Do not be afraid: the calling of Ezekiel (Eze 1:28b-3:27)

The calling narrative

•  Thepropheticcallingnarrativewasanimportantpartofeveryprophecy(e.g.Isaiah6;Jeremiah1)•  Itservedtogivelegitimacytotheprophet’swords,forhespokenotonhisownaccountbutasanambassadorsentbytheLordhimself.

•  Itintroducedthethemesthattheprophecywouldproclaimingreaterdetail

Whatdoesaprophetdo?•  AprophetfunctionsprimarilyasamessengerforGod.

•  Q:howdoeweknowaprophetisfromGodornot?Truevsfalseprophet

•  “Youmustspeakmywordstothem,whethertheylistenorfailtolisten

Preamble (1:28b-2:2): Ezekiel’s call to divine service •  “andIheardthevoiceofonespeaking.Hesaidtome,“Sonofman,standuponyourfeetandIwillspeaktoyou.”Ashespoke,theSpiritcameintomeandraisedmetomyfeet,andIheardhimspeakingtome.”

• WhatwasEzekieldoingwhenheheardthevoice?Why?• Whosevoiceisthat?Whatdoeshesay?• HowdoesEzekielgetuponhisfeet?•  Thespiritcameinto–whatspirit?

Ezekiel’s call to divine service

•  Thecallisdescribedinancientroyalcourtlanguage•  Thesubjectisfacedowninthepresenceofthemonarch•  Noonedaretoriseuntilauthorizedtodosobytheking•  Yahweh,thedivinewarriorandking,isonhisthrone/throne-chariot•  Thecallforservicethatfollowsdemandapersononhisfeet(refDan10:11;Acts26:16),readytolisten,obeyandgotoconsciousparticipationintheking’sconcerns

•  Ezekielisasonofman/merehuman/humankind/memberofhumanityrelateshimtothesupernaturalbeings,althoughtheirformswerehumanlike(1:5,26).Masterandservants.•  Thetermappearsthroughoutthedivinecallingandthewholebook.•  IthighlightsthefactthatEzekielisamerehuman,becomeaprophetofdivinetranscendence,markedbyhumbleawarenessofwhoGodis.

•  HisweaknessiscounteredbytheenablingpowerofGodandtheSpiritrestoreshim

The first commissioning speech (2:3-7)

•  Hesaid:“Sonofman,IamsendingyoutotheIsraelites,toarebelliousnationthathasrebelledagainstme;theyandtheirancestorshavebeeninrevoltagainstmetothisveryday.ThepeopletowhomIamsendingyouareobstinateandstubborn.Saytothem,‘ThisiswhattheSovereignLordsays.’Andwhethertheylistenorfailtolisten—fortheyarearebelliouspeople—theywillknowthataprophethasbeenamongthem.•  Andyou,sonofman,donotbeafraidofthemortheirwords.Donotbeafraid,thoughbriersandthornsareallaroundyouandyouliveamongscorpions.Donotbeafraidofwhattheysayorbeterrifiedbythem,thoughtheyarearebelliouspeople.•  Youmustspeakmywordstothem,whethertheylistenorfailtolisten,fortheyarerebellious.

The first commissioning speech (2:3-7)

•  Hesaid:“Sonofman,IamsendingyoutotheIsraelites,toarebelliousnationthathasrebelledagainstme;theyandtheirancestorshavebeeninrevoltagainstmetothisveryday.ThepeopletowhomIamsendingyouareobstinateandstubborn.Saytothem,‘ThisiswhattheSovereignLordsays.’Andwhethertheylistenorfailtolisten—fortheyarearebelliouspeople—theywillknowthataprophethasbeenamongthem.•  Andyou,sonofman,donotbeafraidofthemortheirwords.Donotbeafraid,thoughbriersandthornsareallaroundyouandyouliveamongscorpions.Donotbeafraidofwhattheysayorbeterrifiedbythem,thoughtheyarearebelliouspeople.•  Youmustspeakmywordstothem,whethertheylistenorfailtolisten,fortheyarerebellious.

