December 26, 2011
"They may listen, or they may not."
"Don't be afraid of them."
Two statements repeated often in these chapters. The Spirit of the LORD speaks to Ezekiel and tells him He is sending him to speak to the people of Israel, people who were stubborn and refused to obey God's words, and who had turned against God.
God tells Ezekiel—GO! Go speak MY words to MY people. You aren't being sent to strangers who don't know your language. You are being sent to your own people. They won't be willing to listen to you because they aren't willing to listen to me. They are stubborn and refuse to obey me. The NIV says they are hardened and obstinate. Then God tells Ezekiel what He told Isaiah and Jeremiah. will give you the strength to stand up against these people.
It was God who gave them the strength. In their own strength they would not have had the ability to stand.
"I now make you..."
"I am making you.."
"Don't be afraid of them or be frightened by them, though they are people who turn against me."
Then God said to Ezekiel, "Believe...and listen closely" to what I am telling you—then GO! Tell them this is what the LORD God says. Say it whether they listen or not.
The LORD's Spirit was upon Ezekiel and he heard, "Praise the glory of the LORD in heaven." The Spirit then took him and put him in the midst of the people. He sat there for seven days, shocked and overwhelmed. Then the LORD spoke to him again saying:
God told Ezekiel to "get up and go," and he got up and went. Because of his obedience he saw the glory of God and "bowed face down on the ground." Then God's spirit spoke to him again, telling him he would be mistreated. When he wasn't supposed to speak God would close his mouth. When he was supposed to speak his mouth would be open. He was to tell them: " 'The LORD God says this.' Those who listen, let them listen. Those who refuse, let them refuse, because they are people who turn against me."
They may listen, or they may not. The same phrase repeated over and over again in these chapters. Do not be afraid of them. Another phrase repeated over and over again. We have one responsibility, and that is to be obedient to God. Speak when He tells us to speak and keep our mouths shut when He instructs us. Beyond that we bear no responsibility. "They may listen, or they may not."
We have done our part. The rest is in their hands and God's.
From Life Lesson:
Next Entry: Ezekiel 4:1 – 7:27
"They may listen, or they may not."
"Don't be afraid of them."
Two statements repeated often in these chapters. The Spirit of the LORD speaks to Ezekiel and tells him He is sending him to speak to the people of Israel, people who were stubborn and refused to obey God's words, and who had turned against God.
"They may listen, or they may not, since they are a people who have turned against me. But they will know that a prophet has been among them." Ezekiel 2:5God tells Ezekiel not to be afraid of them or their words. Even though he was surrounded by briars and thorns and it felt like he was living with scorpions or poisonous insects, God told him not to be afraid. Ezekiel 2:6–7 - "Don't be afraid of their words or looks.... They may listen, or they may not." But you Ezekiel—you listen and you DO what I am telling you to do. Ezekiel 2:8 - "Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you." Fill yourself with my words. The scroll God was giving him to "eat" was full of "funeral songs, sad writings, and words about troubles were written on the front and back." Ezekiel ate it. He filled himself with God's word "and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth." Absorbing God's word is like that.
God tells Ezekiel—GO! Go speak MY words to MY people. You aren't being sent to strangers who don't know your language. You are being sent to your own people. They won't be willing to listen to you because they aren't willing to listen to me. They are stubborn and refuse to obey me. The NIV says they are hardened and obstinate. Then God tells Ezekiel what He told Isaiah and Jeremiah. will give you the strength to stand up against these people.
It was God who gave them the strength. In their own strength they would not have had the ability to stand.
"I now make you..."
"I am making you.."
"Don't be afraid of them or be frightened by them, though they are people who turn against me."
Then God said to Ezekiel, "Believe...and listen closely" to what I am telling you—then GO! Tell them this is what the LORD God says. Say it whether they listen or not.
The LORD's Spirit was upon Ezekiel and he heard, "Praise the glory of the LORD in heaven." The Spirit then took him and put him in the midst of the people. He sat there for seven days, shocked and overwhelmed. Then the LORD spoke to him again saying:
"You must warn them... Anytime you hear a word from my mouth, warn them for me... When I say to the wicked, 'you will surely die,' you must warn them so they may live. If you don't speak out to warn the wicked to stop their evil ways, they will die in their sin. But I will hold you responsible for their death. If you warn the wicked and they do not turn from their wickedness or their evil ways, they will die because of their sin. But you will have saved your life." Ezekiel 3:17-19He goes on to say that sometimes people who were good people may stop doing good and do evil instead, and they will be held accountable. "If you don't warn them they will die because of their sin and I (God) will hold you responsible... But if you warned those good people not to sin, and they do not sin, they will surely live, because they believed the warning. And you will have saved your life."
God told Ezekiel to "get up and go," and he got up and went. Because of his obedience he saw the glory of God and "bowed face down on the ground." Then God's spirit spoke to him again, telling him he would be mistreated. When he wasn't supposed to speak God would close his mouth. When he was supposed to speak his mouth would be open. He was to tell them: " 'The LORD God says this.' Those who listen, let them listen. Those who refuse, let them refuse, because they are people who turn against me."
They may listen, or they may not. The same phrase repeated over and over again in these chapters. Do not be afraid of them. Another phrase repeated over and over again. We have one responsibility, and that is to be obedient to God. Speak when He tells us to speak and keep our mouths shut when He instructs us. Beyond that we bear no responsibility. "They may listen, or they may not."
We have done our part. The rest is in their hands and God's.
From Life Lesson:
"What we want is relief. We want our problem or heartache to just go away. And yet the biblical message of rest is that your relief may come from the power you gain when you accept your suffering. Your relief may come from the strength you develop from serving in spite of it... and you find rest..." ~ From Little House on the Freeway by Tim KimmelWe can attest to the truth of that statement.
Next Entry: Ezekiel 4:1 – 7:27
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