Ezekiel 3:1-15

content/bible_journal/ezekiel_3:1-15.md

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+title = "Ezekiel 3:1–15"
+date = "2023-03-07"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel3.1-15)
+
+As we learned last time, the Lord expects Ezekiel to eat this scroll of
+judgement. Since this is in a vision, he probably didn't physically eat
+anything, especially as doing so allowed him to speak the words on the scroll
+to the people. However, I am a little curious what it looked and felt like to
+him. Did it shrink so he could fit it all in one bite, or did he have to chew
+it? Once he does eat it, he tells us that it tasted as sweet as honey. This is
+clearly a similar passage to Revelation 10, where John also receives a scroll
+to eat, which gives him the authority to speak prophecy to the world. John's
+scroll is also sweet in his mouth, but is bitter in his stomach. I believe the
+sweetness represents the ease with which he can speak the words. It feels good
+to obey the Lord, and though the words are of lamentation and woe, Ezekiel is
+rewarded for saying them.
+
+Again the Lord reiterates that Ezekiel is to speak the words to Israel, his own
+people. He already knows the language and the culture, but if he was sent to a
+different people, they would listen more easily than the stubborn Israelites.
+He then makes a play on Ezekiel's name by saying that Ezekiel's face and
+forehead will be stronger and harder than Israel's. In Hebrew, Ezekiel means
+"God makes strong, hardens". Therefore, he is to be more stubborn than they in
+preaching God's word to them, whether they listen or not.
+
+With this, Ezekiel is dismissed, but before the vision ends, he hears the
+mighty voice of God's throne and the beings that make it up blessing God's
+glory. Get this: the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing
+against each other formed the words, as did the sound of the wheels. God's
+glory is so majestic that incidental sounds praise Him.
+
+Ezekiel is carried away by the Spirit back to the Chebar canal, in "bitterness
+in the heat of my spirit". That's probably the same bittereness John felt after
+he ate his scroll. He is so overwhelmed by his experience that he sits and
+processes it for seven days.
+
+* * *
+
+Worthy are You to be praised by all that You have created, in heaven, on earth,
+and under the earth.