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Ezekiel’s Call, continued

Warning to Israel

Ezekiel 3:1-27



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Warning to Israel

Text:

Ezekiel 3:1-27,

1. And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this

scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.”

2. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3. Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you

and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as

honey in my mouth.

4. He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel

and speak my words to them.

5. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult

language, but to the house of Israel—

6. not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language,

whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to

them, they would have listened to you.

7. But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they

are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is

hardened and obstinate.



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8. But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.

9. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than

flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are

a rebellious house.”

10. And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to

heart all the words I speak to you.

11. Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to

them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’ whether they listen

or fail to listen.”

12. Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud

rumbling sound—May the glory of the LORD be praised in his

dwelling place!—

13. the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against

each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling

sound.

14. The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in

bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the

LORD upon me.

15. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River.

And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven

days—overwhelmed.

16. At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me:

17. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of

Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.



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18. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do

not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in

order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will

hold you accountable for his blood.

19. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from

his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you

will have saved yourself.

20. “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and

does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since

you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he

did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his

blood.

21. But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not

sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have

saved yourself.”

22. The hand of the LORD was upon me there, and he said to me,

“Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.”

23. So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD

was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River,

and I fell facedown.

24. Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke

to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house.

25. And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound

so that you cannot go out among the people.

26. I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that

you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a

rebellious house.



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27. But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall

say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ Whoever will

listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they

are a rebellious house. (NIV 1984)

Introduction:

I. “Once again, Yahweh reminds Ezekiel that his hardened and obstinate

audience will refuse to listen.” (Hamilton)

A. “To help, Yahweh will make him as unyielding and hardened as

they are, impervious to ridicule.” (Hamilton)

B. “Yahweh commands Ezekiel to ‘go now to your countrymen in

exile and speak to them’ and removes him from the visionary

throne room…” (Hamilton)

II. “In a rare self reference, Ezekiel admits his deep bitterness and anger

at Yahweh’s heavy handedness.” (Hamilton)

A. Ezekiel remained silent for seven days at the end of which

Yahweh gave him an ultimatum; that is, Ezekiel was irrevocably

made a watchman for the house of Israel and Ezekiel’s life

depended on his response. (Hamilton)

B. “Yahweh will hold Ezekiel accountable for the blood of those

he does not warn and will deliver them if he does warn them.”

(Hamilton)

C. Ezekiel fell facedown before the glory of the Lord and he

agreed to obey the commands of Yahweh. (Hamilton)

D. Ezekiel now yielded himself totally to the will of the Lord.



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III. McGee observed that God needed different personalities for different

situations.

A. “Jeremiah was the prophet of the broken heart, tears often

streaming from his eyes,” McGee wrote.

B. Jeremiah let the people know it was breaking God’s heart to

send them into captivity. (McGee)

C. “Now the people have gone into captivity, and they are bitter

and rebellious.” The temple was still standing and Jerusalem had

not been destroyed. The false prophets were telling them they were

God’s people and that they would soon return home.” (McGee)

D. For such people and such a circumstance, God raised up a

prophet such as Ezekiel. (See McGee.)

IV. Coffman wrote, “In this chapter we have,…

(A) Ezekiel’s being commanded to eat the roll of the book (vv. 1-

3);…

(B) God promises Ezekiel power to overcome the difficulties of his

mission (vv. 4-9);…

(C) Ezekiel is brought to the place where he is to labor (vv. 10-

15);…

(D) Ezekiel is warned of his responsibility for the souls entrusted

to his watchfulness (vv. 16-21); and…

(E) The conclusion (the third phase) of Ezekiel’s divine

commission to Israel (vv. 22-27).



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Commentary:


Ezekiel 3:1, And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you,

eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.” (NIV 1984)

I. And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this

scroll;…

A. Smith wrote that Ezekiel was to make God’s word part of

himself before he tried to share it with the house of Israel.

1. We are also to live God’s word before we preach it to

others.

2. Someone said, “I can’t hear what you say because what

you do thunders so loudly in my ears.”

3. God was saying, “Receive my word – let it enter into your

soul; digest it – let it be your nourishment; and let it be your

meat and drink to do the will of your Father who is in

heaven.” (Clarke)

B. As commanded, Ezekiel ate the scroll, made the words written

on it a part of his very being. (McGee)

C. McGee stated the “Son of Man” title suggests the pain Ezekiel

would experience as a human in the discharge of his very difficult

duties God had assigned him.

D. This command is a reiteration of the command in Ezekiel 2:8 in

which Ezekiel was told, “Do not rebel,” which may indicate that

Ezekiel was reluctant to obey.



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1. Ezekiel 2:8, But you, son of man, listen to what I say to

you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your

mouth and eat what I give you.” (NIV 1984)

II. then go and speak to the house of Israel.”

A. Ezekiel’s willingness to obey is being sorely tested.

1. His choices were to disobey the sovereign of the universe

or to embark on a very difficult, unpleasant course of action.

(See Fredenburg.)

2. McGee rightly declared, “No man ought to preach the

Word whose heart is not in it and who doesn’t believe every

word he says.” (The Pulpit Commentary)

3. Revelation 22:18-19, I warn everyone who hears the

words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds

anything to them, God will add to him the plagues

described in this book. And if anyone takes words away

from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him

his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are

described in this book. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 3:2, So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

(NIV 1984)

I. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

A. Smith further wrote, “The message was not forced on Ezekiel;

he willingly received it.”

B. This was a vision and the scroll was symbolically rather than

literally eaten. (Fredenburg)



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1. Jeremiah 15:16, When your words came, I ate them;

they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your

name, O LORD God Almighty. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 3:3, Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am

giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as

sweet as honey in my mouth. (NIV 1984)

I. Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and

fill your stomach with it.”

A. Ezekiel was to totally devour the words of God on the scroll,

not just “nibble” at them.

1. Coffman wrote that he did not believe there was any

hesitation or reluctance to eat the scroll.

II. So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.”

A. Smith wrote that Ezekiel did not delight in the morbid thrust of

his message, but he did rejoice in the fact that God had chosen him

as a recipient of this divine revelation.

1. Coffman wrote, “It is sweet to do the will of God and to be

entrusted with tasks for him.”

a. Of course, the sad message he was to deliver was not

sweet.