Words of repetition: ch 2

• Howmanywaysyoucansayrebellious?)•  Arebelliousnation;rebelledagainstme,inrevoltagainstme;arebelliouspeople(x2),theyarerebellious;donotrebellikethatrebelliouspeople

•  The”sovereign”Lord:thewordsovereignappearsatleast210timesinEzekiel,outofatotalofover291timesintheOTand6timesinNT•  “Donotbeafraid”occursin54versesintheOTand16versesintheNT(plusdon’tbeafraid,23verses)•  InGod’scallingoftheprophets,“donotbeafraid”oftenfollows:Eze2:6(x3);3:9;Jer1:8;Dan10:12,19

The commissioning (2:3)

•  “Sonofman,IamsendingyoutotheIsraelites,toarebelliousnation”•  “Iamsendingyouto”occurs4timesinthecallnarrative(2:3,4;3:5,6),akeyinthecallnarrative.• Whoisthesender?• Whoistheonetobesentormessenger?• Whoisthetargetaudience?

• Asuperiorcommissionedamessengertodeliveramessageonhisorherbehalftoathirdparty•  Versusthefalseprophetswhicharedescribedas“Yahwehhasnotsentyoutosay”(Jer43:2)

•  Israelites–rebelliousnationversusmypeople–thechosennation

Will Ezekiel succeed in his mission? (2:4-7)

•  "ThepeopletowhomIamsendingyouareobstinateandstubborn”(NIV)or“Thedescendantsalsoareimpudentandstubborn:?(ESV)•  insubordinate(childrentowardparents)andobstinate(stubborn)

•  Saytothem,‘ThisiswhattheSovereignLordsays.’Andwhethertheylistenorfailtolisten—fortheyarearebelliouspeople—theywillknowthataprophethasbeenamongthem.”(2:4),and“Youmustspeakmywordstothem,whethertheylistenorfailtolisten,fortheyarerebellious.”(2:7)•  Somewilllistenandsomewillnot?•  Theyareaninsubordinatefamily,refusingtolistentoEzekielwhenhespeaks,becausetheyarenotwillingtolistentoGod,fortheyarehardenedandobstinate

•  NotethatGodtoldMosesthesame.ThepeoplearenotwillingtolistentoGod.

Do not be afraid (2:6)

•  YahwehoffersEzekielnoopportunitytorespondtothecharge(refMoses(Exod3:11)andJeremiah(Iamtooyoung,1:6)),butimmediatelychallengeshimw.r.ttheattitudewithwhichheistocarryouthistask:doyoubeafraid(x3)• Andyou,sonofman,donotbeafraidofthemortheirwords.Donotbeafraid,thoughbriersandthornsareallaroundyouandyouliveamongscorpions.Donotbeafraidofwhattheysayorbeterrifiedbythem,thoughtheyarearebelliouspeople.• WhathasYahwehdonetohelpEzekielovercomehisfear?

•  Ref:divinepresence“Iamwithyou”inthecallofMoses(Exod3:12),Gideon(Judge6:!2),andJeremiah(Jer1:8,19)

Do not be afraid? How?

• NIV:“Donotbeafraid,thoughbriersandthornsareallaroundyouandyouliveamongscorpions.”•  Amixtureofmetaphorsthatincludebriersandthorns(plants)andscorpions(abugoranotherthornyplantthatisscorpion-likeorhasstingingquality)

• Arethethorns,briarsandscorpionplantsthreatstotheprophet?• Or“human,donotbeafraidofthem,norbeafraidofwhattheysay,becausenettlesandthornsarewithyou,andyousitamongscorpionplants”•  TheyrepresentGod’spromiseofawallofprotectionforEzekiel?

• WhatistherewardforEzekiel?•  “theywillknowthataprophethasbeenamongthem”–atrueprophet

The vision of the scroll (2:8-3:3)

• Butyou,sonofman,listentowhatIsaytoyou.Donotrebellikethatrebelliouspeople;openyourmouthandeatwhatIgiveyou.”•  ThenIlooked,andIsawahandstretchedouttome.Initwasascroll,whichheunrolledbeforeme.Onbothsidesofitwerewrittenwordsoflamentandmourningandwoe.• Andhesaidtome,“Sonofman,eatwhatisbeforeyou,eatthisscroll;thengoandspeaktothepeopleofIsrael.”SoIopenedmymouth,andhegavemethescrolltoeat.•  Thenhesaidtome,“Sonofman,eatthisscrollIamgivingyouandfillyourstomachwithit.”SoIateit,andittastedassweetashoneyinmymouth.

