Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 2

Verses 1-2

2

EZEKIEL - CHAPTER 2

THE EMPOWERING OF THE SPIRIT, v. 1, 2

Verses 1, 2:

Verse 1 recounts Ezekiel’s call from the man upon the throne. He called to Ezekiel "Son of man, stand upon thy feet." This phrase "Son of man" was used by our Lord of Himself seventy nine (79) times in the New Testament, meaning "heir of humanity," or "heir-redeemer" of humanity, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47. Of Ezekiel, Jehovah uses the term 91 times, indicating that the message of Ezekiel was to be concerning the redemption of all men, not merely that of Judaism. His call to stand upon his feet called for attention and reverence to the voice of a majestic authority, from whom he was to receive a call and instructions, as used Daniel 10:11; Acts 26:14-18. This phrase "Son of man" was used by Jehovah in addressing Ezekiel and Daniel only once as Old Testament prophets, Daniel 8:17. Each was to understand that redemption was to be offered to all nations, to all people, not to Israel only, John 3:16; Romans 1:16.

Verse 2 adds that the empowering spirit, the same spirit that directed the four living creatures and the four double wheels, entered into Ezekiel when the majestic voice came from the throne, called upon him to stand upon his feet as one who says to his master "say on", "I am at your command," or "I am available." See Ezekiel 3:12; Ezekiel 3:14 and Amos 3:7; Revelation 22:19. Ezekiel then affirmed that he gave heed or responded obediently to the majestic voice from upon the throne, Luke 14:35 b. It is not by "might" nor "by power," but by the spirit (Divine dynamics) from God that men may understand and do the will of God, Zechariah 4:6; Romans 8:9; Romans 8:14-16.

Verses 3-10

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EZEKIEL’S COMMISSION, v. 3-10

Verses 3-10:

Verse 3 sounds forth God’s call or mandate to Ezekiel. He was addressed as "Son of man," by the true "Regent," majestic one upon the throne of Ezekiel 1:26-28. This Jehovah, who was to come, charged or mandated him to go to the children of Israel in their captivity in Chaldea in the very name of the Lord. They had gone so far into idolatry, before being carried away captive in their own land, that God called them a rebellious or willfully lawless nation, a nation that had willfully reveled against Him. They had become heathenized like Sodom and Gomorrah, Isaiah 1:10. This Jehovah spoke to Ezekiel, directly from his throne in glory, to Ezekiel’s ear, by the river of Chebar, in Chaldea. He charged that the fathers of Israel, once His obedient servants, had transgressed against Him and His holiness and goodness, even to that very day, as also described Isaiah 1:4. Israel had fallen morally, ethically, and religiously below the level of heathen nations, living in the slime pits of willful sin, Proverbs 29:1. They had become one "of the nations," an heathen nation themselves, forsaken of the Lord, not His people any longer, as described Hosea 1:9.

Verse 4 charges that they of Israel then existed as impudent, stiff hearted, stubborn, hard-faced, insolent children, Ezekiel 3:7-9. To such the Lord said, "I send you or deputize you," Ezekiel. He then advised Ezekiel to say directly to them "Thus saith the Lord God." His message was not his own, but from Him who sat upon the glory-throne. So it is, always, with true prophets and witnesses for God, they bear messages of Him, to all men, Revelation 19:10 b; John 15:16-17; John 15:26-27; John 20:21; Acts 1:8-9; Matthew 28:18-20.

Verse 5 then assures Ezekiel that whether they accept or do not accept this message, as a rebellious people, they would know, by the Spirit that empowered Ezekiel, that there had been a Divine prophet among them, Romans 2:1; Isaiah 55:10-11. They would not be in ignorance, Ezekiel 33:33.

Verse 6 calls upon Ezekiel to avoid fear from this rebellious people of Israel or of any thing they may have to say. For "the fear of man bringeth a snare," or entrapment, Proverbs 29:25; and "fear hath torments." God’s prophets and witnesses are to be free from torments of fear, 1 John 4:18; Romans 8:15. Though briers, thorns, and stinger scorpions were to be all about him, literally and figuratively, as he spoke for the Lord, Ezekiel was charged "not to be afraid of their words," nor dismayed at their glaring, rebellious looks, though they were a rebellious people, Luke 12:4; 1 Peter 3:14. They were to reject, not Ezekiel, but, Ezekiel’s God who sat enthroned in glory, overlooking His universe (chosen people in rebellion) and all men, Acts 7:51-60.

Verse 7 continues a Divine charge to Ezekiel to speak the words of the Lord to His rebellious children of Israel, who had then become as heathen nations, v. 3; 2 Timothy 2:2. He was to keep on declaring the message, through all the land of Chaldea, whether the people obeyed or continued to rebel, 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9. It must be faithfully carried, just as the farmer works on through sunshine and through clouds, knowing harvest will come, Psalms 126:5-6.

Verse 8 calls upon Ezekiel as the "Son of man," who received this commission, to avoid becoming discouraged and falling into rebellion with the very ones in whose environment he was to preach, Joshua 1:6-9. He was called upon to eat or consume what God had given to him, as in Ezekiel 8:3; 1 Timothy 4:15-16; Titus 1:9; Titus 2:7-8; Titus 2:11-15; Revelation 10:9-10.

Verse 9 adds that when Ezekiel looked, or opened his eyes, a hand was sent, stretched out from the throne to him. In the hand was a scroll of a book for him to examine and preach to this rebellious people. In it was contained the message of God to a sin ­seared people, in whom God was yet interested, whom He loved, even in their rebellion, Romans 10:20-21; Isaiah 65:2.

Verse 10 explains that the hand of Him who spoke from the throne of majestic glory spread the scroll-back visibly before him, and it had written upon it words from the Lord, on both sides. Usually they were written on only one side. Three things were set forth therein: 1) Lamentations , 2) Mourning, and 3) Woe! These were to be sent upon them as fruits of Divine retribution for their sins, designed to bring them back to God, 2 Chronicles 7:14-15; 1 John 1:8-9. Men should esteem the words of the Lord of more value than their necessary food, Job 23:12.