Home     

God Calls Ezekiel to Be a Prophet

Ezekiel 2:1-5

Good News Translation (GNT)

*************************

   Ezekiel 1:28
28  When I saw this, I fell face downward on the
   ground. Then I heard a voice
   Ezekiel 2:1-5
  1  saying, "Mortal man, stand up. I want to talk
   to you."
  2  While the voice was speaking, God's spirit
   entered me and raised me to my feet, and I
   heard the voice continue,
  3  "Mortal man, I am sending you to the people
   of Israel. They have rebelled and turned
   against me and are still rebels, just as their
   ancestors were.
  4  They are stubborn and do not respect me,
   so I am sending you to tell them what I, the
   Sovereign Lord, am saying to them.
  5  Whether those rebels listen to you or not,
   they will know that a prophet has been among
   them.

*************************

Commentary taken from 'word-on-the-web'
supplied by the Scripture Union
  and from
The Bible Reading Fellowship New Daylight

God Calls Ezekiel
to Be a Prophet

      Ezekiel 2:1-5

The problem with those to whom Ezekiel was being sent was that they were not yet ready to acknowledge any fault or responsibility on their own part.

Yahweh was their God and it was his responsibility to sort out all their troubles. So it was his fault they were in exile and why should they listen to him anyway?

They had not grasped at all what it meant to be in covenant relationship with God and why obedience and loyalty were as important as receiving blessings.

Driven into exile with his people, Ezekiel must first have been at a huge loss as to what to do. Previously his days would have been full of the ritual of his work at the temple in Jerusalem. He would have enjoyed significant status and respect - he may have been a well-known figure and perhaps enjoyed some comfort and prosperity.

Now all that has been taken from him, and he is simply an exile living with his fellow exiles.

But God has other plans for him - he must speak out to the children of Israel on God's behalf. Ezekiel has been chosen to reprimand his people, to tell them the unpleasant truth that what has happened to them is a result of their own sin, and that further punishment awaits.

Ezekiel isn't even given a guarantee of success at this difficult task - for it doesn't matter 'whether they listen or fail to listen'. But they do need to know that 'a prophet has been among them' (v. 5), for that is the first stage in their rescue and redemption.

Other versions are available here

Return to the Home Page

  Contact the Rector
  The Revd.
  Nic.Edwards
  The Rectory,
  Church Lane,
  BUGBROOKE,
  Northampton,
  NN7 3PB

  Land Line: 01604 - 815496
  (Can be accessed from the mobile device)
  Mobile: .....
  E-mail:
  thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com

  Contact the Benefice Office
  Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
  BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
  Land Line: 01604 830373
  E-mail:
  thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
  Mon., Tues., Wed,, Thur., Fri.
  9:00^am to 11:30^am

  For Baptism bookings  (Christenings)
  to arrange an appointment please contact
  the Benefice Office.

  For Wedding bookings:
  please contact the Benefice Office to arrange
  an appointment.

  Who Made This?
  Seeing as you asked, if you can give helpful
  advice or report factual corrections and
  'deliberate mistakes',email:-
  regparker3 at gmail dot com

  Email addresses shown using words in an
  attempt to avoid 'spam',
  Type the email address replacing 'at' with '@',
  and 'dot' with '.'