Do not rebel like that rebellious people

• V.8“Sonofman”signalsaseparatesubunit•  ThenIlookedandIsaw(1:4,15;2:9)–whatdidhesee?

•  Ahand–whosehand?•  TheprophetiswarnednottolethimselfbeinfectedbyIsraelitedisease–insubordinationtoGodandrefusedtolistentoYahweh•  Rather,tobetotallyopentothevoiceofGodandactuponhisinstructionswithoutreservation

• Herecomesatestofobedience:“openyourmouthandeatwhatIgiveyou”• Wouldyoudothat?• WhatisthatEzekielisaskedtoeat?Food–whatfood?Uncleanfood(PeterinActs10)

Ezekiel is asked to eat a scroll (2:9-10)

• Whatdoweknowaboutthescroll?•  Rolled-upscroll–probablymadewithpapyrus(mostcommoninEzekiel’sday,butcouldbeskin,unusualtobewrittenonbothsides)•  Fullofwriting,frontandback–well-definedandacompletemessage• Writtenwordsoflamentandmourningandwoe(meaning?)

• Whatdoesthescrollmean?•  ThemessagethatheissenttospeaktotheIsraelites–whichis?

•  oracleofinevitablejudgment•  InJeremiah’scommissioning,YahwehtouchedEzekiel’smouthwithhishand,assuringhimthathehadjustputhiswordsintohismouth(Jer1:9)

Is a scroll edible? How does it taste? (3:1-3)

•  EzekielcompliedtoGod’scommandbyopeninghismouth,preparingtoeatandswallowittothestomach,digested• Andittastelike?Assweetashoney.

•  Psalm119:103“Howsweetareyourwordstomytaste,sweeterthanhoneytomymouth.”

•  JeremiahalsomakesreferencetoeatingGod’swords(Jer15:16)• Whenyourwordscame,Iatethem;theyweremyjoyandmyheart’sdelight,forIbearyourname,LordGodAlmighty.

• Atthis,Ezekielhascommittedhimselftoapropheticministry–onethatwillinvokehostility,rejectionandfear,buttheprivilegefaroutweighsuchhardship-thesweetnessofobedience

The second commissioning speech (3:4-11)

•  Hethensaidtome:“Sonofman,gonowtothepeopleofIsraelandspeakmywordstothem.Youarenotbeingsenttoapeopleofobscurespeechandstrangelanguage,buttothepeopleofIsrael—nottomanypeoplesofobscurespeechandstrangelanguage,whosewordsyoucannotunderstand.SurelyifIhadsentyoutothem,theywouldhavelistenedtoyou.ButthepeopleofIsraelarenotwillingtolistentoyoubecausetheyarenotwillingtolistentome,foralltheIsraelitesarehardenedandobstinate.ButIwillmakeyouasunyieldingandhardenedastheyare.Iwillmakeyourforeheadlikethehardeststone,harderthanflint.Donotbeafraidofthemorterrifiedbythem,thoughtheyarearebelliouspeople.”•  Andhesaidtome,“Sonofman,listencarefullyandtaketoheartallthewordsIspeaktoyou.Gonowtoyourpeopleinexileandspeaktothem.Saytothem,‘ThisiswhattheSovereignLordsays,’whethertheylistenorfailtolisten.”

The second commissioning speech (3:4-11)

•  Hethensaidtome:“Sonofman,gonowtothepeopleofIsraelandspeakmywordstothem.Youarenotbeingsenttoapeopleofobscurespeechandstrangelanguage,buttothepeopleofIsrael—nottomanypeoplesofobscurespeechandstrangelanguage,whosewordsyoucannotunderstand.SurelyifIhadsentyoutothem,theywouldhavelistenedtoyou.ButthepeopleofIsraelarenotwillingtolistentoyoubecausetheyarenotwillingtolistentome,foralltheIsraelitesarehardenedandobstinate.ButIwillmakeyouasunyieldingandhardenedastheyare.Iwillmakeyourforeheadlikethehardeststone,harderthanflint.Donotbeafraidofthemorterrifiedbythem,thoughtheyarearebelliouspeople.”•  Andhesaidtome,“Sonofman,listencarefullyandtaketoheartallthewordsIspeaktoyou.Gonowtoyourpeopleinexileandspeaktothem.Saytothem,‘ThisiswhattheSovereignLordsays,’whethertheylistenorfailtolisten.”