B. The words tasted as sweet as honey.

1. Psalm 19:7-11, The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are

trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the

LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands



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of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear

of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of

the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are

more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are

sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them

is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great

reward. (NIV 1984)

2. Psalm 119:103, How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth! (NIV 1984)

3. Proverbs 24:13, Eat honey, my son, for it is good;

honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. (NIV 1984)

4. Jeremiah 15:16, When your words came, I ate them;

they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your

name, O LORD God Almighty. (NIV 1984)

5. Revelation 10:9, So I went to the angel and asked him

to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat

it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it

will be as sweet as honey.” (NIV 1984)

C. “Writing down prophetic oracles soon after they were received

was common practice,” Fredenburg wrote.

1. Isaiah 30:8-10, Go now, write it on a tablet for them,

inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be

an everlasting witness. These are rebellious people,

deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the

LORD’s instruction. They say to the seers, “See no more

visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of

what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.

(NIV 1984)



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2. Jeremiah 36:1-32, In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son

of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from

the LORD: “Take a scroll and write on it all the words I

have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the

other nations from the time I began speaking to you in

the reign of Josiah till now. Perhaps when the people of

Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them,

each of them will turn from his wicked way; then I will

forgive their wickedness and their sin.” So Jeremiah

called Baruch son of Neriah, and while Jeremiah dictated

all the words the LORD had spoken to him, Baruch wrote

them on the scroll. Then Jeremiah told Baruch, “I am

restricted; I cannot go to the LORD’s temple. So you go

to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting and read to

the people from the scroll the words of the LORD that

you wrote as I dictated. Read them to all the people of

Judah who come in from their towns. Perhaps they will

bring their petition before the LORD, and each will turn

from his wicked ways, for the anger and wrath

pronounced against this people by the LORD are great.”

Baruch son of Neriah did everything Jeremiah the

prophet told him to do; at the LORD’s temple he read the

words of the LORD from the scroll. In the ninth month of

the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a

time of fasting before the LORD was proclaimed for all

the people in Jerusalem and those who had come from the

towns of Judah. From the room of Gemariah son of

Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper courtyard

at the entrance of the New Gate of the temple, Baruch

read to all the people at the LORD’s temple the words of

Jeremiah from the scroll. When Micaiah son of

Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the

LORD from the scroll, he went down to the secretary’s

room in the royal palace, where all the officials were

sitting: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah son of Shemaiah,



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Elnathan son of Acbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan,

Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.

After Micaiah told them everything he had heard Baruch

read to the people from the scroll, all the officials sent

Jehudi son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of

Cushi, to say to Baruch, “Bring the scroll from which you

have read to the people and come.” So Baruch son of

Neriah went to them with the scroll in his hand. They said

to him, “Sit down, please, and read it to us.” So Baruch

read it to them. When they heard all these words, they

looked at each other in fear and said to Baruch, “We

must report all these words to the king.” Then they asked

Baruch, “Tell us, how did you come to write all this? Did

Jeremiah dictate it?” “Yes,” Baruch replied, “he dictated

all these words to me, and I wrote them in ink on the

scroll.” Then the officials said to Baruch, “You and

Jeremiah, go and hide. Don’t let anyone know where you

are.” After they put the scroll in the room of Elishama the

secretary, they went to the king in the courtyard and

reported everything to him. The king sent Jehudi to get

the scroll, and Jehudi brought it from the room of

Elishama the secretary and read it to the king and all the

officials standing beside him. It was the ninth month and

the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire

burning in the firepot in front of him. Whenever Jehudi

had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut

them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the

firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. The

king and all his attendants who heard all these words

showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. Even

though Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king

not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.

Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the

king, Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel

to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet.



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But the LORD had hidden them. After the king burned

the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written

at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the LORD came to

Jeremiah: “Take another scroll and write on it all the

words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king

of Judah burned up. Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah,

‘This is what the LORD says: You burned that scroll and

said, “Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon

would certainly come and destroy this land and cut off

both men and animals from it?” Therefore, this is what

the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will

have no one to sit on the throne of David; his body will be

thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost

by night. I will punish him and his children and his

attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and

those living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every

disaster I pronounced against them, because they have

not listened.’” So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave

it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah

dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll

that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And

many similar words were added to them. (NIV 1984)

D. Feinberg via Coffman stated, “He who gives forth the Word of

the Lord must feed on it himself.”

E. For a similar passage, see Revelation 10.

1. Revelation 10: 1-11, Then I saw another mighty angel

coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with

a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and

his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little

scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right

foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a

loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the



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voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven

thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice

from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have

said and do not write it down.” Then the angel I had seen

standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand

to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and

ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the

earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it,

and said, “There will be no more delay! But in the days

when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the

mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he

announced to his servants the prophets.” Then the voice

that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more:

“Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel

who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to

the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He

said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach

sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” I

took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It

tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had

eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, “You

must prophesy again about many peoples, nations,

languages and kings.” (NIV 1984)

Note: Ezekiel was commissioned as a preacher, an observer, a

watchman, and a prisoner. (Smith)

Ezekiel as a Preacher

Ezekiel 3:4, He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the house of

Israel and speak my words to them. (NIV 1984)

I. He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and

speak my words to them.



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A. This command was urgent: “go now.”

B. This “son of man” (Ezekiel) is similar in a number of ways to

Jesus Christ, the ultimate “son of man.”

1. Matthew 15:24, He answered, “I was sent only to the

lost sheep of Israel.” (NIV 1984)

2. John 15:20, Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No

servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me,

they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching,

they will obey yours also. (NIV 1984)

3. Matthew 11:21-24, “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you,

Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you

had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have

repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it

will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of

judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be

lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.

If the miracles that were performed in you had been

performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on

the day of judgment than for you.” (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 3:5, You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech

and difficult language, but to the house of Israel— (NIV 1984)

I. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult

language, but to the house of Israel - …

A. Ezekiel was to preach to the Jewish exiles gathered in Babylon,

not to a distant heathen people of a strange language such as the

Chaldeans, the Medes and Persians or others of another language.



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B. The people to whom Ezekiel spoke understood the language.

