- Whether they listen or not, they will know there is a prophet among them.
- Ezekiel is told not to fear them or their words
- Then he's told there will be thistles, and thorns, and scorpions- so there will be suffering; but don't fear or be dismayed by this rebellious house.
- He repeats that Ezekiel is to speak whether they listen or not and he repeats that they are rebellious.
That's a hard message to receive. He gets to hear from the Lord; be lifted up by His Spirit; see amazing visions; have a message for his people who are suffering in captivity. However, they are going to be rebellious and seek to harm him...what a roller coaster to happen in a very short amount of time.
We all want to be one of the greats. But they all paid a very high price.
Verse 8 starts a new paragraph. God warns Ezekiel not to be rebellious like the people. And then He tells Ezekiel to open his mouth and eat what God gives him. This seems to be a pattern with the Lord and some of His more visionary prophets...eating scrolls and books with holy words on them. I wonder if it's a metaphor for how food works. We eat it, but we don't actually have any control over how it's broken down or serves us. We are changed by it without being able to take credit for the outcome? MacArthur claims this is figurative, to mean digest this information until it is fully integrated into you.
A hand extends to him with a scroll. He opens it and on both sides were written lamentations, mourning, and woe. MacArthur states that scrolls were written on one side, bu there was so much to tell that it filled both sides.
He doesn't eat the scroll until the next chapter.
Wiersbe
In Wiersbe's Be Reverent, he breaks this section into four commands from God during Ezekiel's commission:
- Stand and Listen: Ezekiel fell on his face in front of the astounding vision and God's voice. This was an appropriate response; but he was there to receive orders, so God ordered him up with the help of the Spirit. Kneel to worship. Stand to listen and respond obediently to the commend of the Lord.
- Go and Speak: The Jews were rebellious and needed to hear of the coming (further) judgment, but also the hope to follow.
- Don't be afraid: same as His message to the other prophets and same as to all of us.
- Receive the Word within: The Scriptures often picture the Word as bread or food. For a priest or messenger, the word must ingested and internalized for it to be authentic to those receiving it. We learn in chapter 3 that it was sweet like honey, and later it turned bitter.
He wraps up this section by preferring that God first showed Ezekiel the stunning vision of His glory to stiffen his resolve and awe, so the hardness of the Jews' hearts wouldn't break him. He knew he has everything he needed to obey.