Scripture

“I am requiring you to bear Israel’s sins for 390 days, one day for each year of their sin. After that, turn over and lie on your right side for 40 days, one day for each year of Judah’s sins.”

Observation

The Lord tells Ezekiel to take a large clay brick and draw a map of Jerusalem on it. He is to lay out a model of an invading army.

Next, Ezekiel is to lie on his left side for 390 days. This will represent him bearing the sins of Israel over 390 years. He is to move to his right side for 40 days to bear the sins of Judah for 40 years.

Prior to this, he is to get some grains and produce bread to sustain him over this time. The amounts stated are siege rations, that is, just enough to sustain life.

The Lord tells Ezekiel he is to cook this bread over a fire of human dung. Ezekiel protests that this would make him defiled and he has never done anything to defile himself. The Lord relents and allows him to cook using cow dung.

The Lord says that a siege is coming and food and water will be severely rationed.

Application

These actions by Ezekiel are described as prophetic sign acts. They are a visual depiction of what God is about to do.

Ministry and christian life are not intended to make us comfortable, much less wealthy. The gospel must define us and constrain our behaviour. There are things we must do and places we must go at the Lord’s command. There will be things we are not permitted and places we must not go because the Lord requires it. Christianity is living for our Lord and not living our best life for ourselves.

Listen

Lord, Ezekiel had a very unusual ministry. What can I learn from him?

Keith, Ezekiel, like the other great disciples of history, was totally surrendered to my purposes. His life was mine, so it was not a burden for him to perform this visual message over that time scale.

People sing songs that say “All for Jesus,” but rarely understand what that actually means for them. Following in my ways must be more than a nice song, more than a theory. Every follower must take up their cross every day and surrender every ambition back to me.

Scripture

“Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says.’”

Observation,

The Lord tells Ezekiel to eat the scroll with the words on both sides So he eats it, finding that it tastes sweet.

The Lord says to Ezekiel that he is not sending him to a foreign people whose language he does not understand. Those people would listen to the Lord’s message. The people of Israel will not listen to Ezekiel because they are stubborn.

The Lord tells Ezekiel that he is to take the Lord’s words deep into his heart to speak them with conviction.

The Lord then takes Ezekiel to the colony of exiles at Tel Abib. After seven days the Lord commissions him to be a watchman. If he fails to deliver the Lord’s message to the people, he will be accountable for this. But if he warns righteous people to repent of their sins, he will not be responsible.

Ezekiel is to go to his house where the Lord says he is to remain. He will not be able to go out or to speak until the Lord gives him a word.

Application,

Ezekiel is told by the Lord to let the Lord’s words sink deep into his heart. This is an exhortation for all christians, but especially for those in ministry.

Too often, we are content to have a surface level knowledge of God’s word. Some may even have a wide knowledge of the word. How often I have listened to preachers who know a lot about God’s word, but it isn’t in their hearts.

The Lord wants all of us to read the scriptures, to learn them, meditate on them, and to let them go deep into our hearts.

You can’t do that with a five minute devotional that lets you tick the box. We must learn to eat the word and let it go deep.

Listen

Lord, it is such a privilege to have your word so available. Is there more you want to say to me today?

It delights me when my people go deep in my word. The story of Mary Jones and countless others is true. She was not able to read at all, but she could read the Bible. This is because I taught her. She had the faith to hear my Spirit, and I showed her the words and what they meant.

True disciples are hungry for my presence and for my word. For the person who truly loves me, it never gets stale as you yourself know.

Scripture

“You must give them my messages whether they listen or not, but they will not listen for they are completely rebellious.”

Observation

The Spirit of the Lord comes into Ezekiel and tells him that he is being sent to the nation of Israel, which is rebelling against the Lord,

They are a stubborn and rebellious people, but the Lord is sending Ezekiel to them. He is to proclaim, “This is the word of the sovereign Lord” Whether they listen or not, Ezekiel must speak.

He is not to be afraid or dismayed, even when the threats and emotional reactions surround him. He must give the message, even though they will not respond,

Ezekiel looks and sees a hand coming towards him. The hand holds a scroll which the Lord unrolls. Both sides of the scroll are covered in funeral songs, words of sorrow and pronouncements of doom,

Application

What a call Ezekiel received from the Lord! Go and speak even though the people will not listen.

Many pastors and evangelists suffer the same experience. You preach the gospel day in and day out. The word seems ineffective for 90% of the people, but this one man or one woman responds and it makes it all seem worthwhile,

Christians are to be obedient to the call of God and not be anxious about the response of people. We plant the seeds of God’s word, but God is responsible to make the seeds grow.

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me about this passage?

Keith, I describe my people is being rebellious. This is true of all people. Adam’s sin has corrupted all of humanity,

Yet every person bears my image. For some, the image shines through the rebellious nature and those people hear my voice and return to me,

Do not become discouraged by the rebellious nature of people. Walk closely to me and look to my ways.