Why a second commissioning speech?

• Aftereatingthescroll,isEzekielreadytogo?DoeshestillhavehesitationtoacceptYahweh’spropheticcharge?Howisthisparagraphcomparedto2:3-7?

“Speak to them with my words” 3:4

• Ref:“youmustspeakmywordstothem”2:7• AverbatimrepetitionofthemessagereceivedfromYahweh–

•  NottoaddtoorsubtractfromthewordshereceivesfromYahweh•  Nofreedomtoexploitanyrhetoricalmeansavailabletomovethepeopleinrepentance(c.f.Jeremiah).•  Ezekiel’sownvoicemustbesilenced•  HeistodoandacceptwhatYahwehtellshim,includingconfinement,dumbness,deathofalovedone

People of Israel vs people of other nations (3:5-7) • HighlightstheunresponsivenessoftheIsraelitesintwoways:

•  MoredifficultthanpeoplesoutsidethehouseholdofIsrael,definedintermsoflanguage–withobscurespeechandstrangelanguage(unintelligiblespeechanddifficultlanguage)–missionisaloteasierthantoyourownpeople(Israelites)•  Theyarepeoplethatarehardenedandobstinate(ref:2:4)

• HowshouldEzekielprepareforthat?(likewhenwegoevangelizing)•  Theyarenotwillingtolistentoyoubecausetheyarenotwillingtolistentome(Yahweh)(7a)•  Iwillmakeyouasunyieldingandhardenedastheyare–harderthanflint,thehardeststone

The concluding final speech (3:10-11)

•  Ezekiel’saudienceisnowclearlyidentified–who?•  Yourpeopleinexile(thosethatwereseenasrejectedbyYahweh)•  Notthoseofobscurespeechandstrangelanguage•  NotyourpeopleinJerusalem(i.e.nottosaveJerusalemorJudahfromfalling)•  Notmypeople–theyrefusetolistentome

• RemindagaintoannounceYahweh’swordverbatimtohispeopleandnottobeaffectedbytheirreaction

What lessons can we learn about God’s calling into divine service?

•  ThecallingcomesfromGodalone•  Nottheneedsofthefield,gifts,oranyexternalqualifications•  Godaloneappointshisservants,definesthetask,choosesthefieldofservice,providesthemessage,andtakeaccountabilityoftheoutcome

• God’smessengermusthaveaclearvisionoftheonewhosendshimorher(especiallywhentheoppositionisstrongandthefruitisabsent)•  Onemustenterdivineservicewithasenseofaweattheprivilegeofrepresentingthealmighty,creatorofall

•  EmpoweredbytheSpiritofGod

What lessons can we learn about God’s calling into divine service?

•  InspiredbythemessageofGod(revelation)•  Ezekielhasdigested,internalized,incorporated,embodiedandlivedGod’smessage,notjustheard

•  God’smessengerwillbedivinelyequippedcommensuratewiththecalling•  Godisawareofthechallengeshisagentsfaceandwillpreparethemforthattask•  God’scalltoserviceisnotmadeonthebasisofgifts,butrather,giftsaregivenonthebasisoftheassignment

•  God’scallingisnottosuccessbuttofaithfulness•  EveryaspectoftheservicesremainsunderthesovereigncontrolofGod,esp.theresults

•  Apparenteffectivenessisnotproofofcallingorfaithfulness;likewise,afruitlessministryisnotafailure(ref.theearthlyJesus)

•  Themotivationforunconditionalserviceisnotsuccessbuttheprivilegetobeanemissaryofthedivineking

The Spirit lifted me up (3:12-15)

•  ThentheSpiritliftedmeup,andIheardbehindmealoudrumblingsoundasthegloryoftheLordrosefromtheplacewhereitwasstanding.Itwasthesoundofthewingsofthelivingcreaturesbrushingagainsteachotherandthesoundofthewheelsbesidethem,aloudrumblingsound.•  TheSpiritthenliftedmeupandtookmeaway,andIwentinbitternessandintheangerofmyspirit,withthestronghandoftheLordonme.IcametotheexileswholivedatTelAvivneartheKebarRiver.Andthere,wheretheywereliving,Isatamongthemforsevendays—deeplydistressed.