1. Understanding was not the problem.

2. The problem was their hardened and obstinate hearts!

3. Ezekiel did not have to study a foreign language as many

missionaries do to obey this command.

4. Those who spoke other languages would be more likely to

obey Ezekiel’s preaching than the obstinate exiles.

a. Matthew 15:24, He answered, “I was sent only to

the lost sheep of Israel.” (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 3:6, not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult

language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent

you to them, they would have listened to you. (NIV 1984)

I. not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose

words you cannot understand.

A. Ezekiel’s mission was to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel”

which would prove to be more difficult than preaching to non-

Israelites. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

1. Matthew 15:24, He answered, “I was sent only to the

lost sheep of Israel.” (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel was not sent to many peoples, nations and races,

but only to one and not to all of them, just to exiles in

Babylon.

II. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.



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A. God said foreign heathens would have been more likely than the

rebellious exiles to listen to and heed Ezekiel’s preaching.

1. Matthew 11:21-24, “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you,

Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you

had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have

repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it

will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of

judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be

lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.

If the miracles that were performed in you had been

performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on

the day of judgment than for you.” (NIV 1984)

2. Luke 10:12-14, I tell you, it will be more bearable on

that day for Sodom than for that town. “Woe to you,

Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that

were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and

Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in

sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre

and Sidon at the judgment than for you. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 3:7, But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you

because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of

Israel is hardened and obstinate. (NIV 1984)

I. But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are

not willing to listen to me,…

A. God warned Ezekiel that the house of Israel would not listen.

1. Smith wrote, “The preacher should never take rejection

personally.”



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2. However, it is hard to react impersonally and

unemotionally to being called into the office and being told,

“Your services are no longer needed after tonight.”

3. Rebellious Israel had not listened to God and they would

not listen to Ezekiel, but Ezekiel had to warn them of the

consequences of their sins anyway. (McGee)

B. The words Ezekiel spoke were to be exactly the same as the

words God had told Ezekiel to speak.

II. for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate (impudent and

hard-hearted).

A. Ezekiel would not just encounter occasional pockets of

resistance here and there.

1. He would meet one hundred percent (100%) opposition

every where he went! (See McGee.)

Ezekiel 3:8, But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they

are. (NIV 1984)

I. But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.

A. “God promised to equip Ezekiel emotionally and intellectually

to deal with the anticipated rejection,” Smith wrote. “…for certain

persecution and rejection.” (Fredenburg)

1. Fredenburg wrote, “Yahweh will create an inner

disposition in Ezekiel making him impervious to emotional

pain.”

2. Ezekiel would be prepared to prevail. (The Pulpit

Commentary)



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Ezekiel 3:9, I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder

than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they

are a rebellious house.” (NIV 1984)

I. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint.

A. If the Israelites were hard as flint, God would make Ezekiel as

hard as diamonds, Smith wrote.

1. Jeremiah 17:1, “Judah’s sin is engraved with an iron

tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their

hearts and on the horns of their altars. (NIV 1984)

B. Evidence of the accomplishment of this promise includes,

Fredenburg wrote, the ease with which he obeyed God’s

commands and his being able, as commanded, to endure the death

of his beloved wife without weeping.

1. Ezekiel 24:18, So I spoke to the people in the morning,

and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did

as I had been commanded. (NIV 1984)

2. Zechariah 7:12, They made their hearts as hard as flint

and would not listen to the law or to the words that the

LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the

earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.

(NIV 1984)

II. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a

rebellious house.”

A. The Pulpit Commentary sees in this passage a reference to

Ezekiel’s sensitivity.



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1. Ezekiel “had shrunk not only from the threats and reviling

of the rebellious house, but even from their scowls of hatred.

B. For this reason the Lord intervened and made him resistant to

opposition, made him harder than the hardest stone, able to

withstand all manner of resistance from the obstinate Israelite

exiles. (The Pulpit Commentary)

Ezekiel as a Watchman

Ezekiel 3:10, And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and

take to heart all the words I speak to you. (NIV 1984)

I. And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all

the words I speak to you.

A. Ezekiel was required to know God’s word. He was then to

preach it!

1. Ezekiel and we are to listen carefully to everything God

has to say and to take to heart all the words the Lord speaks!

2. Not one jot or tittle is to be added or subtracted!

3. Ezekiel, Paul and we must preach “the whole counsel of

God.”

a. Acts 20:27, For I have not hesitated to proclaim to

you the whole will of God. (NIV 1984)

B. All of God’s word is to be taken into our hearts, cherished there,

lived and preached.

1. Out of the abundance of our hearts our mouths are to

speak!



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Ezekiel 3:11, Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to

them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’

whether they listen or fail to listen.” (NIV 1984)

I. Go now to your countrymen (people) in exile and speak to them.

A. Ezekiel was also to know the people to whom he was to preach.

(Smith)

B. Coffman observed that God did not here say “my people,” but

“your people” indicating that God had rejected Israel from being

his people.

1. Hosea 9:15, “Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I

hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds, I will

drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them; all

their leaders are rebellious. (NIV 1984)

C. Ezekiel was sent to his countrymen (Israelites), but not to all of

them.

1. He was sent only to his countrymen who were exiles in

Babylon.

a. Ezekiel 2:3, 4, 7, He said: “Son of man, I am

sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation

that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers

have been in revolt against me to this very day. The

people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and

stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign

LORD says.’ You must speak my words to them,

whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are

rebellious. (NIV 1984)



22

b. Ezekiel 3:1,4, And he said to me, “Son of man, eat

what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak

to the house of Israel.” He then said to me: “Son of

man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my

words to them. (NIV 1984)

II. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they

listen or fail to listen.”

A. Ezekiel is to speak God’s word with enthusiasm even to a non-

responsive, oppositional audience.

B. The exiles believed they were being justly punished, but they

thought their punishment would be short lived and would be

followed by a glorious new era. (Fredenburg)

1. Hosea 6:1-3, “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has

torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but

he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive

us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in

his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press

on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will

appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the

spring rains that water the earth.” (NIV 1984)

2. Jeremiah 28:1-4, In the fifth month of that same year,

the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of

Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was

from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the

presence of the priests and all the people: “This is what

the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break

the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will

bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD’s

house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed

from here and took to Babylon. I will also bring back to



23

this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and

all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’

declares the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king

of Babylon.’”

