Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Ezekiel 2
Ezekiel 2:2And the Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
And the Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. We don't have to find our own strength to serve God. He provides the power we need to stand up and listen.Ezekiel 2:5And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.
And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. God clarifies that Ezekiel's job is to be a witness, ensuring the people have no excuse for ignoring God's truth.Ezekiel 2:8But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."
But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you. God warns Ezekiel not to let the culture around him influence his own heart, but to fully consume and accept God's message.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Prophet is Raised by the Spirit
Following the overwhelming vision of God's chariot-throne in chapter 1, Ezekiel is left prostrate on the ground. God addresses him as 'Son of man,' a title that emphasizes his human frailty in contrast to the divine majesty he just witnessed. Before Ezekiel can even begin his mission, he must be raised up, which happens as the Spirit enters him and sets him on his feet.
A Mission to a Rebellious Nation
God describes the people Ezekiel is being sent to in very harsh terms, calling them rebels and stubborn descendants. This mission is not about easy wins or popular acclaim. Ezekiel is being sent into a spiritual battlefield. He is warned that he will be living among 'briers and thorns' and sitting on 'scorpions,' metaphors for the painful rejection he will face.
The Commissioning of Ezekiel
In Ezekiel 2:1-10, the scene transitions from a heavenly vision to a personal commission. Ezekiel is standing in exile in Babylon, receiving a direct mandate from God to confront the Israelites who have turned their backs on their Creator.
Empowered to Stand (Ezekiel 2:1-2)
1 And he said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you."
2 And the Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
Commentary:
The Spirit enters Ezekiel to give him the strength to stand and hear God's call.
The Stubborn Audience (Ezekiel 2:3-5)
3 And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day.
4 And the descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.'
5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Commentary:
Ezekiel is sent to a rebellious people to ensure they hear God's truth.
Courage in the Face of Scorpions (Ezekiel 2:6-7)
6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
Commentary:
God commands Ezekiel to be fearless despite the hostility and rejection he will face.
The Scroll of Lamentation (Ezekiel 2:8-10)
8 But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."
9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.
10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
Commentary:
Ezekiel is presented with a scroll of judgment that he must fully accept and internalize.
Spiritual Realities in the Call of Ezekiel
The Necessity of the Spirit
Ezekiel 2 reveals that human effort is insufficient for divine tasks. The Spirit must enter the prophet to enable him to stand and listen, showing that true ministry is a partnership between God's power and human availability.
The Definition of Success
In this chapter, success is not measured by the number of converts or the positive response of the crowd. Instead, success is defined as being a faithful messenger so that people 'will know that a prophet has been among them,' placing the responsibility of the response on the listeners.
Internalizing the Word
The command to eat the scroll suggests that a messenger must first be transformed by the message. Before Ezekiel can speak words of woe to others, he must 'digest' them himself, making God's truth a part of his very being.
Applying Ezekiel's Call to Your Life
Just as the Spirit entered Ezekiel in verse 2 to set him on his feet, you can rely on the Holy Spirit to provide the strength you lack. When you feel overwhelmed by a task, remember that God's power is what enables you to stand and move forward.
Ezekiel was told in verses 5 and 7 that people might 'refuse to hear.' Your responsibility is to be a faithful witness of 'Thus says the Lord God,' leaving the results and the hearts of others in God's hands.
Following the instruction in verse 8, you are called to deeply internalize Scripture rather than reading it casually. This means letting God's truth shape your thoughts and actions so that you aren't 'rebellious' like the world around you.
Faithful Witness in a Rebellious World
Ezekiel 2 establishes that God's messengers are called to faithfulness, not necessarily to popularity or visible success. In this chapter, God equips Ezekiel with the Spirit and a clear, albeit difficult, message for a stubborn people. The message is that God will always have a witness in the world, ensuring His truth is heard even by those who choose to reject it. We are invited to be those witnesses, relying on God's strength to speak His truth with courage and integrity.
What This Means for Us Today
God's call to Ezekiel is a reminder that we are not responsible for how others respond to the Gospel, only for our own faithfulness in sharing it. We are invited to stand in the power of the Spirit and internalize God's Word so deeply that it becomes our primary motivation. When we stop fearing the 'scorpions' of social rejection, we find the freedom to be the prophets and witnesses God called us to be.
- Are you measuring your spiritual success by your faithfulness or by other people's reactions?
- In what areas of your life do you need the Spirit to 'set you on your feet' today?
- Is there a 'hard truth' from God's Word that you have been avoiding 'eating' or internalizing?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
Another account of a prophet being commissioned to a difficult and rebellious audience.
The Apostle John is also commanded to eat a scroll, echoing Ezekiel's experience.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think God emphasizes the rebelliousness of the people before Ezekiel even starts his mission?
- In verse 6, God tells Ezekiel not to be afraid of 'their looks.' How does the fear of what others think of us hinder our obedience to God today?
- What does the 'scroll written on both sides' tell us about the completeness and the weight of God's message?