•  3:14b“TheSpiritthenliftedmeupandtookmeaway,andIwentinbitternessandintheangerofmyspirit,withthestronghandoftheLordonme.”•  ESV“TheSpiritliftedmeupandtookmeaway,andIwentinbitternessintheheatofmyspirit,thehandoftheLordbeingstronguponme.”

•  ThehandoftheLordappears7timesinEzekiel(39timesintheOT),e.g.1:3a,enablingEzekieltoseeextraordinarythingsandgoplaces.•  Thesupernaturalphenomenonhadaneffectonhismindandhisbody,anemotionalexcitementthatgrippedhimasthesubjectiveeffectofYahweh’sstronghanduponhim

Ezekiel’s supernatural journey ends at his exilic settlement •  TelAvivorTelAbibtranslatesliterally“moundofspringproduce”

•  Averyancientmound•  ThisisthesettlementassignedtotheJewsbytheBabylonianadministratorandthelocationofEzekiel’sministry

•  EzekielmighthavebeentakenupintotheheavenlycourtbytheSpirittoseethethrone-chariotofGod

Ezekiel’s supernatural journey ends at his exilic settlement •  Thedualnatureoftheprophet’stasks

•  Ezekielremainsunder“thestronghandoftheLord”andthusbeginstofeelthefeelingthattheLordhastowardthepeople–wrathandanger(3:14)• Whenhesitsamongtheexiles,hethinksoftheeffectsofGod’swrathfromtheotherside:theforthcomingdevastationofhispeople,speechless(3:!5)

• Otherexplanationsfor3:15•  Theprophetseemstobestunnedandwithdrawn,sittingthereoverwhelmedforsevendays,speechless.Hewastobeaprophettothesepeopleinexile,buthesaysnothing.•  Theoverwhelmingexperienceofvisionandcallthathehadundergonemightalsoleavehim“disoriented”forawholeweek.•  Thiscreatesasenseofincompletenessandsuspense–intermission

3:16-21 Yahweh’s induction speech for Ezekiel: responsibility of the watchman for Israel (judicial) •  Andattheendofsevendays,thewordoftheLordcametome:“Sonofman,IhavemadeyouawatchmanforthehouseofIsrael.Wheneveryouhearawordfrommymouth,youshallgivethemwarningfromme.•  IfIsaytothewicked,Youshallsurelydie,’andyougivehimnowarning,norspeaktowarnthewickedfromhiswickedway,inordertosavehislife,thatwickedpersonshalldieforhisiniquity,buthisbloodIwillrequireatyourhand.Butifyouwarnthewicked,andhedoesnotturnfromhiswickedness,orfromhiswickedway,heshalldieforhisiniquity,butyouwillhavedeliveredyoursoul.•  Again,ifarighteouspersonturnsfromhisrighteousnessandcommitsinjustice,andIlayastumblingblockbeforehim,heshalldie.Becauseyouhavenotwarnedhim,heshalldieforhissin,andhisrighteousdeedsthathehasdoneshallnotberemembered,buthisbloodIwillrequireatyourhand.Butifyouwarntherighteouspersonnottosin,andhedoesnotsin,heshallsurelylive,becausehetookwarning,andyouwillhavedeliveredyoursoul.”•  Ref:Eze33:1-9anotherwatchmantext(alsoIsa56:10;Jer6:17;Hos9:8)

What is a watchman?