3. Jeremiah 30:1-24, This is the word that came to

Jeremiah from the LORD: “This is what the LORD, the

God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have

spoken to you. The days are coming,’ declares the LORD,

‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from

captivity and restore them to the land I gave their

forefathers to possess,’ says the LORD.” These are the

words the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah:

“This is what the LORD says: “‘Cries of fear are heard—

terror, not peace. Ask and see: Can a man bear children?

Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his

stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned deathly

pale? How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It

will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved

out of it. “‘In that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I

will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their

bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. Instead,

they will serve the LORD their God and David their king,

whom I will raise up for them. “‘So do not fear, O Jacob

my servant; do not be dismayed, O Israel,’ declares the

LORD. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your

descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again

have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.

I am with you and will save you,’ declares the LORD.

‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among

which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I

will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you

go entirely unpunished.’ “This is what the LORD says:

“‘Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing.

There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your



24

sore, no healing for you. All your allies have forgotten

you; they care nothing for you. I have struck you as an

enemy would and punished you as would the cruel,

because your guilt is so great and your sins so many. Why

do you cry out over your wound, your pain that has no

cure? Because of your great guilt and many sins I have

done these things to you. “‘But all who devour you will be

devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who

plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you

I will despoil. But I will restore you to health and heal

your wounds,’ declares the LORD, ‘because you are

called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’ “This is

what the LORD says: “‘I will restore the fortunes of

Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the

city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand

in its proper place. From them will come songs of

thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to

their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will

bring them honor, and they will not be disdained. Their

children will be as in days of old, and their community

will be established before me; I will punish all who

oppress them. Their leader will be one of their own; their

ruler will arise from among them. I will bring him near

and he will come close to me, for who is he who will

devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the LORD.

“‘So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’” See,

the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a driving

wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. The fierce

anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully

accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come

you will understand this. (NIV 1984)

C. Ezekiel dispelled these false ideas and replaced them with

accurate expectations.



25

Ezekiel 3:12, Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a

loud rumbling sound—May the glory of the LORD be praised in his

dwelling place!— (NIV 1984)

I. Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling

sound— …

A. Clarke explained, “All the living creatures and the wheels being

then in motion.”

B. Related Scriptures:

1. Ezekiel 8:3, He stretched out what looked like a

hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit

lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of

God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north

gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to

jealousy stood. (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel 11:1, Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought

me to the gate of the house of the Lord that faces east.

There at the entrance to the gate were twenty-five men,

and I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and

Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people. (NIV 1984)

3. 1 Kings 18:12, I don’t know where the Spirit of

the LORD may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell

Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your

servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth. (NIV

1984)

4. 2 Kings 2:16, “Look,” they said, “we your servants

have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your

master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him

up and set him down on some mountain or in some



26

valley.” “No,” Elisha replied, “do not send them.” (NIV

1984)

5. Mark 1:12, At once the Spirit sent him out into the

desert, (NIV 1984)

6. Acts 8:39, When they came up out of the water, the

Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the

eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way

rejoicing. (NIV 1984)

7. 1 Kings 18:46, The power of the Lord came upon

Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of

Ahab all the way to Jezreel. (NIV 1984)

II. May the glory of the Lord be praised in his dwelling place— …

A. The NRSV, RSN, NEB, and REB follow an emendation of the

Hebrew text that permits the reading, “and the glory of Yahweh

rose from its place.” (Fredenburg)

Ezekiel 3:13, the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing

against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud

rumbling sound. (NIV 1984)

I. the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each

other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound.

A. “All the living creatures and the wheels were then in motion.”

(Clarke)

Ezekiel 3:14, The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I

went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong

hand of the LORD upon me. (NIV 1984)



27

I. The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in

bitterness (wrath, fury) and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong

hand of the Lord upon me.

A. Ezekiel was remorseful because he was taken from the glorious

site of his call and transported to the location where he was to

preach to the obstinate and rebellious exiles. (See Smith.)

B. All of our lives cannot be spent on the mountain tops. Time also

must be spent in the valleys of life.

C. Ezekiel was angered at the sins of the exiles, but was

strengthened by the strong hand of the Lord upon him. (See

Smith.)

D. Ezekiel was deeply angered at his being conscripted to preach

to the rebellious exiles. (Fredenburg)

1. He was bitter and really angry!

2. Compare the bitterness of this verse with Revelation 10:9-

10, So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the

little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn

your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet

as honey.” I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand

and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but

when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. (NIV 1984)

3. “Whatever the cause of Ezekiel’s bitterness, he was

overwhelmed when he came to Tel-Abib; and it appears to

have taken a full week for him to get over it,” Coffman

wrote.

E. Regarding the “hand of the Lord,” see:



28

1. Ezra 7:9, He had begun his journey from Babylon on

the first day of the first month, and he arrived in

Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the

gracious hand of his God was on him. (NIV 1984)

2. Ezra 8:18, Because the gracious hand of our God was

on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from

the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel,

and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 men; (NIV 1984)

3. Nehemiah 2:8, And may I have a letter to Asaph,

keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to

make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and

for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And

because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the

king granted my requests. (NIV 1984)

4. Daniel 10:18, Again the one who looked like a man

touched me and gave me strength. (NIV 1984)

5. 2 Kings 3:15, But now bring me a harpist.” While the

harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came upon

Elisha (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 3:15, I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the

Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them

for seven days—overwhelmed. (NIV 1984)

I. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib (mound of ears of corn,

mound of the storm flood, hill of the deluge or hill of quiet) near the

Kebar River.

A. The Spirit guided Ezekiel to the residences of the exiles at Tel

Abib near the Kebar River.



29

B. “Tel” is commonly applied to the mounds formed out of masses

of ruins, which are common all over the plains of Mesopotamia.

(The Pulpit Commentary)

II. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven

days— overwhelmed.

A. Astounded, Ezekiel sat among the exiles seven days—

overwhelmed.

