Questions for thought:
1. God told Ezekiel he was going to a stiffhearted and impudent people. Why would God call Israel those names and do we see people today who are the same way?
2. God told Ezekiel it was his job to warn the people and if he failed to do so, their blood would be required at his hand. How is this similar to what Paul said in Acts 20:25-27 concerning the Ephesians?
3. Sometimes we see people doing things against God’s law. When we try to warn them, they treat us poorly. What should be our mindset?
As a quick review, let us look back at what we have covered in the past several blogs concerning the kingdom of Israel. If you remember, God’s people decided they wanted an earthly king like the nations around them. God allowed them to have a king, but He warned them it would not be good for them. The first king was Saul who was not pleasing to God. Then David became king. He obeyed God in most matters, although he still had flaws. His son, Solomon, reigned upon the death of David. In the beginning of his reign, he obeyed God but, in the end, he allowed his wives to lead him astray. Upon his death, his son, Rehoboam, should have become king, but Rehoboam listening to the younger generation, decided to make things harder for the people and they rebelled against him; thus, the kingdom became divided with ten tribes being known as Israel or the northern kingdom and two being Judah or the southern kingdom.
The people from both the northern and southern tribes failed to obey God. He allowed Assyria to overcome Israel in 721 B.C. and Judah was captured in 586 B.C. by Babylon. We have studied the time period from Rehoboam to the final capture by discussing what different prophets did and said to the people. The last blog was on the book of Lamentations, but in the blog just before that one, all of Israel was in captivity. Beginning with this blog, we will look at what the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel who prophesied during the captivity wrote in their books. Afterward, we will study about the return of Israel to her land from the books of Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, Nehemiah, and Malachi. The book of Esther will be looked at between Zechariah and Nehemiah. Finally, we will summarize the writings of David and Solomon. Once completed, you will have a decent outline that could be used to teach others about the Old Testament. Of course, you must always use the Bible as your main source.
The prophet Ezekiel prophesied beginning in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity which historians tell us would have been around 592 B.C. There were three phases of the southern kingdom’s captivity. The first was in 605, the second in 597, and the final captivity in 586. So, the 5th year of the second carrying away would have been five years from 597 B.C. or around 592 B.C. There were still about six years left before the final captivity by Babylon. Ezekiel would have been in the second round of captivity while Daniel would have been in the first round. The final destruction was going to happen soon as Jeremiah had prophesied earlier. Ezekiel continued his prophecy until around 570 B.C. or 16 years into the complete captivity. Ezekiel was among the captives as indicated in Ezekiel 1:1.
Ezekiel, who was a priest of God, says in chapter 1 verse 1, he saw visions of God. Then throughout the book, he tells those visions and much like his contemporaries Jeremiah and Daniel, he provides information concerning God’s judgment and redemption in a spiritual kingdom for God’s people.
The visions given to Ezekiel begin in chapter 1 where he first sees a vision of four living creatures with four wheels. This brilliant, light filled vision shows Ezekiel the glory of God and His presence which is everywhere at the same times. Upon seeing the vision, Ezekiel fell to his face, but in chapter 2, God told him to stand up and He would speak unto him. In chapters 2-3, God gave Ezekiel his commission to go to the captives and prophesy to them concerning their future.
God told Ezekiel he was going to a rebellious nation that had rebelled against God in the past. He called them impudent and stiffhearted in 2:4. These are the same people previous prophets had prophesied to and they refused to turn from their ways. They were mean to the prophets and often blamed them for the misfortune that was coming upon them. We see the same today and it seems to be getting worse according to recent surveys. But, God told Ezekiel not to be afraid of them even though they would be like briers and thorns to him. God gave Ezekiel a scroll of lamentations and mournings and woe and told him in chapter 3 to eat the roll and then go speak to the house of Israel.
Ezekiel digested or read thoroughly the roll which was sweet as honey in his mouth. In other words, it was a pleasure to Ezekiel to be able to take God’s word to the people. But God warned Ezekiel that Israel would not hearken to him just as they had not listened to God over the past years. God said He had made Ezekiel’s forehead harder than flint so he could withstand the people. Even when the people refused to listen to Ezekiel, he was not to fear them and not to be dismayed. Today when we try to convert people and they are hard hearted as stone, we must not fear them or be dismayed. We have God on our side if we are teaching the truth.
In 3:14 Ezekiel came to those Israelites who were in captivity by the river of Chebar. He was in bitterness for some reason. We are not told if it was because of the message he was to deliver, because of how he knew he was going to be received, or if it was some other reason. Ezekiel sat where they were for seven days and then the word of the Lord came to him telling him the Lord had made him a watchman unto the house of Israel. He was responsible for warning the people. If God told him something and he warned the people and they did not obey, Ezekiel would be free from guilt, but if he failed to warn them, their sins would be upon themselves but Ezekiel would also be punished. In addition, if Ezekiel warned the people and they heeded the warning, not only would the people benefit, but Ezekiel would have delivered his own soul according to 3:21. Remember Paul told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:26 he was innocent from the blood of all men because he had not failed to declare the whole counsel of God. He was encouraging the elders to watch over the flock under their care, just as Ezekiel was to watch over the Israelites in captivity, warning them of what was to come.
In Ezekiel 3:27, God once more told Ezekiel what a rebellious house he was going to be speaking to. He said those who will hear, let them hear and those who refuse to hear, let them refuse. Once Ezekiel had done his job it was up to the people to make their choice. That’s much like it is today with us. Once we have told people what the Bible says, it is not within our power to force them to obey. Some will be happy to hear and accept God’s way while others will turn and walk away. It hurts when people refuse to accept God’s word, but sometimes we must go on to someone else knowing we have done all we could to teach God’s word.
Next time we will look at some of the signs God had Ezekiel to act out beginning in Ezekiel 4.
Christian Women's Responsibility in Sharing God's Word 