•  �Awatchmanwassomeoneappointedasalookouttoprovidethepeoplewithadvancewarningofthecomingofanenemysothattheycouldruntoshelter(Ezek.33:2–3).•  WatchmanwatchesoutforfireinahugeforestinnortheastChina

•  ItwastheOldTestamentequivalentoftheSecondWorldWar’s“AirRaidWarden,”thepersonwhosoundedthealarmasbombersapproachedsothatthepeoplecouldfleetothesafetyoftheshelters.•  Inthiscase,the“enemy”ofwhomthepeoplehavetobewareisnoneotherthanYahwehhimself•  Ezekielisawatchmanofmatteroflifeordeath:thefocushereisonEzekiel’sresponsibilitytopreachtoall,regardlessoftheirresponse.Heisnottopreachtoindividualsandthesearetwoclassesofpeople.

Two type of persons, four different cases Awickedpersondoesevil Arighteouspersonturnsevil•  WhenIsaytoawickedperson,‘Youwill

surelydie,’and

•  (1)youdonotwarnthemorspeakouttodissuadethemfromtheirevilwaysinordertosavetheirlife,•  thatwickedpersonwilldiefortheirsin,

and•  Iwillholdyouaccountablefortheir

blood.•  (2)Butifyoudowarnthewickedpersonand

theydonotturnfromtheirwickednessorfromtheirevilways,•  theywilldiefortheirsin;•  butyouwillhavesavedyourself.

•  Again,whenarighteouspersonturnsfromtheirrighteousnessanddoesevil,andIputastumblingblockbeforethem,theywilldie.

•  (1)Sinceyoudidnotwarnthem,•  theywilldiefortheirsin.Therighteous

thingsthatpersondidwillnotberemembered,

•  andIwillholdyouaccountablefortheirblood.

•  (2)Butifyoudowarntherighteouspersonnottosinandtheydonotsin,•  theywillsurelylivebecausetheytook

warning,•  andyouwillhavesavedyourself.

The watchman: Christians today are watchman and God’s messenger •  ThosewhorepudiatethecovenantstandunderthejudgmentofGod

•  Anindividualisresponsibleforhisorherownguilt•  Thewagesofsinisdeath

•  ThetaskofEzekiel,asawatchman,istodelivertotheaccusedYahweh’slegaldecision–thedeathsentence(alsoRomans3:23)

•  ThevoiceofthewatchmansymbolizesthegraceofGodreachingouttothoseunderthedeathsentence-repentandwillbesaved•  Theprophethasanawesomeresponsibilityofthelifeanddeathofthepeopleheischargedtominister•  Theprophetiscallednottosuccessbuttofaithfulness

•  WhentheprophetfaithfullyannouncedGod’smessage,heisnotresponsibleforthedeathofthewicked,butalsonotcreditedwhenlivesaresaved.

3:22-27 The initiation of Ezekiel

•  ThehandoftheLordwasonmethere,andhesaidtome,“Getupandgoouttotheplain,andthereIwillspeaktoyou.”SoIgotupandwentouttotheplain.AndthegloryoftheLordwasstandingthere,likethegloryIhadseenbytheKebarRiver,andIfellfacedown.•  ThentheSpiritcameintomeandraisedmetomyfeet.Hespoketomeandsaid:“Go,shutyourselfinsideyourhouse.Andyou,sonofman,theywilltiewithropes;youwillbeboundsothatyoucannotgooutamongthepeople.Iwillmakeyourtonguesticktotheroofofyourmouthsothatyouwillbesilentandunabletorebukethem,fortheyarearebelliouspeople.ButwhenIspeaktoyou,Iwillopenyourmouthandyoushallsaytothem,‘ThisiswhattheSovereignLordsays.’Whoeverwilllistenletthemlisten,andwhoeverwillrefuseletthemrefuse;fortheyarearebelliouspeople.

The prophetic figure • WhatimagerycomestoourmindwhenwesaysomeoneisaprophetintheOT?•  Awide-eyemandeliveringamessagefromGodinathunderingvoiceregardlessofhowpeoplereacttoit?•  LouiseBerkhof:AprophetisGod’srepresentativewiththepeople,andthepriestistherepresentativeofthepeoplewithGod•  Infact,bothofficesareoftentogether.Theprophetoftenintercedesforthepeople(Moses,Jeremiah)•  ButEzekielisnotallowedtointercedeforhispeople.Indeed,hewasnotevenallowedtospeak(hewillbedumbforaperiodoftime,howlong?)•  HowwouldwethinkofEzekielifheweredoingthesamethingashewasintheBookofEzekieltoday?