1. Job 2:13, Then they sat on the ground with him for

seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to

him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

2. Ezekiel 9:3-5, Now the glory of the God of Israel went

up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and

moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord

called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit

at his side and said to him, “Go throughout the city of

Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who

grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are

done in it. ” As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow

him through the city and kill, without showing pity or

compassion.

B. Smith wrote that Ezekiel needed to develop sympathy and

empathy with the exiles before he began to preach to them. He

needed to see these people as God saw them.

1. Smith further wrote, “This was a time of reflection and

observation such as many great men of God experienced

prior to launching their ministries.”



30

2. During this period of meditation Ezekiel’s attitude toward

his mission was changed.

C. Coffman wrote, “This period of silence in the presence of quiet,

suffering, or disaster was universally observed by comforters in

ancient times. A good example of this is seen in the case of the

friends of Job who came and sat with him, saying nothing at all.”

Warning to Israel

Ezekiel as a Watchman

Ezekiel 3:16, At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came

to me: (NIV 1984)

I. At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: …

A. Ezekiel sat seven days in silence among the exiles at the end of

which God gave him an ultimatum he could not refuse!

(Fredenburg)

B. The book of Ezekiel takes a decisive turn at this point from

resistance to compliance.

1. The ministry of Ezekiel can be divided into two sections;

viz., …

a. Part One: Ezekiel 3:16-24:27.

b. Part Two: Ezekiel 33:1-48:35.

C. God made it perfectly clear the Ezekiel’s very life depends on

whether or not he chooses to obey the Lord. (Fredenburg)

1. The same is true for us as well!



31

Ezekiel 3:17, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the

house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning

from me. (NIV 1984)

I. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; …

A. Ezekiel was to serve as a watchman, sentry.

1. “Whenever God spoke a threatening word against Israel,

Ezekiel was to warn his countrymen of the impending

danger,” Smith wrote.

a. Hebrews 13:17, Obey your leaders and submit to

their authority. They keep watch over you as men

who must give an account. Obey them so that their

work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be

of no advantage to you. (NIV 1984)

b. Psalm 127:1, A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor

in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the

watchmen stand guard in vain. (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel had an obligation to warn the people even if they

did not heed the warning. (Smith)

3. If Ezekiel did not warn the people, he would share their

guilt and punishment. (See Smith.)

4. Both major parts of his ministry begin with Ezekiel’s being

pictured as a watchman.

a. Ezekiel 3:16-21, At the end of seven days the word

of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, I have made



32

you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the

word I speak and give them warning from

me. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely

die, ’ and you do not warn him or speak out to

dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his

life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will

hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do

warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his

wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his

sin; but you will have saved yourself. “Again, when

a righteous man turns from his righteousness and

does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he

will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for

his sin. The righteous things he did will not be

remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his

blood. But if you do warn the righteous man not to

sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he

took warning, and you will have saved yourself. ”

(NIV 1984)

b. Ezekiel 33:1-9, The word of the Lord came to

me: “Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say

to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land,

and the people of the land choose one of their men

and make him their watchman, and he sees the

sword coming against the land and blows the

trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the

trumpet but does not take warning and the sword

comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own

head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but

did not take warning, his blood will be on his own

head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved

himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming

and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people

and the sword comes and takes the life of one of



33

them, that man will be taken away because of his

sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his

blood.’ “Son of man, I have made you a

watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I

speak and give them warning from me. When I say

to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die, ’

and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his

ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will

hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do

warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he

does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will

have saved yourself. (NIV 1984)

c. The first section addresses the destruction of Judah

and Jerusalem.

d. The second section addresses the restoration of the

people of Judah “to their home land, the temple and

their relationship with Yahweh.” (Fredenburg)

B. Other prophets have been presented as watchmen.

1. Isaiah 56:10, Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack

knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they

lie around and dream, they love to sleep. (NIV 1984)

2. Hosea 9:8, The prophet, along with my God, is the

watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his

paths, and hostility in the house of his God. (NIV 1984)

3. Jeremiah 6:17, I appointed watchmen over you and

said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said,

‘We will not listen.’ (NIV 1984)



34

4. Habakkuk 2:1, I will stand at my watch and station

myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will

say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

(NIV 1984)

5. Hebrews 13:17, Obey your leaders and submit to their

authority. They keep watch over you as men who must

give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a

joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to

you. (NIV 1984)

C. Watchmen were vitally important in those ancient days.

1. The watchmen manned their posts on the walls of the cities

and warned of approaching enemies, dangers.

2. To fail to warn the people of approaching danger was a

serious offense that would call for the execution of the

watchman.

II. so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

A. God, as a loving father, has punished his wicked children, but

he warns them of future problems if they don’t repent.

1. Isaiah 62:6, I have posted watchmen on your walls, O

Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You

who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, (NIV 1984)

2. Psalm 127:1, Unless the Lord builds the house, its

builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the

city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. (NIV 1984)

B. Only the exact word of God is to be preached!



35

1. Everything God commands is to be preached!

Ezekiel 3:18, When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and

you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil

ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin,

and I will hold you accountable for his blood. (NIV 1984)

I. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not

warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to

save his life, …

A. To save himself, Ezekiel has to warn the wicked and wayward

righteous of the result of their sinfulness.

1. By warning the wayward, Ezekiel would save himself

whether those to whom he spoke repented or not.

II. that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable

for his blood.

A. Our salvation and very lives require that we warn the sinner of

his evil ways.

B. Neglect of this duty surely will result in our destruction.

Ezekiel 3:19, But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not

turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his

sin; but you will have saved yourself. (NIV 1984)

I. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his

wickedness or from his evil ways, …

A. Our responsibility is to warn the wicked man of the evil and

consequences of his ways as effectively as we possibly can.



36

B. We are not responsible for his response to the warning, for

things beyond our control.

II. he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.

A. It is impossible to convert everyone.

1. Not everyone will believe and/or obey the gospel.

2. Our duty is to preach the gospel to every creature.

a. Failure to do this will condemn our souls.

b. We had better be up and about our Father’s business!

c. Negligence, sins of omission are deadly!

