Ezekiel 3

God commanded Ezekiel to eat the scroll, which was held out to him, and then go speak to the house of Israel. Ezekiel described the taste of the scroll as sweet, like honey. God forewarned Ezekiel that they would not listen to him because they would not listen to God, as they were "imprudent and hard-hearted." But also, "do not be afraid of them."

The Spirit lifted Ezekiel up and he heard the "great thunderous voice: 'Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place!' " And in bitterness (because he had to confront rebellious Judah with this bitter message), Ezekiel went to the captives, and stayed there seven days. 

God told Ezekiel that He had made him a watchman (just like Habakkuk) for the house of Israel. And he explained to him that if He warns them they shall die, but Ezekiel does not give them the message, then a wicked man shall die, and Ezekiel shall be held responsible. However, if Ezekiel does warn, but the man continues in sin, then he shall die, but Ezekiel shall be delivered. 

Same with the righteous. If one turns from righteousness to sin, and God lays a stumbling block before him, he will die, because Ezekiel did not warn him. Also, the prophet will be responsible. Nevertheless, if Ezekiel does warn a righteous man against iniquity, and he does not sin, he will live because he heeded the warning. The prophet too shall be delivered. 

Then God told Ezekiel to go into the plain and He would speak to him, and Ezekiel fell on his face before the glory of the Lord. God told him to shut himself up in his house and forewarned that the people will bind him with ropes to keep him from going about them. God will make him mute, until He permits him to speak, which again will be: "He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse."

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3 includes the preparation of the prophet. When God sent Jeremiah to the people, Judah was still in Israel and had not gone into captivity. God gave Jeremiah a soft heart, which is why he wept so much. Now that Judah was in captivity, God needed a man who could face a bitter and rebellious people. Ezekiel was that man. 

Keep in mind, the false prophets still back in Jerusalem were telling the people (left behind) that those in captivity would not be in Babylon for long; they were going to return home, soon. However, God told Ezekiel to tell them they should expect to be in captivity for seventy years, and they would be under a hard yoke. You would think they would have learned this from the stories they heard about Egypt. But no. They were a stiff-necked people. 

God promised Ezekiel that although His people were hard-headed, He would make Ezekiel's head harder. Then God explained to Ezekiel that he was appointing him to be a watchman, and that he was to warn the people, or he would be held accountable for withholding this life-saving message. 

Many people misunderstand Ezekiel 3:20 to mean that a believer can fall from grace once he had been saved. Fallen from grace means one has fallen back on the law by trying to live by the law or by doing good works. The people of Ezekiel's day were living in the law, as given to them from Moses, and their lives were marked by righteous deeds. In times of weakness, a man might rebel against God and be judged for it. Today, believers are living under grace because our righteousness is measured by what Christ did on the cross, alone. Nonetheless, the point of Ezekiel is to focus on the obligation of the watchman who is to warn the man who has turned from righteousness to worldliness. 

Finally, the people who do not want to hear what Ezekiel has to say want to bind him. Instead, Ezekiel is about to deliver the messages of God by acting out the parables which God gives to him, which we will see coming up.