Ezekiel’s calling ends with his speechless

•  EzekielwasbroughtintotheheavenlycourttoseethegloryofGod(1:4-28a)•  Hethenreceivedhiscommissionandwasoutfittedwiththeresourcesnecessaryfordealingwithrejection(2:28b-3:11)•  HehasheardYahweh’schargetofaithfulwatchmanduty(3:16-21)•  Nowwhatremainsistheritualinitiationintothepropheticoffice,whichstrangelystifleshisfreedomofexpressionratherthanliberatingit.Takingatfacevalue,Ezekielremainsdumb(physicalormetaphorical?)formorethan7years,fromoneweekafterhisinauguralvision(5thyearoftheexile,1:3;3:16)tothedayhereceivesthenewsthatJerusalemhadfallen(12thyearofexile,announcedin24:27;happenedin33:21-22)• Why7years?

Constraints on Ezekiel

• Go,shutyourselfinsideyourhouse.Andyou,sonofman,theywilltiewithropes;youwillbeboundsothatyoucannotgooutamongthepeople.Iwillmakeyourtonguesticktotheroofofyourmouthsothatyouwillbesilentandunabletorebukethem,fortheyarearebelliouspeople.•  Ifhisisolationisself-inflicted(shutyourself),hecouldhaveendeditwhenhechose•  Ifitisinflictedbyothers(they),hecouldhaveescaped•  Buthere,itisplacedonhimbyhimself,byothersandbyGod,thus,thereisnoescape

• WhyalltheseconstraintsonEzekiel?Whymadehimdumb?

Why is Ezekiel so constrained?

•  Thebondsbindhimmorecloselytotheexiles,how?•  Bondagewasatypicalimageofthefateoftheexiles(Isa.49:9;61:1)

•  Italsoservesasarealrestrictionofhisproclamation.Hemaynotgowherehewishestogoorspeakwhathewishestospeak.HeisentirelythemouthpieceofGod–awatchmanfortheannouncementoftheimpendingjudgment,butunabletoavertitinanyway.

What is the nature of Ezekiel’s dumbness?

•  Physiologicalormetaphorical?Permanentoftemporary?Totalorpartial?•  Aliteraryunderstandingofhissilence

•  Adivinely-imposedsilenceoratleastacallforvoluntaryself-imposedsilence(tohaveone’stonguesticktoone’spalate,v.26a)doesnotrequireanirreversiblephysiologicalcondition(cf.Job29:10,avoluntaryspeechlessnessarisingoutofrespectforJob).

•  Buttheprophetfrequentlyaddresshisaudienceorally,deliveringmessagesthathereceivesfromYahweh–atemporarysuspensionofthemaladyorvoluntaryutterancesoftheoracleofGodonlywhenneeded(v.27a).Hisverbalandnonverbalbehaviouristobegovernedcompletelybythedivinewill.

•  Also,whenpeoplecometoEzekielforamessagefromYahweh(8:1;14:1-4;20:1)andwhenpeoplerequestexplanationofhissign-acts(12:9;21:7;24:19),thereisanexpectationthathecanspeaktothem.

•  EzekielisnottointercedeforIsraelbutanaccuser/prosecutor,becauseoftheirpersistentrebellion.Thetimeforintercessionhaspassed.HemustspeakonlywhenGodhasamessageforhimtodeclare.

What could it mean for today?

• WeneedtoknowthatGod’spatienceis,likeEzekiel’stime,runningoutandtheaxcanfallatanytime•  SogreatisIsrael’ssinthatEzekielisnotallowedtobeamediatorbetweenYahwehandIsrael.ThoughitmayhaveseemedthatGod’smercyandlovetowardsIsraelissothathewouldneverjudgethem,nowthatthesentencehasbeenannounceditwillfallsoswiftlyandterriblythatitmayseemthatyouwouldratherfallonyourearthlyenemy’shandsthanonYahweh’s.

• GodiscallingEzekieltobehismessengerandwatchman,andsoarewe.Andwestillhaveachancetobeamediator•  2Cor5:20“WearethereforeChrist’sambassadors,asthoughGodweremakinghisappealthroughus.WeimploreyouonChrist’sbehalf:BereconciledtoGod”