3. Ezekiel 33:1-20, The word of the Lord came to

me: “Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to

them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the

people of the land choose one of their men and make him

their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the

land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if

anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and

the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his

own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but

did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If

he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. But

if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow

the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and

takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away

because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman

accountable for his blood.’ “Son of man, I have made you

a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I

speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the



37

wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die, ’ and you do

not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked

man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable

for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn

from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his

sin, but you will have saved yourself. “Son of man, say to

the house of Israel, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our

offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting

away because of them. How then can we live? ”’ Say to

them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I

take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather

that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from

your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’

“Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, ‘The

righteousness of the righteous man will not save him

when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man

will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The

righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live

because of his former righteousness.’ If I tell the

righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts

in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous

things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the

evil he has done. And if I say to the wicked man, ‘You will

surely die,’ but he then turns away from his sin and does

what is just and right— if he gives back what he took in

pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the

decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live;

he will not die. None of the sins he has committed will be

remembered against him. He has done what is just and

right; he will surely live. “Yet your countrymen say, ‘The

way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not

just. If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and

does evil, he will die for it. And if a wicked man turns

away from his wickedness and does what is just and right,

he will live by doing so. Yet, O house of Israel, you say,



38

‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of

you according to his own ways.” (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 3: 20, “Again, when a righteous man turns from his

righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him,

he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The

righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you

accountable for his blood. (NIV 1984)

I. “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does

evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die.

A. We are responsible for our individual actions.

1. We are not saved as groups such as nations, races, etc.

2. Righteous men can turn from their righteousness and die!

a. Hebrews 6:4-5, It is impossible for those who have

once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly

gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have

tasted the goodness of the word of God and the

powers of the coming age, (NIV 1984)

b. Galatians 5:4, You who are trying to be justified

by law have been alienated from Christ; you have

fallen away from grace. (NIV 1984)

c. 1 Corinthians 10:12, So, if you think you are

standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (NIV

1984)

3. Coffman stated that God does not entice people to sin. …

Rather, the temptations of the righteous are under God’s

providential control.



39

a. God allows a person to be tempted.

b. James 1:13-15, When tempted, no one should say,

“God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted

by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is

tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged

away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived,

it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown,

gives birth to death. (NIV 1984)

c. God does not try to entice people to sin.

d. Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

e. God allows stumbling blocks to be placed on

occasion, but he does not purposefully intend to lead,

cause people to sin. (See Clarke.)

4. A stumbling block was a stone placed in a path for the

purpose of causing a person to trip and fall.

a. Ezekiel 7:19, They will throw their silver into the

streets, and their gold will be an unclean thing.

Their silver and gold will not be able to save them in

the day of the Lord’s wrath. They will not

satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it, for

it has made them stumble into sin. (NIV 1984)

b. Ezekiel 14:3-4, “Son of man, these men have set

up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling

blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire

of me at all? Therefore speak to them and tell them,

‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any

Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked



40

stumbling block before his face and then goes to a

prophet, I the Lord will answer him myself in

keeping with his great idolatry. (NIV 1984)

c. Jeremiah 6:21, Therefore this is what

the Lord says: “I will put obstacles before this

people. Fathers and sons alike will stumble over

them; neighbors and friends will perish.” (NIV

1984)

d. Leviticus 19:14, “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a

stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your

God. I am the Lord. (NIV 1984)

e. Isaiah 57:14, And it will be said: “Build up, build

up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of

the way of my people.” (NIV 1984)

f. Jeremiah 6:21, Therefore this is what

the Lord says: “I will put obstacles before this

people. Fathers and sons alike will stumble over

them; neighbors and friends will perish.” (NIV

1984)

II. Since you did not warn him. He will die for his sin.

A. Failure to warn the once righteous man of the consequences of

his apostasy will cause two deaths, that of the wayward once

righteous person and of the one who was charged with being his

watchman.

III. The righteous things he did will not be remembered and I will hold

you accountable for his blood.

A. This is totally regrettable!



41

B. All his prior good deeds will be forgotten. Only his

waywardness will be remembered!

1. This scribe is thinking of two preachers who allegedly had

affairs with church secretaries who were discharged from

their ministerial positions and who never preached again.

2. For what are they remembered?

Ezekiel 3:21, But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he

does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you

will have saved yourself.” (NIV 1984)

I. But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he

will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved

yourself.”

A. If Ezekiel warned the wayward righteous man of the error of his

way and he turned from his sinfulness, Ezekiel and the wayward

righteous man would both be saved!

B. The same is true of us as well.

Ezekiel as a Prisoner

Ezekiel 3:22, The hand of the LORD was upon me there, and he said

to me, “Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to

you.” (NIV 1984)

I. The hand (power) of the Lord was upon me there, and he said to me,

…

A. The powerful hand of the Lord was upon Ezekiel to guide him

in what he was to do, when and how!



42

B. God spoke to Ezekiel giving him instructions.

1. God instructs us in the Holy Scriptures!

II. “Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.”

A. The plain would be a remote place removed from observation

where God and Ezekiel could communicate privately. (See

Clarke.)

B. Ezekiel left the “tel” (mound) and went to the plain.

Ezekiel 3:23, So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of

the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the

Kebar River, and I fell facedown. (NIV 1984)

I. So I got up and went out to the plain (the valley).

A. God spoke and Ezekiel obeyed!

II. And the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory I had

seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.

A. Once again Ezekiel fell facedown overwhelmed by the glory of

the Lord.

1. Psalm 19:1, The heavens declare the glory of God; the

skies proclaim the work of his hands. (NIV 1984)

2. Isaiah 28:1, Woe to that wreath, the pride of

Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious

beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley — to that city,

the pride of those laid low by wine! (NIV 1984)



43

3. Psalm 8:1, O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your

name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the

heavens. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 3:24, Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet.

He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. (NIV

1984)

I. Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet.

A. The Spirit raised Ezekiel to his feet again to hear the commands

of the Lord.

B. Verses 24-27 conclude Ezekiel’s induction into the prophetic

ministry and commissions him as a prophet. (Fredenburg)

II. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house.

A. “Make yourself a prisoner!” God commanded Ezekiel. (Smith)

B. Sequestering himself in his house seems strange for a prophet

who has been commanded to warn wayward exiles.

1. There is a time to remain silent and a time to speak.

a. Ecclesiastes 3:7, a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak, (NIV 1984)

C. Ezekiel acts out in parables many of his messages.

1. Shutting himself in his house showed that God had

rejected this rebellious people.

