THE CALL AND MINISTRY OF EZEKIEL 

Date of Writing:  The Book of Ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 B.C. during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews.

Purpose of Writing:  Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. By means of his prophetic ministry he attempted to bring them to immediate repentance and to confidence in the distant future. He taught that: (1) God works through human messengers; (2) Even in defeat and despair God’s people need to affirm God’s sovereignty; (3) God’s Word never fails; (4) God is present and can be worshiped anywhere; (5) People must obey God if they expect to receive blessings; and (6) God’s Kingdom will come.

2) Ezekiel’s Work and Ministry

Key Verses: Ezekiel 2:3-6, "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." And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.'"

3) The Call of Ezekiel

A) Ezekiel Preparation for Service

1. The Vision Seen by Ezekiel – Vision of God  – Ezek. 1:1, 26

  A Man (front) Speaks of - Sympathy, intelligence – corresponding to the Gospel of Luke.

  A Lion (right) - Majesty, power – corresponding to the Gospel of Matthew.

  An Ox (left) -  Perseverance in service – corresponding to the Gospel of Mark.

  An Eagle (back) -  Keenness of Vision – corresponding to the Gospel of John.

2. The Voice Heard – Telling the prophet vs 28

        the People to whom he must go - Ezek. 2:3

‘And He said to me: "Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.’

        the Purpose for which he is sent -  Ezek. 2:7

7 You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.

        the Power behind him as he goes.-  Ezek.2:8

But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."

3. The Volume (Word) Eaten –

Hearing and Heeding the Word of God – Ezek. 3:1,2

 Ezekiel’s Roll – 3:1-17 was to him what the Bible should be to us.

 a. Intellectually he had to ‘eat it’ – get it into his head – Ezek. 3:2

 b. Experientally he had to ‘digest it’ – get it into his heart – Ezek. 3:10

 c. Practically he was a watchman to give warning – he had ‘to proclaim it’ with his lips – Ezek. 3:17

4. The Victim Ezekiel Yielded – Ezekiel had to bear the sin and yield to God’s command.

 the Astonished Victim – Ezek. 3:15

 15 Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

 the Enchained Victim -  Ezek. 3:23-25

 24 Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them.

 the Prostrate Victim – Ezek. 4:4

“Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity.

 the Nauseated Victim – Ezek. 4:15

“Then He said to me, “See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it.”

B) EZEKIEL AS A WATCHMAN - Ezek. 3:17

In Ezekiel 3, we learn about his special assignment from God: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 3:17). “Watchman” refers to the person whose job was to stand out on a tower and look out to warn of coming danger.

THE DUTY - The special duty of the watchman or guardian, as here explained, concerns the treatment of the wicked. More particularly it is for him

(1) to warn the wicked;

(2) to assure the inattentive and impenitent that the punishment of death awaits him;

(3) to admonish him to repent.

C) EZEKIEL AS HE WALKS THROUGH WATER 

Ezek. 47 – This is a symbolic of the River of God that is full of water. (Ps. 65:9)

There are rivers of God in Eden – Gen.2;10 and In the Paradise of God above – Rev. 22:1,2  - From Genesis to Revelation the River of God is flowing into us.

Ezekiel walked to the river.

Waters came to the Ankles vs.3 – “Walk in the Spirit” Gal. 5:16

Waters came to the Knees vs. 4 – “Praying in the Spirit” Eph. 6:18

Waters came to the Loins vs. 4 – “Serving in the Spirit” Acts 20:19

Waters to Swim in vs. 5 – “Living a Spirit-filling life” Eph. 5:18

D) EZEKIEL EATING THE WORD (SCROLL) – Ezek. 2:8

God’s Word is Our Spiritual Food’

God’s Words are good for us to eat: we need to eat the Word of God as our food as Ezekiel did.

Matt. 4:4 But He answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out through the mouth of God.“

Ezekiel was asked by God to take the scroll and eat it, then speak the word of God (Ezek. 2:8-3:4); as believers in Christ we need to eat the word of God, digest them, assimilate them into our being, and then speak the word of God.