2. Ezekiel’s behavior may have made the exiles curious and

ready to listen.



44

Ezekiel 3:25, And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will

be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. (NIV 1984)

I. And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so

that you cannot go out among the people.

A. God told Ezekiel that his fellow captives would bind him with

ropes and restrain him. (See Smith.)

1. There is no documentation of this ever happening to

Ezekiel literally.

2. Fredenburg wrote, “… there is no indication throughout

the rest of Ezekiel that the masses even thought of him as

anything more than an interesting sideshow attraction —

someone more to be ignored than confined.”

B. Some commentators understand this imprisonment to be literal

while others regard it as metaphorically, figurative. (See Smith.)

1. “By their unbelief and hostility the captives restricted the

freedom with which Ezekiel could conduct his ministry.”

(Smith)

2. “Or again, they tried to imprison him to their way of

thinking,” (Smith)

a. They would do all they could to keep him from

prophesying.

3. Smith also wrote, “Ezekiel, however, was to be a prisoner

of the word of God, not to the whims of men.” Fredenburg

wrote, “… it is preferable to think that he (God) is the one

responsible for binding him (Ezekiel) with cords here.”



45

4. Ezekiel’s ministry was Spirit controlled and directed and

limited by Yahweh. (See Fredenburg.)

C. References to Jeremiah’s _ by the citizens of Jerusalem.

1. Jeremiah 32:3, Now Zedekiah king of Judah had

imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy as

you do? You say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about

to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will

capture it. (NIV 1984)

2. Jeremiah 33:1, While Jeremiah was still confined in the

courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him

a second time: (NIV 1984)

3. Jeremiah 38:6, So they took Jeremiah and put him into

the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the

courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by

ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and

Jeremiah sank down into the mud. (NIV 1984)

D. References to prophetic periods of silence.

1. Ezekiel 24:27, At that time your mouth will be opened;

you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So

you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am

the Lord. ” (NIV 1984)

2. Ezekiel 29:21, “On that day I will make a horn grow

for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among

them. Then they will know that I am the Lord. ” (NIV

1984)



46

3. Luke 1:22, When he came out, he could not speak to

them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for

he kept making signs to them but remained unable to

speak. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 3:26, I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth

so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are

a rebellious house. (NIV 1984)

I. I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you

will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious

house.

A. God would strike Ezekiel speechless and unable to rebuke the

rebellious exiles.

1. When God did speak to Ezekiel he would be able to

deliver the “thus says the Lord God” faithfully to the exiles.

2. “The fetters symbolically represented this restraint which

God placed on Ezekiel.

a. This restraint was later removed.

b. Ezekiel 33:22, Now the evening before the man

arrived, the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he

opened my mouth before the man came to me in the

morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no

longer silent. (NIV 1984)

B. Ezekiel was stricken speechless indicating God would speak to

his wayward people in his own good time. (See Fredenburg.)

C. Alas, controlling Ezekiel’s speech would keep him from saying

anything he might want to say which may be contrary to what God



47

would have him say, especially in view of his sympathy with the

exiles.

D. This temporary silencing of Ezekiel would keep him from

speaking prematurely. (Fredenburg)

1. Clarke suggested that Ezekiel’s silence was because God

did not for a period of time give Ezekiel any message to

proclaim.

Ezekiel 3:27, But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and

you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’

Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him

refuse; for they are a rebellious house. (NIV 1984)

I. But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to

them, …

A. “Ezekiel’s silence is not total. He will be allowed to speak only

that which Yahweh permits,” Fredenburg wrote.

1. There is a time to speak!

2. “This restraint on Ezekiel’s speech evidently lasts only

until the fall of Jerusalem,” Fredenburg wrote.

a. Ezekiel 24:27, At that time your mouth will be

opened; you will speak with him and will no longer

be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will

know that I am the Lord. ” (NIV 1984)

b. Ezekiel 33:22, Now the evening before the man

arrived, the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he

opened my mouth before the man came to me in the



48

morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no

longer silent. (NIV 1984)

3. Timing when Ezekiel was to preach was crucial.

4. Ezekiel was to speak only God’s word to the people.

(McGee)

a. Otherwise he was to remain silent! (McGee)

5. When the time was right God would give Ezekiel a

message and enable him to proclaim it.

III. ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’

A. Matthew 20:19-20, and will turn him over to the Gentiles to

be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will

be raised to life!” Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to

Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

(NIV 1984)

B. Ezekiel 3:11, Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak

to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord

says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen. ” (NIV 1984)

C. Matthew 11:15, He who has ears, let him hear. (NIV 1984)

D. Matthew 13:9, He who has ears, let him hear.” (NIV 1984)

E. Revelation 22:11, Let him who does wrong continue to do

wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does

right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to

be holy.” (NIV 1984)



49

III. Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him

refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

A. Coffman stated that this is the conclusion of God’s commission

to Ezekiel.

Conclusion:

I. Smith quotes Hall as providing this summary of the commands given

to Ezekiel in this unit:

A. “Go, and speak.” (3:4)

B. “Go, and sit.” (3:11)

C. “Go, and watch.” (3:17)

D. “Go, and wait.” (3:24)



50

Questions

on

Ezekiel 3:1-27

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. Ezekiel ____________ and ____________ ____________

would ____________ to ____________ to what he had to say

about them.

2. To __________, __________ would make ____________ as

_____________ and _____________ as _____________ and

_____________ as they are, ____________ to ____________.

3. How did Ezekiel feel about being commanded to prophesy to

the obstinate exiles? Was Ezekiel ever rebellious to God and his

commands? _________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

4. Why did Ezekiel remain silent for seven days? ____________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



51

5. ____________ will hold ____________ ____________

further the _____________ of those he does _____________

______________ and will ______________ them if he does

____________ them.

6. Contrast the personalities of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. ________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

7. Outline Ezekiel 3 following Coffman’s view. _____________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

8. What is meant by the command, “Son of man, eat what is

before you, eat this scroll; …?” __________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

9. Ezekiel’s ______________ wore to ____________ the

__________________ of the ___________________ or to



52

__________________ on a very ___________________ ,

__________________ course of ______________.

10. What would you have done if you had been in Ezekiel’s

place? ______________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

11. McGee wrote, “ _______ ________ ought to ____________

the ________________ whose _______________ is not in it and

who doesn’t ____________ ___________ ___________ he

says.”

12. The _______________ was not _______________ on

_____________ ; he _____________ ______________ it.

13. ____________ was to ____________ ____________ the

____________ of ____________ on the ____________, not just

“______________” at them.

14. What is meant by the statement, “So I ate it, and it tasted as

sweet as honey in my (Ezekiel’s) mouth?” _________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



53

15. _______________ was ___________________ as a

____________________ , an ________________ , a

________________ , and a _______________ .

16. To whom was Ezekiel sent? To whom was he not sent? ____

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

17. Why would heathens be more likely to listen to Ezekiel’s

message then Israelite exiles? ___________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

18. How did God prepare Ezekiel emotionally and intellectually

to deal with his anticipated rejection by the exiles? __________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

19. Name the five (5) most stubborn people you have ever

known or heard about. List them in order beginning with the

most stubborn. _______________________________________



54

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

20. Why did you select these five people? __________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

21. How can missionaries working in dangerous places prepare

themselves to be courageous in the face of physical and

psychological opposition? ______________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

22. How can we differentiate between which of God’s

commands are mandatory and must be preached and which are

optional? ____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



55

23. In 3:11 God spoke, not of “my people,” but “your people?”

What is the significance of this difference in the use of personal

pronouns? ___________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

24. ________________ was to ______________

________________’s ______________ with _______________

Even to a ____________-_____________ , ________________

_______________ .

25. How did the exiles view their situation in Babylon? (See

verse 11) ____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

26. _______________ ________________ these ____________

______________ and ___________ them with ______________

______________ .

27. In your own words, exactly what is said and meant by what

is said in verses 12-13? ________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



56

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

28. Why did Ezekiel go with the Spirit in bitterness and anger of

his spirit? ___________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

29. List two or three of Ezekiel’s mountain top and valley

experiences? _________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

30. List several mountain top and valley experiences of your

life. ________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

31. Why was Ezekiel remorseful? (See verse 14.) ____________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



57

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

32. ____________ was ____________ ____________ at his

being ____________ to ____________ to the ____________

____________.

33. What does “Tel Abib” mean? Where was it located? Define

and explain “Tel”. ____________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

34. Why was Ezekiel overwhelmed? How long did he sit among

the exiles at Tel Abib? What did he do during this time? ______

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

35. What other biblical examples are comparable to Ezekiel’s

being overwhelmed at Tel Abib? _________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



58

36. The book of Ezekiel takes a decisive turn at verse 16 from

____________ to ____________. Into what two major sections

can the book of Ezekiel be divided? ______________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

37. How important was the decision Ezekiel had to make in

verse 16? ___________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

38. God appointed Ezekiel a ____________ for the house of

Israel. If ______________ did not ______________ the

____________, he would share their ____________ and

____________.

39. What other prophets have been presented as watchmen? ___

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



59

40. What was the duties of watchmen? How important were

these duties? What happened to watchmen who failed to

faithfully perform their duties? __________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

41. In your own words, what does Ezekiel 3:18-19 say? _______

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

42. We are ______________ for our ______________

____________. We are not ____________ as ____________

such as ____________ such as ____________, races, etc.

43. Explain why God would put a stumbling block before

certain people. _______________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



60

44. ____________ ____________ can ____________ from their

____________ and ____________!

45. Does God tempt people? If not, explain why he would put

stumbling blocks before certain people. ___________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

46. How were stumbling blocks used in ancient Israel and the

near eastern countries? _________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

47. When a ______________ ______________ turns from his

______________ and does ______________, and I put a

______________ ______________ before him, he will die.

____________ to warn the ____________ ____________ of the

____________ of their ____________ will cause ____________

____________, that of the ____________ once ____________

______________ and of the ______________ who was

____________ with being his ____________.

48. ____________ to ____________ the ____________

____________ man of the ____________ of his ____________

will cause ____________ ____________, that of the



61

______________ ______________ once ______________

____________ and of the one who was charged with being his

____________.

49. Why are the evil things a previously righteous remembered

and his righteous deeds forgotten? Give examples of this being

the case? ____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

50. If ____________ ____________ the ____________

____________ man of the ____________ of his ____________

and he ____________ from his ____________, ____________

and the ____________ ____________ man would both be

____________!

51. What does, “The hand of the Lord was upon me,” mean? __

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

52. How does God speak to people today? _________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



62

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

53. Why did God direct Ezekiel to leave Tel Abib and go to the

plain? What is Tel, a mound? Of what were mounds composed?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

54. ____________ ____________ and ____________

____________! Why did Ezekiel fall facedown? Should we

imitated this example? _________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

55. Why did the Spirit raise Ezekiel to his feet? _____________

_________________. ____________ conclude ____________’s

introduction into the ____________ ____________ and

____________ him as a ____________.

56. Why did the Spirit command Ezekiel to sequester himself

inside his house. Isn’t this a strange command for a prophet who

was to warn sinners of their sinful ways? __________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



63

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

57. Was Ezekiel’s being bound literal or figurative? Explain.

Why would a prophet be bound so he could not go out among

the people? __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

58. Cite examples of prophetic silence. Why was Ezekiel to be

bound with ropes? ____________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

59. Why did God strike Ezekiel speechless which would keep

him from rebuking the rebellious exiles? ___________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

60. There is a time to be ____________. There is a time to

____________. This ____________ on ____________’s



64

____________ evidently lasts only until the ____________ of

____________.

61. ____________ when ____________ was to ____________

was ____________. ____________ was to ____________ only

____________’s ______________ to the _______________.

Otherwise he was to ____________ ____________. When the

time was ____________ ____________ would give

______________ a ______________ and enable him to

____________ it.

62. This is what the ____________ ____________

____________.

63. ____________ will ____________ let him ____________,

and ____________ will ____________ let him ____________;

for they are a ____________ ____________

64. At what point in chapter 3 do we find the conclusion of

God’s commission to Ezekiel? ___________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

65. What summary did Smith quoting Hall provide? _________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



65

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

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